For that our Maker has too largely giv'n, (97

Should be return'd in gratitude to Heav'n.
A frugal plenty fhould my table spread,
With healthy, not luxurious, dishes fed;
Enough to fatisfy-and fomething more,
To feed the stranger and the neighb'ring poor.
Strong meat indulges vice, and pamp'ring food
Creates difeafes, and inflames the blood:
But what's fufficient to make nature ftrong,
And the bright lamp of life continue long,
I'd freely take; and, as I did poffefs,
The bounteous Author of my plenty blefs.
I'd have a little vault, but always ftor'd
With the best wines each vintage could afford.
Wine whets the wit, improves it's native force,
And gives a pleasant flavour to discourse ;
By making all our fpirits debonair,
Throws off the lees, the fediment of care:
But as the greatest bleffing Heaven lends,
May be debauch'd, and serve ignoble ends;
So, but too oft, the grape's refreshing juice
Does many mifchievous effects produce.
My house should no such rude disorders know,
As from high drinking consequently flow;
Nor would I ufe what was fo kindly giv'n
To the dishonour of indulgent Heav'n.
If any neighbour came, he should be free;
Us'd with refpect; and not uneasy be,
In my retreat, or to himself or me.

What freedom, prudence, and right reafon, give,
All men may with impunity receive :

But the least swerving from their rule's too much vnd D'I
For what's forbidden us, Itis death to touch.

That life may be more comfortable yety
And all my joys refin'd, fincere, and great,

}

I'd chufe two friends, whofe company would be
A great advance to my felicity:

V

Well born, of humours fuited to my own;
Discreet, and men as well as books have known.
Brave, gen'rous, witty, and exactly free
From loose behaviour, or formality..
Airy and prudent; merry, but not light:
Quick in difcerning, and in judging right.
Secret they fhould be, faithful to their trust;
In reas'ning cool, ftrong, temperate, and juft...
Obliging, open; without huffing, brave:
Brisk in gay talking, and in fober grave.
Close in difpute, but not tenacious; try'd -'-
By folid reafon, and let that decide.
Not prone

to luft, revenge, or envious hate; Nor bufy meddlers with intrigues of state.

Strangers to flander, and fworn foes to fpite;

Not quarrelfome, but ftout enough to fight.

Loyal and pious, friends to Cæfar:: true, and få li
As dying martyrs, to their Maker, too.

In their fociety I could not mifs

A permanent, fincere, fubftantial blifs.

Would bounteous Heav'n once more indulge, I'd chufe
(For who would fo much fatisfaction lofe
As witty nymphs in converfation give ?)
Near fome obliging, modeft fair, to live;
For there's that fweetness in a female mind,
Which in a man's we cannot hope to find;
That, by a fecret, but a pow'rful art," or "o
Winds up the spring of life, and does impart
Fresh vital heat to the tranfported heart.

7

I'd have her reafon all her paffion fway. Eafy in company, in private gay:

Coy to a fop, to the deferving free growi

Still conftant to herself, and juft to me.

A foul the should have for great actions fit,
Prudence and wisdom to direct her wit:..
Courage to look bold Danger in the face;.
No fear, but only to be proud or bafe.
Quick to advife, by an emergence prefs'd;
To give good counsel, or to take the best.
I'd have th' expreffion of her thoughts be fuch,
She might not feem reserv'd, nor talk too much
That fhews a want of judgment and of fenfe;
More than enough, is but impertinence.
Her conduct regular; her mirth refin'd;
Civil to ftrangers, to her neighbours kind :
Averfe to vanity, revenge, and pride;
In all the methods of deceit untry'd.
So faithful to her friend, and good to all,.
No cenfure might upon her actions fall.
Then would e'en Envy be compell'd to say,
She goes the leaft of woman-kind aftray.'
To this fair creature I'd fometimes retire;
Her converfation would new joys infpire,
Give life an edge fo keen, no furly care
Would venture to affealt my foul, or dare,
Near my retreat, to hide one secret snare.
But fo divine, so noble a repaft,
I'd feldom, and with moderation, tafte;
For higheft cordials all their virtue lofe,
By a too frequent and too bold a use;
And what would chear the spirits in diftrefs,
Ruins our health when taken to excefs...
I'd be concern'd in no litigious jar;
Belov'd by all, not vainiy popular.
Whate'er affiftance I had pow'r to bring,
T'oblige my country, or to ferve my king,
Whene'er they call'd, I'd readily afford;

My tongue, my pen, my counfel, or my sword.

Law-fuits I'd fhun, with as much studious care
As I would dens where hungry lions are ;
And rather put up injuries, than be

A plague to him who'd be a plague to me.
I value quiet at a price too great,
To give for my revenge fo dear a rate;
For what do we by all our bustle gain,
But counterfeit delight for real pain?

If Heav'n a date of many years would give,
Thus I'd in pleafure, eafe, and plenty, live;"
And as I near approach'd the verge of life,
Some kind relation (for I'd have no wife)
Should take upon him all my worldly care,
Whilft I did for a better state
prepare.

Then I'd not be with any trouble vex'd,

Nor have the ev'ning of my days perplex'd ;
But, by a filent and a peaceful death,
Without a figh refign my aged breath:

And when committed to the duft, I'd have
Few tears, but friendly, dropp'd into my grave.
Then would my exit fo propitious be,
All men would wish to live and die like me.

W

THE BOWLING-GREEN.

BY MR. SOMERVILLE.

HERE fair Sabrina's wand'ring currents flow,

A large fmooth plain extends it's verdant brow;
Here, ev'ry morn, while fruitful vapours feed
The fwelling blade, and blefs the fmoking mead,
A cruel tyrant reigns-like Time, the swain
Whets his unrighteous fcythe, and shaves the plain :
Beneath each stroke the peeping flow'rs decay,
And all th' unripen'd crop is fwept away.

The

The heavy roller next he tugs along,"

Whiffs his fhort pipe, or rears a rural fong 55.

With curious eye then the prefs'd turf he views,
And ev'ry rifing prominence fubdues.

Now, when each craving ftomach was well-ftor'd, 9819-1 And Church and King had travell'd round the board, Hither, at Fortune's fhrine to pay their court,

With eager hopes the motley tribe refort...

Attornies fpruce, in their plate-button'd frocks; 702 12
And rofy parfons, fat and orthodox:

Of ev'ry fect, whigs, papists, and high-flyers;
Cornuted aldermen, and hen-peck'd fquires ;
Fox-hunters, quacks, fcribblers in verfe and profe;
And half-pay captains, and half-witted beaus.
On the green cirque the ready racers ftand,
Difpos'd in pairs, and tempt the bowler's hand;
Each polish'd fphere does his round brother own,
The twins diftinguish'd by their marks are known.
As the ftrong rein guides the well-manag'd horse,
Here weighty lead infus'd directs their courfer
Thefe in the ready road drive on with speed,
But thofe in crooked paths more artfully fucceed.
So the tall fhip, that makes fome dang❜rous bay,
With a fide-wind obliquely flopes her way.

Lo! there the Silver Tumbler fix'd on high,
The victor's prize, inviting ev'ry eye!
The champions or confent or chance divide,
While each man thinks his own the furer fide,

And the Jack leads, the fkilful bowler's guide.
Bendo ftripp'd firftfrom foreign coafts he brought
A chaos of receipts, and anarchy of thought;
Where the tumultuous whims, to faction prone,
Still juftled monarch Reafon from her throne:
More dang'rous than the porcupine's his quill,
Inur'd to flaughter, and fecure to kill.

4

A

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