IMITATIONS

OF

HORACE.

X 2

EPISTLE

EPISTLE VII.

Imitated in the Manner of Dr. SWIFT.

"T

IS true, my Lord, I gave my word,
I would be with you, June the third;
Chang'd it to August, and (in short)
Have kept it as you do at Court.
You humour me when I am fick,
Why not when I am splenetick?
In town, what Objects could I meet?
The shops fhut up in every street,
And Funerals blackening all the Doors,
And yet more melancholy Whores :
And what a dust in every place?
And a thin Court that wants your Face,
And Fevers raging up and down,

And W* and H** both in Town!

10

Q

Uinque dies tibi pollicitus me rure futurum,
Sextilem totum mendax defideror. atqui,
Si me vivere vis fanum recteque valentem;
Quam mihi das aegro, dabis aegrotare timenti,
Maecenas, veniam: dum ficus prima calorque
Defignatorum decorat lictoribus atris:
Dum pueris omnis pater, et matercula pallet;
Officiofaque fedulitas, et opella forenfis
Adducit febres, et teftamenta refignat.

"The

"The dog-days are no more the cafe." 'Tis true, but Winter comes apace: Then fouthward let your Bard retire, Hold out fome Months 'twixt Sun and Fire, And you fhall fee the firft warm Weather, Me and the Butterflies together.

My Lord, your Favours well I know; 'Tis with Diftinction you bestow; And not to every one that comes, Juft as a Scotfman does his Plums. "Pray take them, Sir-Enough's a Feast: "Eat fome, and pocket up the reft"What rob your Boys? thofe pretty rogues! "No, Sir, you'll leave them to the Hogs." Thus Fools with Compliments befiege ye, Contriving never to oblige ye.

15

20

25

30

Scatter your favours on a Fop,

Ingratitude's the certain crop;

Quod fi bruma nives Albanis illinet agris ;
Ad mare defcendet vates tuus, et fibi parcet,
Contractufque leget; te, dulcis amice, reviset
Cum Zephyris, fi concedes, et hirundine prima.
Non, quo more pyrís vefci Calaber jubet hofpes.
Tu me fecifti locupletem. Vefcere fødes.
Jam fatis eft. At tu quantumvis tolle. Benigne.
Non invifa feres pueris munufcula parvis.
Tam teneor dono, quam fi dimittar onuftus.
Ut libet: haec porcis hodie comedenda relinques.
Prodigus et ftultus donat quae fpernit et odit:

And