Flourish'd a sprightly air between,
And whistled the Black Joke.
This lively unexpected motion
Set nature in a gayer light;
Quite overturn'd the monks' devotion,
And scatter'd all the gloom of night.
I have been taught in early youth,
By an expert metaphysician,
That ridicule's the test of truth,
And only match for superstition.
Imposing rogues, with looks demure,
At Rome keep all the world in awe;
Wit is profane, learning impure,
And reasoning against the law.
Between two tapers and a book,
Upon a dresser clean and neat,
Behold a sacerdotal cook,
Cooking a dish of heavenly meat!
How fine he curtsies! Make your bow;
Thump your breast soundly, beat your poll;
Lo! he has toss’d up a ragout,
To fill the belly of your soul.
Even here there are some holy men
Would fain lead people by the nose ;
Did not a Blackbird, now and then,
Benevolently interpose.
My good Lord Bishop, Mr. Dean,
You shall get nothing by your spite ;
Tristram shall whistle at your spleen,
And put Hypocrisy to Aight.

TO MISS

Thanks to your wiles, deceitful fair,

The gods, so long in vain implor'd, At last have heard a wretch's prayer;

At last I find myself restor’d,

From thy bewitching snares and thee:

I feel for once this is no dream; I feel my captive soul is free;

And I am truly what I seem.

Without a blush your name I hear,

No transient glow my bosom heats ; And, when I meet your eye, my dear, My fluttering heart no longer beats.

I dream, but I no longer find

Your form still present to my view; I wake, but now my vacant mind

No longer waking dreams of you.

I meet you now without alarms,

Nor longer fearful to displease, I talk with ease about your charms,

E'en with my rival talk with ease.

Whether in angry mood you rise,

Or sweetly sit with placid guile, Vain is the lightning of your eyes,

And vainer still your gilded smile.,

Loves, in your smiles, no longer play;

Your lips, your tongue have lost their art; Those eyes have now forgot the way

That led directly to my heart.

Hear me; and judge if I'm sincere;

That you are beautéous still I swear ; But oh! no longer you appear

The fairest, and the only fair.

Hear me; but let not truth offend,

In that fine form, in many places, I now spy faults, my lovely friend,

Which I mistook before for graces.

And yet, though free, I thought at first,

With shame my weakness I confess, My agonizing heart would burst,

The agonies of death are less.

The little songster thus you see

Caught in the cruel schoolboy's toils,

Struggling for life, at last, like me,

Escapes, and leaves his feather'd spoils.

His plumage soon resumes its gloss,

His little heart soon waxes gay;
Nor falls, grown cautious from his loss,

To artifice again a prey.

It is not love, it is not pique,
· That gives my whole discourse, this cast;
'Tis nature, that delights to speak

Eternally of dangers past.

Carousing o'er the midnight bowl

The soldier never ceasing prates, Shews every scar to every soul,

And every hair-breadth 'scape relates.

Which of us has most cause to grieve?

Which situation would you choose ? I, a capricious tyrant leave,

And you, a faithful lover lose.

I can find maids in every rout,

With smiles as false, and forms as fine; But you must search the world throughout,

To find a heart as true as mine.

EDWARD THOMPSON,

BORN 1738.-DIED 1786.

CAPTAIN EDWARD THOMPSON was a native of Hull, and went to sea so early in life as to be precluded from the advantages of a liberal education. At the age of nineteen, he acted as lieutenant on board the Jason, in the engagement offUshant, between Hawke and Conflans. Coming to London, after the peace, he resided, for some time, in Kew-lane, where he wrote some light pieces for the stage, and some licentious poems; the titles of which need not be revived. At the breaking out of the American war, Garrick's interest obtained promotion for him in his own profession; and he was appointed to the command of the Hyæna frigate, and made his fortune by the single capture of a French East Indiaman. He was afterwards in Rodney's action off Cape St. Vincent, and brought home the tidings of the victory. His death was occasioned by a fever, which he caught on board the Grampus, while he commanded that vessel, off the coast of Africa. Though a dissolute man, he had the character of an able and humane commander.

A few of his sea songs are entitled to remembrance. Besides his poems and dramatic pieces, he published “ Letters of a Sailor;" and edited the