Which is the happier, or the wiser,
A man of Merit, or a Miser ?
Whether we ought to chuse our Friends,
For their own Worth, or our own Ends?
What good, or better, we may call,
And what, the very best of all?
Our Friend Dan Prior, told (you know)
A Tale extremely à propos :
Name a Town Life, and in a trice,
He had a Story of two Mice.
Once on a time (fo runs the Fable)
A Country Mouse, right hospitable,
Receiv'd a Town Mouse at his Board,
Juft as a Farmer might a Lord.
A frugal Mouse upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,
Knew what was handfome, and would do't,
On juft occafion, coute qui coute,
He brought him Bacon (nothing lean)
Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean;
Cheese, fuch as men in Suffolk make,
But wish'd it Stilton for his fake;
Yet, to his Gueft tho' no way sparing,
He eat himself the rind and paring.
Our Courtier scarce could touch a bit,
But show'd his Breeding and his Wit;
He did his best to seem to eat,
And cry'd, "I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my Friend, this favage Scene! 175 "For God's fake, come, and live with Men :
Mortales animas vivunt fortita, neque ulla eft,
Aut magno aut parvo, leti fuga. quo, bone, circa,
Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus :
Vive memor quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dicta
Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit inde
Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes
Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat
Nox medium coeli fpatium, cum ponit uterque
In locuplete domo vestigia: rubro ubi cocco
Tincta fuper lectos canderet veftis cburnos ;
Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula coena,
Quae procul exftructis inerant hefterna caniftris.
Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in vefte locavit
Agreftem; veluti fuccin&us curfitat hofpes,
Continuatque dapes : nec non verniliter ipfis
Fungitur officiis, praelibans omne quod affert,
"Confider, Mice, like Men, must die, "Both small and great, both you and I. "Then spend your life in Joy and Sport, "(This doctrine, Friend, I learnt at Couft) 180 The verieft Hermit in the Nation
May yield, God knows, to ftrong temptation.
Away they come, thro' thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's- Inn;
('Twas on the night of a Debate,
When all their Lordfhips had fat late.)
Behold the place, where if a Poet
Shin'd in Defcription, he might fhow it;
Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls,
And tips with filver all the walls;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors:
But let it (in a word) be said,
The Moon was up and Men a bed,
The Napkins white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate, tête à téte.
Our Courtier walks from difh to dish,
Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
"Que ça eft bon! Ah gouter ça!
"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,
"Pray, dip your Whiskers and your Tail in."
Was ever such a happy Swain?
He stuff's and fwills, and ftuffs again.
"I'm quite afkam'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat fo much-but all's fo good.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque
Rebus agit laetum convivam: cum fubito ingens
Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque.
Currere per totum pavidi conclave; magifque
Exanimes trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis
Perfonuit canibus. tum rufticus, Haud mihi vita
Eft opus hac, ait, et valeas: me fylva, cavufque
Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur ervo.
"I have a thousand thanks to giye
My Lord alone knows how to live."
No fooner faid, but from the Hall
Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all :
"A Rat, a Rat! clap to the door
The Cat comes bouncing on the floor.
O for the heart of Homer's Mice,
Or Gods to fave them in a trice!
(It was by Providence they think,
For your damn'd Stucco has no chink.)
"An't please your Honour, quoth the Peasant,
"This fame Deffert is not fo pleasant :
"Give me again my hollow Tree,
"A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!
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