But fomething much more our concern,
And quite a fcandal not to learn:
Which is the happier, or the wifer,
A man of Merit, or a Mifer?
Whether we ought to chufe 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 Moufe, right hofpitable,
Received a Town Moufe at his Board,
Just as a Farmer might a Lord.
A frugal Moufe, upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,
Knew what was handsome, and would do't,
On juft occafion, coute qui coute.
Pertinet, et nefcire malum eft, agitamus; utrumne
Divitiis homines, an fint virtute beati :
Quidve ad amicitias, ufus rectumne, trahat nos :
Et quae fit natura boni, fummumque quid ejus.
Cervius haec inter vicinus garrit aniles
Ex re fabellas. fi quis nam laudat Arellî
Solicitas ignarus opes; fic incipit: Olim
Rufticus urbanum murem mus paupére fertur
Accepiffe cavo, veterem vetus hofpes amicum;
Afper, et attentus quaefitis; ut tamen arctum
Solveret hofpitiis animum. quid multa? neque illi
Sepofiti ciceris, nec longae invidit avenae :
He brought him Bacon (nothing lean)
Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean;
Cheese, such as men in Suffolk make,
But wifh'd it Stilton for his fake;
Yet, to his Gueft tho' no way sparing,
He eat himself the rind and paring.
Our Courtier scarce would touch a bit,
But fhow'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!
"For God's fake, come, and live with Men:
"Confider, Mice, like Men, must die,
"Both fmall and great, both you and I: "Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,
(This doctrine, Friend, I learn'd at Court.)" 180 The verieft Hermit in the Nation
May yield, God knows, to strong temptation.
Away they come, thro' thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's-inn:
Aridum et ore ferens acinum, femefaque lardi
Frufta dedit, cupiens varia faftidia coena
Vincere tangentis male fingula dente fuperbo:
Cum pater ipfe domus palea porrectus in horna
Effet ador loliumque, dapis meliora relinquens.
Tandem urbanus ad hunc, Quid te juvat, inquit, amice.
Praerupti nemoris patientem vivere dorfo ?
Vin' tu homines urbemque feris praeponere fylvis ?
Carpe viam (mihi crede) comes: terreftria quando
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
("Twas on the night of a Debate,
When all their Lordships had fate 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 Silver all the walls ;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors:
But let it (in a word) be faid,
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 tête.
Our Courtier walks from difh to dish,
Tafles for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
Que ça eft bon! Ah goutez ça!
"That Jelly's rich, this Malmfey healing,
Pray dip your Whiskers and your Tail in."
Was ever fuch a happy Swain?
He ftuffs and fwills, and stuffs again.
"I'm quite afham'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat fo much-but all's fo good.
Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat
Nox medium coeli fpatium, cum ponit uterque
In locuplete domo vestigia: rubro ubi cocco
Tincta fuper lectos canderet vefis eburnos ;
Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula coena,
Quae procul exftructis inerant hefterna caniftris.
Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in vefte locavit
Agreftem; veluti fuccinctus curfitat hofpes,
Continuatque dapes: nec non vérniliter.ipfis
Fungitur officiis, praelibans ómne quod affert.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque
“ I have a thousand thanks to give
My Lord alone knows how to live.”
No fooner faid, but from the Hall
Rufh 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 so pleasant :
"Give me again my hollow Tree, "A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!"
Rebus agit laetum convivam: cum fubito ingens
Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque.
Currere per totam 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.
Ah spare me, Venus! let me, let me rest!
I am not now, alas! the man
As in the gentle Reign of my Queen Anne.
Ah found no more thy soft alarms,
Nor circle fober fifty with thy Charms! Mother too fierce of dear Defires!
Turn, turn to willing hearts your wanton fires. To Number five direct your Doves,
There fpread round MURRAY all your blooming LOVES;
INTERMISSA, Venus, diu
Rurfus bella moves? parce precor, precor.
Non fum qualis eram bonae
Sub regno Cynarae. define, dulcium
Mater faeve Cupidinum,
Circa luftra decem flectere mollibus
Jam durum imperiis : abi
Quo blandae juvenum te revocant preces.
Tempeftivius in domum.
Paulli, purpureis ales oloribus,
|