On LITTLETON, COKE gravely thus remarks, (Remember this, ye rhyming Temple sparks!) "In all our author's tenures, be it noted,

"This is the fourth time any verse is quoted."
Which, 'gainst the Muse and verse, may well imply
What lawyers call a Noli Prosequi.

Quit then, dear GEORGE, O quit the barren field,
Which neither profit nor reward can yield!
What tho' the sprightly scene well acted draws
From unpack'd Englishmen, unbrib'd applause,
Some monthly grub, some DENNIS of the age,
In print cries shame on the degen'rate stage.*
If haply CHURCHILL strive with generous aim,
To fan the sparks of genius to a flame;
If all UNASK'D, UNKNOWING, and UNKNOWN,
By noting thy desert, he prove his own;
Envy shall strait to HAMILTON's repair,
And vent her spleen, and gall, and venom there;
Thee, and thy works, and all thy friends decry,
And boldly print and publish a rank lie;
Swear your own hand the flatt'ring likeness drew,
Swear your own breath Fame's partial trumpet blew.

* Alluding to certain disingenuous and illiberal criticisms in the Critical Review; wherein the Jealous Wife, a comedy, and the author of that play, as well as his friends, were at different times attacked, with equal virulence and insolence.

Well I remember oft your friends have said, (Friends whom the surest maxims ever led,) Turn parson, COLMAN, that's the way to thrive; Your parsons are the happiest men alive. Judges, there are but twelve, and never more; But stalls untold, and bishops, twenty-four. Of pride and claret, sloth and venʼson full, Yon prelate mark, right reverend and dull! He ne'er, good man, need pensive vigils keep, To preach his audience once a week to sleep; On rich preferment battens at his ease, Nor sweats for tithes, as lawyers toil for fees.

Thus they advis'd. I know thee better far; And cry, stick close, dear COLMAN, to the bar! If Genius warm thee, where can Genius call For nobler action, than in yonder Hall? 'Tis not enough each morn, on term's approach, To club your legal three-pence for a coach; Then at the Hall to take your silent stand, With ink-horn and long note-book in your hand, Marking grave serjeants cite each wise Report, And noting down sage dictums from the court, With overwhelming brow, and law-learn'd face, The index of your book of common place.

These are mere drudges, that can only plod, And tread the path their dull forefathers trod;

Doom'd thro' law's maze, without a clue to range,
From second VERNON down to second STRANGE.
Do thou uplift thine eyes to happier wits,
Dulness no longer on the woolpack sits;

No longer on the drawling, dronish herd,

Are the first honours of the law conferr'd;"
But they, whose fame reward's due tribute draws,
Whose active merit challenges applause,

Like glorious beacons, are set high to view,
To mark the paths which genius should pursue.
O for thy spirit, MANSFIELD! at thy name
What bosom glows not with an active flame?
Alone from jargon born to rescue law,
From precedent, grave hum, and formal saw!
To strip chican'ry of its vain pretence,
And marry common law to common sense!
PRATT, on thy lips persuasion ever hung!
English falls, pure as manna, from thy tongue :
On thy voice truth may rest, and on thy plea
Unerring HENLEY found the just decree.

HENLEY! than whom to HARDWICKE'S well-rais'd fame,

No worthier second Royal GEORGE could name:

No lawyer of prerogative: no tool,

Fashion'd in black corruption's pliant school;

Form'd, 'twixt the people and the crown to stand,

And hold the scales of right with even hand!

True to our hopes, and equal to his birth, See, see in YORKE the force of lineal worth;

But why their sev'ral merits need I tell?

Why on each honour'd sage's praises dwell?
WILMOT how well his place, or FOSTER fills?

Or shrewd sense beaming from the eye of WILLES?
Such, while thou see'st the public care engage,
Their fame increasing with increasing age,

Rais'd by true genius, bred in Phabus' school,
Whose warmth of soul sound judgment knew to cool;
-With such illustrious proofs before your eyes,
Think not, my friend, you've too much wit to rise;
Think of the bench, the coif, long robe, and fee,

And leave the press to CHURCHILL, and to ME.

THE MOUSE AND OYSTER.

WHEN midnight's sable veil o'erspread the plain,
When bats and fairies, mice and Morpheus reign,
A bold undaunted mouse, that long defy'd
The various stratagems that KATE had try'd,
His destin'd doom receiv'd, for soon or late
Both mice and monarchs must submit to fate.

Oft was the moon with silver lustre crown'd,
Since the nocturnal pirate march'd his round;
Soon as his foe, the sun, had took his flight,
Trips forth the little champion of the night;
With cautious tread, secure from fell mishap,
Of puss, of poisons, or tremendous trap;
Still at the head of his rapacious clan,
He skipt from shelf to shelf, from pan to pan;

With nose sagacious smok'd the baited gin,

Wary and conscious of the snare within:

Now feasts on rich variety of meats,

And oft in cheese his own apartments eats; Regales on floods of cream, ragouts, and cakes,

Of all the dainties of the day partakes :