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The following Jue d'Esprit, is the production of the prefent DEAN of DERRY, Dr Barnard, who advanced in converfation with Sir Joshua Reynolds and other wits, that he thought no man could improve when he was paft the age of forty-five." Johnson (Samuel) who was in company, with his ufual elegance and polished graces, immediately turned round to the facetious Dean, and told him that he was an inftance to the contrary, for that there was great room for improvement in him (the Dean) and wifhed he'd fet about it; upon which, the Dean the next day fent the following elegant bagatelle to Sir Joshua Reynolds and the fame company.

то

Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS,

I

And Co. by the

DEAN OF DERRY..

LATELY thought no man alive,
Cou'd e'er improve past forty-five,
And ventur'd to affert it ;

The obfervation was not new,

But feem'd to me so just and true,

That none could controvert it.

"No, Sir," fays Johnson, " 'tis not fo,
That's your mistake, and I can fhew,
"An inftance if you doubt it;
"You Sir, who are near forty-eight,
"May much improve, 'tis not too late,
"I wish you'd fet about it."

Encourag'd thus to mend my faults,
I turn'd his counfel in my thoughts,
Which way I should apply it;
Learning and wit feem'd past my reach,
For who can learn when none will teach?
And wit-I could not buy it.

Then come my friends, and try your skill, You can inform me if you will,

(My books are at a distance)

With you I'll live and learn, and then,
Inftead of books, I shall read men,
So lend me your affiftance.

*

Dear Knight of Plympton, teach me how To fuffer with unruffled brow,

And fmile ferene like thine; The jeft uncouth, or truth fevere, To fuch I'll turn my deafeft ear, And calmly drink my wine.

Thou fay'ft, not only skill is gain'd,
But genius too may be attain'd,
By ftudious imitation;

Thy temper mild, thy genius fine,
I'll copy till I make thee mine,
By conftant application.

*Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The art of pleafing, teach me Garrick,
Thou*, who revereft odes Pindaric,
A fecond time read o'er ;

Oh! cou'd we read thee backwards too,
Laft thirty years thou fhould't review,
And charm us thirty more.

If I have thoughts, and can't exprefs 'em
Gibbons fhall teach me how to dress 'em
In terms felect and terfe ;

. Jones teach me modesty and Greek,
Smith how to think, Burke how to speak,
And Beauclerc to converse.

Let Johnfon teach me how to place,
In faireft light each borrow'd grace?
From him I'll learn to write;

Copy his clear familiar style,
And from the roughness of his file,
Grow like himfelf-polite.

* Mr Garrick being asked to read Mr Cumberland's Odes, laughed immoderately, and affirmed, that fuch ftuff might as well be read backwards as forwards; and the witty Rofcius accordingly read them in that manner, and wonderful to relate! produced the fame good fenfe and poetry as the fentimental author ever had genius to write.

DOR IN D A,

TOWN ECLOGUE.

By Mr.

FITZPATRICK.

N that fad feafon when the hapless belle

IN

With fleps reluctant bids the town farewell:
When furly hufbands doom th' unwilling fair
To quit St. James's for a purer air,

And, deaf to pity, from their much lov'd town
Relentless bear the beauteous exiles down

To difmal fhades, through lonely groves to ftray,
And figh the fummer live-long months away;
With all the bloom of youth and beauty grac'd,
One morn DORINDA, at her toilet plac'd,
With looks intent and penfive air furvey'd
The various charms her faithful glass display'd;
Eyes, that might warm the frozen breaft of age,
Or melt to tenderness the tyrant's rage;
Smiles, that enchanting with refiftless art,
Stole unperceiv'd the heedlefs gazer`s heart;

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