If Gray or Mason you will deem As fast as other men write profe; Not Cooke can move with fuch a grace." To interpofe a word or two. "Have you no parents, Sir, no friends, Whose welfare on your own depends?" "Parents, relations, fay you? No. They're all difpofed of long ago." 66 Happy to be no more perplex'd! My fate too threatens, I go next. Dispatch me, Sir, 'tis now too late, Alas! to struggle with my fate! Well, I'm convinced my time is comeWhen young, a gipfy told my doom; The beldame shook her palfied head, As the perused my palm, and said: • Of poison, peftilence, or war, Gout, ftone, defluxion, or catarrh, You have no reason to beware. Beware the coxcomb's idle prate; Chiefly, my fon, beware of that. Be fure, when you behold him, fly Out of all earshot, or you die."" To Rufus' Hall we now draw near, Where he was fummon'd to appear, Refute the charge the plaintiff brought, Or fuffer judgment by default. "For Heaven's fake, if you love me, wait One moment! I'll be with you straight." Glad of a plaufible pretence— Sir, I must beg you to difpenfe With my attendance in the court. My legs will furely fuffer for't." Nay, prithee, Carlos, ftop awhile!" Faith, Sir, in law I have no skill. Besides, I have no time to spare, I must be going you know where." Well, I protest, I'm doubtful now Whether to leave my fuit or you!" "Me without fcruple!" I reply, "Me by all means, Sir!"-" No, not I. Allons, Monfieur !" "Twere vain, you know, To ftrive with a victorious foe. 66 So I reluctantly obey, And follow where he leads the way. "You and Newcastle are so close, Still hand and glove, Sir, I fuppofe.". "Newcastle, let me tell you, Sir, Has not his equal every where." "Well. There indeed There indeed your fortune's made. Faith, Sir, you your you understand trade. Would you but give me your good word: I should serve charmingly by way What think you, Sir? 'twere a good jest. 'Slife, we fhould quickly scout the rest.". Sir, you mistake the matter far, We have no fecond fiddles there." 66 66 Strange matters these alleged by you!". Strange they may be, but they are true.”"Well then, I vow, 'tis mighty clever, Now I long ten times more than ever To be advanced extremely near One of his shining character. Have but the will-there wants no more, He knows, and is so shy at first. Lord, Sir, you'll quickly bring him to! Sir, it shall be no fault of mine. Denied, what think you of a bribe? But at the most convenient time, For which you'll guess I wish'd him hang'd, Who knew his humour more than I; We stop, falute, and-" Why fo fast, By jeering made it ten times worse. The bailiff feized him, quick as thought, Ay, marry, Sir, I'll do my beft." The mob huzzas. Away they trudge, Culprit and all, before the judge. Meanwhile, I luckily enough (Thanks to Apollo) got clear off. A TALE, FOUNDED ON A FACT WHICH HAPPENED IN JANUARY 1779. HERE Humber pours his rich commer cial ftream There dwelt a wretch, who breathed but to blafpheme; In fubterraneous caves his life he led, Black as the mine in which he wrought for bread. To buy a cock-whose blood might win him more ; Were but for battle and for death defign'd; As if the confecrated hours were meant It chanced (such chances Providence obey) grace. Whose heart the fame defires had once inflamed; |