Where honour and justice most odly contribute,
To cafe hero's pains by a halter and gibbet.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.

[on;

There death breaks the fhackles which force had put And the hangman compleats what the judge but begun: There the 'fquire of the pad, and the knight of the poft, Find their pains no more balk'd, and their hopes no Derry down, &c.

[more crofs'd.

[known;

Great claims are there made, and great fecrets are And the king and the law, and the thief has his own. But my hearers cry out, What a duce doft thou ail? Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale.

Derry down, &c.

'Twas there then, in civil refpect to harsh laws; And for want of falfe witnefs, to back a bad caufe; A Norman, though late, was oblig'd to appear: And who to affift but a grave Cordelier?

Derry down, &c.

The 'fquire, whofe good grace was to open the fcene, Seem'd not in great hafte that the fhow fhou'd begin : Now fitted the halter, now travers'd the cart ; And often took leave, but was loth to depart. Derry down, &c.

What frightens you thus, my fon? fays the priest: You murder'd, are forry; and have been confefs'd. O father! my forrow will fcarce fave my bacon: For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken. Derry down, &c.

[fancies:

Pough! pr'vthee ne'er trouble thy head with fuch Rely on the aid you fhall have from St Francis : If the money you promis'd be brought to the cheft; You have only to die: Let the church do the reft. Derry down, &c.

And what will folks fay, if they fee you afraid: It reflects upon me, as I knew not my trade: Courage, friend; to-day is your period of forrow: And things will go better, believe me, to-morrow. Derry down, &c.

To-morrow? our hero reply'd in a fright:

He that's hang'd before noon ought to think of to-night. Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly trufs'd For you furely to-night shall in Paradise fup.

Derry down, &c.

[up;

Alas! quoth the 'fquire, howe'er fumptuous the treat, Parbleu, I have little ftomach to eat :

I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace,
Would you be fo kind as to go in my place.

Derry down, &c.

[boot;

That I wou'd, quoth the father, and thank you to But our actions, you know, with our duty muft fuit, The feat I propos'd to you I cannot taste;

For this night, by our order, is mark'd for a fast.
Derry down, &c.

Then, turning about to the hangman, he faid;
Dispatch me, I pr'ythee, this trouble fome blade:
For thy cord and my cord both equally tie:
And we live by the gold for which other men die.
Derry down, &c.

SENEC.

IN

An

EPITAPH.

Stet quicunque volet potens
Aulae culmine lubrico, &c.

NTERR'D beneath this marble stone,
Lie faunt'ring Jack, and idle Joan.
While rolling threefcore years and one
Did round this globe their courfes run;
If human things went ill or well;
If changing empires rofe and fell;
The morning paft, the evening came,
And found this couple ftill the fame.
They walk'd and eat, good folks, what then?
Why then they walk'd and eat again:

They foundly flept the night away:

They just did nothing all the day.
And, having bury'd children four,
Would not take pains to try for more.
No fifter either had, nor brother:
They feem'd juft tally'd for each other,
Their moral and oeconomy

Moft perfectly they made agree:
Each virtue kept its proper bound,
Nor trefpafs'd on the other's ground.
Nor fame nor cenfure they regarded:
They neither punish'd nor rewarded.
He car'd not what the footmen did:
Her maids fhe neither prais'd nor chid.
So ev'ry fervant took his courfe;
And, bad at firft, they all grew worse.

Slothful diforder fill'd his ftable;

And fluttish plenty deck'd her table.

Their beer was strong; their wine was Port;
Their meal was large; their grace was short.
They gave the poor the remnant meat,
Juft when it grew not fit to eat.

They paid the church and parish rate;
And took, but read not the receipt;
For which they claim their Sunday's due,
Of flumb'ring in an upper pew.

No man's defects fought they to know;
So never made themselves a foe.

No man's good deeds did they commend;
So never rais'd themfelves a friend.
Nor cherish'd they relations poor;
That might decrease their prefent store:
Nor barn nor houfe did they repair;
That might oblige their future heir.

They neither added, nor confounded:
They neither wanted, nor abounded.
Each Christmas they accounts did clear;
And wound their bottom round the year.
Nor tear nor fmile did they employ,
At news of public grief or joy.
When bells were rung, and bonfires made,
If afk'd, they ne'er deny'd their aid:
Their jug was to the ringers carry'd,
Whoever either dy'd or rearry'd.
Their billet at the fire was found,

Whoever was depos'd or crown'd.

Nor good, nor bad, nor fools, nor wife; They would not learn, nor could advise:

Without love, hatred, joy, or fear,

They led--a kind of---as it were:
Nor wish'd, nor car'd, nor laugh'd, nor cry'd.
And fo they liv'd, and fo they dy'd.

HORACE, Lib. I. Epift. IX.

Septimius, Claudi, nimirum intelligit unus,
Quanti me facias, &c.

IMITATE D.

To the Right Honourable Mr HARLEY.

EAR Dick, howe'er it comes into his head,

D Believes as firmly as he does his creed,

That you and I, Sir, are extremely great;
Though I plain Mat. you minifter of state.
One word from me, without all doubt, he says,
Wou'd fix his fortune in fome little place.
Thus better than myfelf, it seems, he knows,
How far my intereft with my patron goes ;
And, answering all objections I can make,
Still plunges deeper in his dear mistake.

From this wild fancy, Sir, there may proceed
One wilder yet, which I foresee, and dread;
That I, in fact, a real interest have,
Which to my own advantage I would fave;
And, with the ufual courtier's trick, intend
To ferve myself, forgetful of my friend.

To fhun this cenfure, I all fhame lay by;
And make my reafon with his will comply;