Or found her mention'd in reports,
He ask'd, with fault'ring tongue, her name,
Her errand there, and whence she came ?
Sternly the white-rob'd shade reply'd,
(A crimson glow her visage dy'd)
"Canst thou be doubtful who I am?
Is Justice grown so strange a name? Were not your courts for Justice rais'd? 'Twas there of old my altar blaz'd;
That thou and all thy venal tribe,
Should spurn the goddess for a bribe?/
Aloud the ruin'd client cries,
Justice has neither ears, nor eyes!
In foul alliance with the bar,
'Gainst me the Judge denounces war,
And rarely issues his decree,
But with intent to baffle me."
She paus'd. Her breast with fury burn'd,
The trembling lawyer thus return'd :-
" I own the charge is justly laid,
And weak the excuse that can be made;
Yet search the spacious globe, and see
If all mankind are not like me.
The gown-man, skill'd in Romish lies,
By faith's false glass deludes our eyes,
O'er conscience rides without control,
And robs the man, to save his soul.
The doctor, with important face,
By sly design, mistakes the case,
Prescribes, and spins out the disease,
To trick the patient of his fees.
The soldier, rough with many a scar,
And red with slaughter, leads the war;
If he a nation's trust betray,
The foe has offer'd double pay.
"When Vice o'er all mankind prevails,
And weighty Int'rest turns the scales,
Must I be better than the rest,
And harbour Justice in my breast?
On one side only take the fee,
Content with poverty and thee?"
"Thou blind to sense, and vile of mind."
Th' exasperated shade rejoin'd,
"If virtue from the world is flown,
Will others' faults excuse thy own?
For sickly souls the priest was made,
Physicians, for the body's aid,
The soldier guarded liberty,
Man woman, and the lawyer me;
If all are faithless to their trust,
They leave not thee the less unjust,
Henceforth your pleadings I disclaim,
And bar the sanction of my name;
Within your courts it shall be read,
That Justice from the law is fled."
She spoke; and hid in shades her face, Till HARDWICK sooth'd her into grace.
The Farmer, the Spaniel, and the Cat.
WHY knits my dear her angry brow?
What rude offence alarms you now?
I said, that Delia's fair, tis true;
But did I say, she equall'd you?
Can't I another's face commend,
Or to her virtues be a friend,
But instantly your forehead lours,
As if her merit lessen'd yours?
From female envy never free,
All must be blind, because you see.
Survey the gardens, fields, and bow'rs,
The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs,
Then tell me where the wood-bine grows,
That vies in sweetness with the rose?
Or where the lily's snowy white,
That throws such beauties on the sight?
Yet foliy is it to declare,
That these are neither sweet, nor fair.
The crystal shines with fainter rays,
Before the diamond's brighter blaze;
And fops will say the diamond dies
Before the lustre of your eyes;
But I, who deal in truth, deny,
That neither shine when you are by.
When zephyrs o'er the blossoms stray,
And sweets along the air convey,
Shan't I the fragrant breeze inhale,
Because you breathe a sweeter gale?
Sweet are the flow'rs that deck the field,
Sweet is the smell the blossoms yield,
Sweet is the summer gale that blows,
And sweet, tho' sweeter you, the rose.
Shall envy, then, torment your breast,
If you are lovelier than the rest?
For while I give to each her due,
By praising them, I flatter you,
And praising most, I still declare
You fairest, where the rest are fair.
As at his board a farmer sate,
Replenish'd by his homely treat,
His fav'rite spaniel near him stood,
And with his master shar'd the food;
The crackling bones his jaws devour'd,
His lapping tongue the trenchers scour'd;
Till, sated now, supine he lay,
And snor'd the rising fumes away.
The hungry cat, in turn, drew near,
And humbly crav'd a servant's share,
Her modest worth the master knew;
And straight the fat'ning morsel threw;
Enrag'd the snarling cur awoke,
And thus, with spiteful envy, spoke.
"They only claim a right to eat,
Who earn by services their meat;
Me, zeal and industry inflame
To scour the fields and spring the game.
Or, plunging in the wintry wave,
For man the wounded bird to save:
With watchful diligence I keep,
From prowling wolves, his fleecy sheep;
At home, his midnight hours secure,
And drive the robber from the door.
For this, his breast with kindness glows;
For this, his hand the food bestows;
And shall thy indolence impart
A warmer friendship to his heart,
That thus he robs me of my due,
To pamper such vile things as you ?"
" I own" (with meekness puss reply'd)
" Superior merit on your side;
Nor does my breast with envy swell,
To find it recompenc'd so well,
Yet I, in what my nature can,
Contribute to the good of man.
Whose claws destroy the pilf'ring mouse!
Who drives the vermin from the house?
Or, watchful for the lab'ring swain,
From lurking rats secures the grain ?
From hence if he rewards bestow,
Why should your heart with gall o'er flow?
Why pine, my happiness to see,
Since there's enough for you and me ?"
Thy words are just, the farmer cry'd,
And spurn'd the snarler from his side.
THE nymph, who walks the public streets,
And sets her cap at all she meets,
May catch the fool who turns to stare ;
But men of sense avoid the snare.
As on the margin of the flood,
With silken line, my Lydia stood,
I smil'd to see the pains you took,
To cover o'er the fraudful hook:
Along the forest as we stray'd,
You saw the boy his lime-twigs spread :
Guess'd you the reason of his fear?
Lest, heedless, we approach'd too near;
For as behind the bush we lay,
The linnet fluter'd on the spray.
Needs there such caution to delude
The scaly fry, and feather'd brood?
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