And long 'twas doubtful, both so closely pent,
Which first should iffue thro' the narrow vent ;
At laft agreed, together out they fly,
Infeparable now, the truth and lie;
The strict companions are for ever join'd, 495
And this or that unmix'd, no mortal e'er shall find,
While thus I ftood, intent to fee and hear,

ST

One came, methought, and whisper'd in my ear;
What could thus high thy rash ambition raise ?
Art thou, fond youth, a candidate for praise ?
500
"Tis true, faid I, not void of hopes I came,
For who fo fond as youthful bards of Fame?
But few, alas! the cafual bleffing boast,
So hard to gain, so easy to be loft.
How vain that fecond life in others breath, 505
Th' eftate which wits inherit after death!

NOTES.

VER. 497. While thus I flood, etc.] The hint is taken from a passage in another part of the third book, but here more naturally made the conclufion, with the addition of a Moral, to the whole. In Chaucer, he only anfwers" he came to fee the place;" and the book ends abruptly, with his being furprized at the fight of a Man of great Authority, and awaking in a fright. P. ?

IMITATIONS.

A lefing and a fad footh faw
That gonnen at adventure draw
Out of a window forth to pace-

And no man, be he ever fo wrothe,
Shall have one of these two, but bothe, etc. P.

A

10

A

nt, Eafe, health, and life, for this they must resign, t: (Unfure the tenure, but how vaft the fine!) The great man's curfe, without the gains, endure, Be envy'd, wretched, and be flatter'd, poor; 510 All luckless wits their enemies profest,

515

And all fuccessful, jealous friends at best. Nor Fame I flight, nor for her favours call; ar: She comes unlook'd for, if she comes at all. But if the purchase cost so dear a price, As foothing Folly, or exalting Vice: Oh! if the Muse must flatter lawless sway, And follow still where fortune leads the way; Or if no bafis bear my rifing name,

But the fall'n ruins of another's fame;

520 Then teach me, heav'n! to scorn the guilty bays, Drive from my breast that wretched luft of praise; Unblemish'd let me live, or die unknown ; Oh! grant an honeft fame, or grant me none!

493

nd.

00

JANUARY and MAY:

OR THE

MERCHANT'S TALE.

FROM

CHAUCER.

J