EPISTOLA VII.

UINQUE dies tibi pollicitus me

QUIN

futurum,

Sextilem totum mendax defideror. atqui,
Si me vivere vis fanum recteque valentem;
Quam mihi das aegro, dabis aegrotare timenti,
Maecenas, veniam: num ficus prima calorque
Defignatorem decorat lictoribus atris :

rure

Dum pueris omnis pater, et matercula pallet;
Officiofaque fedulitas, et opella forenfis
Adducit febris, et testamenta refignat.
Quod fi bruma nives Albanis illinet agris ;
Ad mare defcendet vates tuus, et fibi parcet,
Contractufque leget; te, dulcis amice, reviset
Cum Zephyris, fi concedes, et hirundine prima.

Vol. VI. facing p.3.

del

Cyrignion Sculp

Hail, Bards triumphant born in happier Days;
Immortal Heirs of universal Praise!
Oh may some.
The last, the meanest of your Sons inspire
Spark of your celestial Fire?,

Essay on Crit.

EPIST LE VII.

Imitated in the Manner of Dr. SWIFT.

'T'

IS true, my Lord, I gave my word,
I would be with you, June the third;
Chang'd it to August, and (in short)
Have kept it as you do at Court.
You humour me when I am fick,
Why not when I am fplenetick?
In town, what objects could I meet?
The shops fhut up in ev'ry street,
And Fun'rals black'ning all the Doors,
And yet more melancholy Whores :
And what a dust in ev'ry place?
And a thin Court that wants your Face,
And Fevers raging up and down, 1

And W* and H** both in town!

"The Dog-days are no more the cafe."
"Tis true, but Winter comes apace:
Then fouthward let your Bard retire,
Hold out fome months 'twixt Sun and Fire,
And you shall fee, the first warm Weather,
Me and the Butterflies together.

10

15

20

Non, quo more pyris vefci Calaber jubet hofpes, Tu me fecifti locupletem. Vefcere fodes. Jam fatis eft. At tu quantumvis tolle. Benigne. Non invifa feres pueris munufcula parvis. Tam teneor dono, quam fi dimittar onustus. Ut libet haec porcis hodie comedenda relinques. Prodigus et ftultus donat quae fpernit et odit : Haec feges ingratos tulit et feret omnibus annis. Vir bonus et fapiens, dignis ait effe paratus? Nec tamen ignorat, quid diftent aera lupinis? Dignum praeftabo me, etiam pro laude merentis. Quod fi me noles ufquam difcedere; reddes Forte latus, nigros angufta fronte capillos: