'The first is to desire, 'If you incline, ́ Five hundred lashes for two friends of mine, And just as many for a Fry'r; 'The next a litter, and two mules, The heavy hours of absence to amuse, Besides a Muleteer, that I shall chuse, So said, the culprit knaves appear, You may suppose, Her lover for her Muleteer. Then with a voice sweet as an angel's song, In silent rapture stoop'd to hear, Conviction follow'd as she spoke, And truth, and soft persuasion, dwelt on her enchanting tongue. 'With grief those scenes unwilling I disclose, 'Whence every error, each misfortune, rose; 'When pleasures, of the lowest, meanest kind, 'Unnerv'd your feeble frame, and checked the progress your mind. 'In vain your people's curses, or their tears, 'Your heart assail'd, 'Two flattering knaves had charm'd your ears, 'And Raymond vainly counsel'd, or as vainly rail'd; of 6 'He was your father's friend, wise, honest, brave, 'Him you displac'd, And listening to the malice of a slave, The Guardian of your Crown was banish'd, and disgrac❜d. 'Me too you lov❜d, and I approv'd the flame 6 Το 'But soon your Confessor, the crafty Priest, To guard your heart, and court it to be kind, 'While haggard superstition triumph'd over love. But justice still pursues betimes, 6 E'en now, for she directs the hour, The Priest, and the vile partners of his pow'r, 'Feel vengeance overtake their crimes. 'The Turks' unnotic'd march, last night's surprize, "The foe unthought-of thundering at the gate, 6 At length have clear'd your eyes, Their treacherous negligence is found, is felt too late. 'No more of this unpleasing strain— 6 If thinking, acting like a man, Virtue within your breast resume her reign, Inspire your thoughts and guide your future plan, My heart will still be your's: e'en Raymond too 'Still loves his Prince, to him repair, 'Confess your faults, his aid demand, The gallant veteran waits but your command 6 To spread his conquering banners to the air, 6 To sacrifice his life with you, 'Or rescue and relieve his native land. 'Abdalla claims my promise in three days. 'Danger and death attend delays, Be virtuous, be daring, and be free.' The Lady's sermon was a little long, For when a favourite mistress speaks, We always think her in the right, To say the truth, her speech was rather rough, So thank'd her for the good advice, Call'd her his guardian angel, his sweet tutor, And kiss'd her fair hand, once, or twice, And swore to be a good boy for the future. In short, it was so settled; the third night, And enter at the gates pell-mell. Mean time Abdalla, snug in bed, Finding Almida staid away so long, Suspecting there was something wrong, Look'd out; and found his troops were kill'd or gone, Himself a prisoner, and alone, And Tancred reigning in his stead. And now the sore-back'd scoundrels in a trice Or stick a hedge-stake through the tail Indignant fury flash'd from Tancred's eye- 'Ye foes to honour, honesty, and truth, Hence from my sight, nor offer a reply: 'If the third day Within the limits of this state 'Disclose your stay, 'Not e'en Almida's self shall save you from your fate. Go, brave Abdalla, to your native shore;— "From sloth, from vice, from infamy, 'Your kind instructions and assistance 'Have haply set me free; 'Thanks for your visit, pray return no more, 'And now, my better angel, whose kind care Restor❜d fair wisdom's gentle sway, Guided my steps to her, and pointed out the way; 'Still with that cheering influence preside, Inspire my raptur'd heart, and make it virtuous as your own." ANONYMOUS Poetical Trifles, 1778 341 The British Grenadiers OME talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules, SOME Of Conon and Lysander, and some Miltiades; But of all the World's brave Heroes, there's none that can compare, With a tow, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers. Chorus. But of all the World's brave Heroes, &c. None of those ancient Heroes e'er saw a cannon ball, |