212

SIMILE AGIT IN SIMILE.
Thus thy praise shall be express'd,
Inoffensive, welcome guest!
While the rat is on the scout,
And the mouse with curious snout.
With what vermin else infest
Every dish, and spoil the best;
Frisking thus before the fire

Thou hast all thine heart's desire.

Though in voice and shape they be
Form'd as if akin to thee,
Thou surpassest, happier far,
Happiest grasshoppers that are;
Theirs is but a summer's song,
Thine endures the winter long;
Unimpair'd, and shrill, and clear,
Melody throughout the year.

Neither night, nor dawn of day,
Puts a period to thy play:

Sing then-and extend thy span
Far beyond the date of man.

Wretched man, whose years are spent

In repining discontent,

Lives not, aged though he be,

Half a span, compared with thee.

SIMILE AGIT IN SIMILE.

BY VINCENT BOURNE,

CRISTATUS, pictisque ad Thaida Psittacus aliis,
Missus ab Eoo munus amante venit.
Ancillis mandat primam formare loquelara,
Archididascaliæ dat sibi Thais opus.
Psittace, ait Thais, fingitque sonantia molle
Basia, quæ docilis molle refingit avis.
Jam captat, jam dimidiat tyrunculus; et jam
Integrat auditos articulatque sonos.

Psittace mi pulcher pulchelle, hera dicit alumno;
Psittace mi pulcher, reddit alumnus heræ.
Jamque canit, ridet, deciesque ægrotat in hor
Et vocat ancillas nomine quamque suo.

Multaque scurratur mendax, et multa jocatur
Et lepido populum detinet augurio.

Nunc tremulum illudet fratrem, qui suspicit, et Pol!
Carnalis, quisquis te docet, inquit, homo est;
Argutæ nunc stridet anus argutulus instar:
Respicit, et nebulo es, quisquis es, inquit anus.
Quando fuit melior tyro, meliorve magistra !
Quando duo ingeniis tam coiêre pares!
Ardua discenti nulla est, res nulla docenti
Ardua; cum doceat foemina, discat avis.

IV. THE PARROT.

TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.

IN painted plumes superbly dress'd
A native of the gorgeous east,
By many a billow toss'd,

Poll gains at length the British shore,
Part of the captain's precious store,
A present to his toast.

Belinda's maids are soon preferr'd,
To teach him now and then a word
As Poll can master it;

But 'tis her own important charge,
To qualify him more at large,

And make him quite a wit.

Sweet Poll! his doting mistress cries,
Sweet Poll! the mimic bird replies;
And calls aloud for sack.

She next instructs him in the kiss;
"Tis now a little one, like Miss,
And now a hearty smack.

At first he aims at what he hears;

And, listening close with both his ears,

Just catches at the sound;

But soon articulates aloud,

Much to the amusement of the crowd,

And stuns the neighbours round.

A querulous old woman's voice
His humorous talent next employs;
He scolds and gives the lie.

And now he sings, and now is sick,
Here Sally, Susan, come, come quick,
Poor Poll is like to die!

Belinda and her bird! 'tis rare

To meet with such a well-match'd pair,
The language and the tone,

Each character in every part

Sustain'd with so much grace and art,
And both in unison.

When children first begin to spell,
And stammer out a syllable,

We think them tedious creatures:

But difficulties soon abate,

When birds are to be taught to prat、、
And women are the teachers.

TRANSLATION OF

PRIOR'S CHLOE AND EUPHELIA. MERCATOR, vigiles oculos ut fallere possit, Nomine sub ficto trans mare mittit opes: Lene sonat liquidumque meis Euphelia chordis, Sed solam exoptant te, mea vota, Chlôe. Ad speculum ornabat nitidos Euphelia crines, Cum dixit mea lux, Heus, cane, sume lyram. Namque lyram juxta positam cum carmine vidit, Suave quidem carmen dulcisonamque lyram.

Fila lyre vocemque paro, suspiria surgunt

Et miscent numeris murmura moesta meis, Dumque tuæ memoro laudes, Euphelia, formæ, Tota anima interea pendet ab ore Chlöes. Subrubet illa pudore, et contrahit altera frontem Me torquet mea mens conscia, psallo, tremo; Atque Cupidineâ dixit Dea cincta coronâ,

Heu! fallendi artem quam didicêre parum.

215

THE DIVERTING

HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN.

Shewing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again.

JOHN GILPIN was a citizen

Of credit and renown,

A train-band captain eke was he
Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.

To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair
Unto the Bell at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.

My sister, and my sister's child
Myself, and children three,

Will fill the chaise; so you must ridə
On horseback after we.

He soon replied, I do admire

Of womankind but one,

And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.

I am a linen-draper bold,

As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender
Will lend his horse to go.

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, That's well said;
And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnish'd with our own,
Which is both bright and clear.

John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife;
O'erjoy'd was he to find,

That though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaise was brought,

But yet was not allow'd

To drive up to the door, least all

Should say that she was proud

So three doors off the chaise was stay'd,
Where they did all get in;

Six precious souls, and all agog

To dash through thick and thin.

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,
Were never folks so glad,

The stones did rattle underneath,
As if Cheapside were mad.
John Gilpin at his horse's side
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride,
But soon came down again;

For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,
His journey to begin,

When turning round his head he saw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for loss of time,
Although it grieved him sore;
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the customers
Were suited to their mind,

When Betty screaming came down stairs,
The wine is left behind l'

Good lack! quoth he-yet bring it me

My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty sword,
When I do exercise.

Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul!)
Had two stone bottles found,
To hold the liquor that she loved,
And keep it safe and sound.

Each bottle had a curling ear,
Through which the belt he drew,

And hung a bottle on each side,

To make his balance true.