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Receiv'd a town mouse at his board,

Just as a farmer might a lord.

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A frugal mouse, upon

the whole,

Yet lov'd his friend, and had a soul,

Knew what was handsome, and would do't,

On just occasion, coute qui coute.

He brought him bacon (nothing lean)

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Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean;

Cheese, such as men in Suffolk make,

But wish'd it Stilton for his sake;
Yet, to his guest, tho' no way sparing,
He eat himself the rind and paring.
Our courtier scarce could touch a bit,
But show'd his breeding and his wit:

He did his best to seem to eat,

And cry'd, "I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my friend, this savage scene!
"For God's sake, come, and live with men :

"Consider, mice, like men, must die,

"Both small and

great, both you and L:

"Then spend your life in joy and sport,

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(This doctrine, friend, I learnt at court.)" The veriest hermit in the nation

May yield, God knows, to strong temptation.

Away they come, through thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's Inn;

('Twas on the night of a debate,

When all their Lordships had sat late.)

GG 2

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Behold

1

Behold the place, where if a poet
Shin'd in description, he might shew it;
Tell how the moon-beam trembling falls,
And tips with silver all the walls;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotesco roofs, and stucco floors:
But let it (in a word) be said,
The moon was up, and men a-bed,
The napkins white, the carpet red;

The guests withdrawn had left the treat,
And down the mice sate, tête à tête.

tail in."

Our courtier walks from dish to dish, Tastes for his friend of fowl and fish ; Tells all their names, lays down the law, "Que ça est bon! Ah gouter ça ! "That jelly's rich, this malmsey healing, "Pray, dip your whiskers and your Was ever such a happy swain ?.. He stuffs and swills, and stuffs again. "I'm quite ashamed—'tis mighty rude "To eat so much-but all's so good. "I have a thousand thanks to give"My Lord alone knows how to live." No sooner said, but from the hall Rush chaplain, butler, dogs and all: "A rat! a rat! clap to the door”,

The cat comes bouncing on the floor.

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O for

O for the heart of Homer's mice,

Or gods to save them in a trice!

(It was by Providence they think,

For your damn'd stucco has no chink.)

"An't please your Honour," quoth the peasant,

"This same dessert is not so pleasant :

"Give me again my hollow tree,

"A crust of bread and liberty!"

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BOOK IV.

ODE I.

TO VENUS.

AGAIN? new tumults in my breast?

Ah spare me, Venus! let me, let me rest?

I am not now, alas! the man

As in the gentle reign of my Queen Anne. Ah sound no more thy soft alarms,

Nor circle sober fifty with thy charms. Mother too fierce of dear desires!

Turn, turn to willing hearts your wanton fires. To Number five direct your doves,

5

There spread round MURRAY all your blooming

loves;

Noble and young, who strikes the heart

Equal, the injur'd to defend,

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With ev'ry sprightly, ev'ry decent part;

To charm the mistress, or to fix the friend.

He,

VER. 9. Number five,] The number of Murray's lodgings in

King's Bench Walks.

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