INSCRIBED

ON A BEAUTIFUL

GROTTO NEAR THE WATER.

THE

I.

HE Graces fought in yonder ftream,
To cool the fervid day,

When love's malicious godhead came,

And ftole their robes away.

II.

Proud of the theft, the little god

Their robes bade DELIA wear;

While they, asham'd to ftir abroad,
Remain all naked here.

W

I.

Here now are all my flatt'ring dreams of joy!
MONIMIA, give my foul her wonted reft;-
Since first thy beauty fix'd my roving eye,
Heart-gnawing cares corrode my penfive breast.
II.

Let happy lovers fly where pleasures call,
With feftive fongs beguile the fleeting hour;
Lead Beauty thro' the mazes of the ball,
Or prefs her wanton in love's roseate bow'r.

III.

For me, no more I'll range th' empurpled mead, Where shepherds pipe, and virgins dance around, Nor wander thro' the woodbine's fragrant fhade, To hear the mufic of the grove refound.

IV.

I'll feek fome lonely church, or dreary hall, Where fancy paints the glimm'ring taper blue, Where damps hang mould'ring on the ivy'd wall, And sheeted ghofts drink up the midnight dew:

V.

There leagu'd with hopeless anguish and defpair,
Awhile in filence o'er my fate repine;

Then, with a long farewell to love and care,
To kindred duft my weary limbs confign.

VI.

Wilt thou, MONIMIA, fhed a gracious tear
On the cold grave where all my forrows reft?
Wilt thou ftrew flow'rs, applaud my love fincere,
And bid the turf lie light upon my breast!

B

ALM of my cares, sweet solace of my toils, Hail JUICE benignant! O'er the coftly cups Of riot-ftirring wine, unwholfome draught, Let Pride's loofe fons prolong the wafteful night; My fober ev'ning let the tankard bless, With toaft embrown'd, and fragrant nutmeg fraught, While the rich draught with oft-repeated whiffs Tobacco mild improves. Divine repast!

Where no crude furfeit, or intemperate joys
Of lawless Bacchus reign; but o'er my foul
A Calm Lethean creeps; in drowsy trance
Each thought fubfides, and sweet oblivion wraps
My peaceful brain, as if the leaden rod
Of magic Morpheus o'er mine eyes had shed
Its opiate influence. What tho' fore ills
Opprefs, dire want of chill-dispelling coals
Or chearful candle, (fave the make-weight's gleam
Haply remaining) heart-rejoicing ALE
Chears the fad fcene, and every want supplies.
Meantime, not mindlefs of the daily task
Of Tutor fage, upon the learned leaves
Of deep SMIGLECIUS much I meditate;
While ALE infpires, and lends its kindred aid,
The thought-perplexing labour to pursue,
Sweet Helicon of Logic! But if friends
Congenial call me from the toilfome page,
To pot-house I repair, the facred haunt,
Where ALE, thy votaties in full resort,
Hold rites nocturnal. In capacious chair
Of monumental oak and antique mould,
That long has ftood the rage of conquering years
Inviolate, (nor in more ample chair

Smoaks rofy Juftice, when th' important cause,
Whether of hen-rooft, or of mirthful rape,
In all the majesty of paunch he tries)
Studious of ease, and provident, I place