The flatterer an earwig grows : Thus worms suit all conditions; That statesmen have the worms, is seen That gnaws them night and day. Ah, Moore thy skill were well employ'd, If thou couldst make the courtier void O learned friend of Abchurch-lane, Our fate thou only canst adjourn 30 40 MISCELLANIES. THE BASSET-TABLE.* AN ECLOGUE. CARDELIA. THE Basset-table spread, the Tallier come; SMILINDA. Ah, madam, since my Sharper is untrue, I joyless make my once adored Alpeu. I saw him stand behind Ombrelia's chair, And whisper with that soft, deluding air, And those feign'd sighs, which cheat the listening fair. CARDELIA. Is this the cause of your romantic strains? 10 * It is not certain whether Pope was the author of this poem. He and Lady Mary Wortley Montague wrote six "Town Eclogues," and two of them were by him, but which two is uncertain. HH SMILINDA. Is that the grief which you compare with mine? With ease the smiles of fortune I resign: Would all my gold in one bad deal were gone! Were lovely Sharper mine, and mine alone. CARDELIA. A lover lost, is but a common care; And prudent nymphs against that change prepare: The knave of clubs thrice lost! O! who could guess This fatal stroke, this unforeseen distress? SMILINDA. See Betty Lovet! very à propos, She all the cares of love and play does know : LOVET. Tell, tell your griefs; attentive will I stay, Though time is precious, and I want some tea. CARDELIA. 20 30 Behold this equipage, by Mathers wrought, With fifty guineas (a great pen'orth) bought. See, on the toothpick, Mars and Cupid strive ; And both the struggling figures seem alive. Upon the bottom shines the queen's bright face; A myrtle foliage round the thimble-case. Jove, Jove himself, does on the scissors shine; The metal and the workmanship, divine! SMILINDA. This snuff-box, once the pledge of Sharper's love, When rival beauties for the present strove : At Corticelli's he the raffle won; Then first his passion was in public shown: 40 This snuff-box-on the hinge see brilliants shine :This snuff-box will I stake; the prize is mine. CARDELIA. Alas! far lesser losses than I bear, Have made a soldier sigh, a lover swear: And, O what makes the disappointment hard, 'Twas my own lord that drew the fatal card. In complaisance, I took the queen he gave, Though my own secret wish was for the knave. The knave won sonica, which I had chose; And the next pull, my septleva I lose. SMILINDA, 51 But, ah! what aggravates the killing smart, I introduced her to the park and plays; CARDELIA. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, When Winnall tallied, I would punt no more! I knew the bite, yet to my ruin run; And see the folly, which I cannot shun. 70 SMILINDA. How many maids have Sharper's vows deceived! How many cursed the moment they believed! Yet his known falsehoods could no warning prove! Ah, what is warning to a maid in love! CARDELIA. But of what marble must that breast be form'd, Exposed in glorious heaps the tempting bank, SMILINDA. 80 90 What more than marble must that heart compose, Can hearken coldly to my Sharper's vows? Then, when he trembles! when his blushes rise ! When awful love seems melting in his eyes! With eager beats his Mechlin cravat moves : 'He loves!'-I whisper to myself 'he loves! ' Such unfeign'd passion in his looks appears, I lose all memory of my former fears; My panting heart confesses all his charms; I yield at once, and sink into his arms. Think of that moment, you who prudence boast; For such a moment, prudence well were lost. CARDELIA. At the Groom-Porter's batter'd bullies play; 100 |