It lay before me on the close-grazed grass, Without one serious thought? now Heaven forbid! Perhaps some idle drunkard threw thee there, Ah! luckless was the day he learnt to chew! Then to the alehouse went to quench his thirst. So great events from causes small arise, Let not temptation, mortal, ere come nigh! Ye youths avoid the first Tobacco Quid! Perhaps I wrong thee, O thou veteran chaw, One who has suffered fortune's hardest knocks, Poor, and with none to tend on his grey hairs, Yet has a friend in his tobacco-box, And whilst he rolls his quid, forgets his cares. Even so it is with human happiness, Each seeks his own according to his whim; One toils for wealth, one fame alone can bless, One asks a quid, a quid is all to him. O veteran chaw, thy fibres savoury strong, Whilst ought remain'd to chew thy master chew'd, Then cast thee here, when all thy juice was gone, Emblem of selfish man's ingratitude! A happy man, O cast-off quid, is he Who, like as thou, has comforted the poor. Happy his age, who knows himself like thee, Thou didst thy duty, man can do no more. THEODERIT. To a FRIEND Settled in the COUNTRY. field Richard, the lot which fate to thee has given, At morn or when the day-star rides on high, Spreads only varied beauties to thine eye. Canst thou behold the radiant host of night, Richard, the lot which fate to thee has given,, |