His ample Jaws extend from side to side,
His Eyes are glaring, and his Nostrils wide;
In silver Shag the sovereign Form is drest,
A Mane horrific sweeps his ample Chest;
Elate with Pride, he seems t' assert his Reign,
And stands the Glory of his wide Domain.
Yet nothing dreadful to his Friends the sight,
But Sign and Pledge of Welcome and Delight;
To him the noblest Guest the Town detains
Flies for Repast, and in his Court remains ; ;
Him too the Crowd with longing Looks admire,
Sigh for his Joys, and modestly retire;
Here not a Comfort shall to them be lost
Who never ask or never feel the Cost.
The ample Yards on either side contain
Buildings where Order and Distinction reign ;-
The splendid Carriage of the wealthier Guest,
The ready Chaise and Driver smartly drest;
Whiskeys and Gigs and Curricles are there,
And high-fed Prancers many a raw-bon'd Pair.
On all without a lordly Host sustains
The care of Empire, and observant reigns; !
The parting Guest beholds him at his side,
With Pomp obsequious, bending in his Pride;
Round all the Place his Eyes all Objects meet,
Attentive, silent, civil and discreet.
O'er all within the Lady-Hostess rules,
Her Bar she governs, and her Kitchen schools;
To every Guest, th' appropriate Speech is made,
And every Duty with Distinction paid!
Respectful, easy, pleasant or polite→→
"Your Honour's Servant-Mister Smith, good Night."
Next, but not near, yet honour'd through the Town, There swing, incongruous pair ! the Bear and Crown; That Crown suspended Gems and Ribbands, deck, A golden Chain hangs o'er that furry Neck: Unlike the nobler Beast, the Bear is bound, And with the Crown so near him, scowls uncrown'd; Less his Dominion, but alert are all
Without, within, and ready for the Call;
Smart Lads and light run nimbly here and there,
Nor for neglected Duties mourns the Bear.
To his Retreats on the Election-Day,
The losing Party found their silent Way;
There they partook of each consoling Good,
Like him uncrown'd, like him in sullen Mood-
Threat'ning, but bound.-Here meet a social kind,
Our various Clubs for various Cause combin'd;
Nor has he Pride, but thankful takes as Gain,
The Dew-drops shaken from the Lion's Mane:
A thriving Couple here their Skill display,
And share the Profits of no vulgar Sway.
Third in our Borough's List appears the Sign
Of a fair Queen-the gracious Caroline;
But in decay-cach Feature in the Face
Has stain of Time and token of Disgrace.
The Storm of Winter, and the Summer-Sun,
Have on that Form the work of Treason done;
Have, like the Guillotine, the royal Neck
Parted in twain-the Figure is a Wreck:
To this poor Face was never Paint applied,
Th' unseemly Work of cruel Time to hideg
Here we may rightly such Neglect upbraid,
Paint on such Faces is by Prudence laid.
Large the Domain, but all within combine
To correspond with the dishonour'd: Sign;
And all around dilapidates; you call
But none replies-they're inattentive all :
At length a ruin'd Stable holds your Steed,
While you through large and dirty Rooms proceed,
Spacious and cold; a proof they once had been
In honour, now magnificently mean;
Till in some small half-furnish'd Room you rest,
Whose dying Fire denotes it had a Guest.
In those you past, where former Splendour reign'd,
You saw the Carpets torn, the Paper stain'd;
Squares of discordant Glass in Windows fix'd,
And Paper oil'd in many a space betwixt;
A soil'd and broken Sconce, a Mirror crack'd,
With Table underprop'd, and Chairs new-back'd ;
A marble Side-slab with ten thousand Stains,
And all an antient Tavern's poor Remains,
With much entreaty, they your Food prepare, And acid Wine afford, with meagre Fare; Heartless you sup; and when a dozen times
You've read the fractur'd Window's senseless Rhymes;
Have been assur'd that Phoebe Green was fair,
And Peter Jackson took his Supper there;
You reach a chilling Chamber, where you dread
Damps, hot or cold, from a tremendous Bed;
Late comes your Sleep, and you are waken'd soon
By rustling Tatters of the old Festoon.
O'er this large Building thus by Time defac'd, inof A servile Couple has its Owner plac'd,
Who not unmindful that its Style is large,
To lost Magnificence adapt their Charge:..
Thus an old Beauty, who has long declin'd, divul
Keeps former Dues and Dignity in Mind;
And wills that all Attention should be paid y trá
For Graces vanish'd and for Charms decay'd.
Few Years have past, since brightly 'cross the Way, Lights from each Window shot the lengthen'd Ray,... 2ờ And busy Looks in every Face were seen,
Through the warm Precincts of the reigning Queen :'»'ï'
There Fires-inviting shone, and all around
Was heard the tinkling Bells' seducing Sound ;
The nimble Waiters to that sound from far
Sprang to the Call, then hasten'd to the Bar;
Where a glad Priestess of the Temple sway'd,
The most obedient and the most obey'd;
Rosy and round, adorn'd in crimson Vest,
And flaming Ribbands at her ample Breast:
She, skill'd like Circe, tried her Guests to move,
With Looks of Welcome and with Words of Love;
And such her potent Charms, that Men unwise. S
Were soon transform'd and fitted for the Styes.
Her Port in Bottles stood, a well-stain'd row,
Drawn for the Evening from the Pipe below;
Three powerful Spirits fill'd a parted Case,
Some Cordial-Bottles stood in secret Place;
Fair Acid-Fruits in Nets above were seen,
Her Plate was splendid, and her Glasses clean;
Basons and Bowls were ready on the Stand,
And Measures clatter'd in her powerful Hand.
Inferior Houses now our Notice claim,
But who shall deal them their appropriate Fame ?
Who shall the nice, yet known Distinction, tell,
Between the Peal complete and single Bell ?
Determine, ye, who on your shining Nags
Wear oil-skin Beavers and bear seal-skin Bags;
Or ye, grave Topers, who with coy Delight
Snugly enjoy the Sweetness of the Night;
Ye Travellers all, superior Inns denied
By moderate Purse, the low by decent Pride;
Come and determine,-will ye take your place
At the full Orb, or half the lunar Face?
With the Black-Boy or Angel will ye dine?
Will ye approve the Fountain or the Vine?
Horses the white or black will ye prefer?
The Silver Swan, or Swan oppos'd to her—
Rare Bird whose Form the Raven-Plumage decks,
And graceful curve ber three alluring Necks ?
All these a decent Entertainment give,
And by their Comforts comfortably live.
Shall I pass by the Boar ?-there are who cry Beware the Boar,' and pass determin'd by: Those dreadful Tusks, those little peering Eyes And churning Chaps are tokens to the Wise. There dwells a kind old Aunt, and there you see
Some kind young Nieces in her company;
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