And with degraded Vanity unfold,
How she too triumph'd in the Years of old.
To her poor Friends 'tis now her Pride to tell
On what an height she stood before she fell ;

At Church she points to one tall Seat, and "There
"We sat," she cries, "when my Papa was Mayor."
Not quite correct in what she now relates,
She alters Persons, and she forges Dates;
And finding Memory's weaker help decay'd,
She boldly calls Invention to her aid,

Touch'd by the Pity he had felt before, For her Sir Denys op'd the Alms-house Door; "With all her Faults," he said, "the Woman knew "How to distinguish-had a Manner too;

"And, as they say, she is allied to some
"In decent station-let the Creature come*."

Here she and Blaney meet, and take their view
Of all the Pleasures they would still pursue:
Hour after hour they sit, and nothing hide
Of Vices past; their Follies are their pride;
What to the Sober and the Cool are Crimes,
They boast-exulting in those happy Times;
The darkest Deeds no indignation raise,
The purest Virtue never wins their praise;
But still they on their antient Joys dilate,

Still with regret departed Glories state,

[Fate.

And mourn their grievous Fall, and curse their rigorous

LETTER XVI.

INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE.

BENBOW.

Thou art the knight of the burning lamp-If thou wast any way given to virtue, I would swear by thy face; my oath should be by this fire. Oh! thou'rt a perpetual triumph, thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches, walking in a night betwixt tavern and tavern.

Ebrietas tibi fida comes, tibi luxus, et atris
Circa te semper volitans infamia pennis.

Shakspeare.

Silius Italicus.

BENBOW.

An improper Companion for the Badgemen of the Alms-house. He resembles Bardolph.-Left in Trade by his Father.-Contracts useless Friendships.-His Friends drink with him, and employ others.-Called worthy and honest! Why.-Effect of Wine on the Mind of Man.-Benbow's common Subject→→→ the Praise of departed Friends and Patrons.-'Squire Asgill, at the Grange: His Manners, Servants, Friends.-True to his Church ought therefore to be spared. His Son's different Conduct.-Vexation of the Father's Spirit if admitted to see the Alteration.-Captain Dowling, a boon Companion, ready to drink at all Times, and with any Company: famous in his Club-room. His easy Departure.-Dolly Murrey, a Maiden advanced in Years: abides by Ratafia and Cards.-Her free Manners.-Her Skill in the Game.-Her Preparation and Death.-Benbow, how interrupted: his Submission,

LETTER XVI.

INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE.

BENBOW.

SEE! yonder Badgeman, with that glowing Face,
A Meteor shining in this sober Place;

Vast Sums were paid, and many Years were past,
E'er Gems so rich around their Radiance cast!
Such was the fiery Front that Bardolph wore,
Guiding his Master to the Tavern-Door;
There first that Meteor rose, and there alone,
In its due Place, the rich Effulgence shone;
But this strange Fire the Seat of Peace invades,
And shines portentous in these solemn Shades.

Benbow, a boon Companion, long approv'd By jovial Sets, and (as he thought) belov❜d, Was judg'd as one to Joy and Friendship prone, And deem'd injurious to himself alone:

Gen'rous and free, he paid but small regard

To Trade, and fail'd; and some declar'd " 'twas hard :"
These were his Friends-his Foes conceiv'd the case
Of common kind;-he sought and found Disgrace:

The reasoning few, who neither scorn'd nor lov'd,
His Feelings pitied and his Faults reprov❜d.

Benbow, the Father, left Possessions fair,
A worthy Name and Business to his Heir;
Benbow, the Son, those fair Possessions sold,
And lost his Credit, while he spent the Gold:
He was a jovial Trader: Men enjoy'd

The Night with him; his Day was unemploy❜d:
So when his Credit and his Cash were spent,

Here, by mistaken Pity, he was sent ;

Of late he came, with Passions unsubdued,
And shar'd and curs'd the hated Solitude,

Where gloomy Thoughts arise, where grievous Cares intrude.

Known but in Drink,-he found an easy Friend,
Well pleas'd his Worth and Honour to commend;
And thus inform'd, the Guardian of the Trust
Heard the Applause and said the Claim was just;
A worthy Soul! unfitted for the Strife,
Care and Contention of a busy Life;-
Worthy, and why?-that o'er the Midnight bowl
He made his Friend the Partner of his Soul,
And any Man his Friend :-then thus in glee,
"I speak my Mind, I love the Truth," quoth he;
Till 'twas his fate that useful Truth to find,
"Tis sometimes prudent not to speak the Mind.

With Wine inflated, Man is all upblown, And feels a Power which he believes his own; With Fancy soaring to the Skies, he thinks His all the Virtues all the while he drinks;