Mahomet's mysterious Charge,

THE LOVE OF THE WORLD REPROVED,

OR

HYPOCRISY DETECTED*.

THUS says the prophet of the Turk-
Good mussulman abstain from pork;

There is a part in every swine
No friend or follower of mine
May taste, whate'er his inclination,
On pain of excommunication.
Such Mahomet's mysterious charge,
And thus he left the point at large.
Had he the sinful part express'd,
They might with safety eat the rest;
But for one piece they thought it hard
From the whole hog to be debarr'd,
And set their wit at work to find
What joint the prophet had in mind.

* It may be proper to inform the reader that this piece has al

ready appeared in print, having found its way, though with some unnecessary additions by an unknown hand, into the Leeds Journal, without the author's privity.

in which Hypocrisy is Detected.

Much controversy straight arose

These choose the back, the belly those;

By some 'tis confidently said

He meant not to forbid the head;

While others at that doctrine rail,
And piously prefer the tail.

Thus, conscience freed from ev'ry clog,
Mahometans eat up the hog.

You laugh-'tis well.-The tale applied May make you laugh on t'other side. Renounce the world-the preacher cries. We do a multitude replies.

While one as innocent regards

A snug and friendly game at cards;

And one, whatever you may say,

Can see no evil in a play;

Some love a concert, or a race;

And others-shooting, and the chase,

Revil'd and lov'd, renounc'd and follow'd,

Thus, bit by bit, the world is swallow'd;

Contention for Superiority,

Each thinks his neighbour makes too free, Yet likes a slice as well as he;

With sophistry their sauce they sweeten, 'Till quite from tail to snout 'tis eaten.

THE LILY AND THE ROSE.

I.

THE nymph must lose her female friend,

If more admir'd than she

But where will fierce contention end,

If flowers can disagree?

II.

Within the garden's peaceful scene

Appear'd two lovely foes,

Aspiring to the rank of queen

The Lily and the Rose.

between the Lily and the Rose.

III.

The Rose soon redden'd into rage,

And, swelling with disdain,

Appeal'd to many a poet's page

To prove her right to reign.

IV.

The Lily's height bespoke command

A fair imperial flow'r ;

She seem'd design'd for Flora's hand,

The sceptre of her pow'r.

V.

This civil bick'ring and debate

The goddess chanc'd to hear,

And flew to save, ere yet too late,

The pride of the parterre

VI.

Your's is, she said, the nobler hue,

And your's the statelier mien; And, till a third surpasses you,

Let each be deem'd a queen.

Contention for Superiority,

VII.

Thus, sooth'd and reconcil'd, each seeks

The fairest British fair;

The seat of empire is her cheeks,

They reign united there.

IDEM LATINE REDDITUM.

I.

HEU inimicitias quoties parit æmula forma,

Quam raro pulchræ, pulchra placere potest?

Sed fines ultrà solitos discordia tendit,

Cum flores ipsos bilis et ira movent.

II.

Hortus ubi dulces præbet tacitosque recessûs,
Se rapit in partes gens animosa duas ;
Hic sibi regales Amaryllis candida cultûs,

Illic purpureo vindicat ore Rosa.

T

3