Here from this barrel you may broach
A peck of troubles for a coach.

This ball of wax your ears will darken,
Still to be curious, never hearken.

Lest you the town may have less trouble in,
Bring all your Quilca's* cares to Dublin,
For which he sends this empty sack;
And so take all upon your back.

DINGLEY AND BRENT.†

A SONG.

To the tune of "Ye Commons and Peers."

DINGLEY and Brent,
Wherever they went,

Ne'er minded a word that was spoken;
Whatever was said,

They ne'er troubled their head,

But laugh'd at their own silly joking.

Should Solomon wise

In majesty rise,

And shew them his wit and his learning;
They never would hear,

But turn the deaf ear,
As a matter they had no concern in.

*Country-house of Dr. Sheridan.-F.
+ Dr. Swift's housekeeper.-F.

You tell a good jest,

And please all the rest;

Comes Dingley, and asks you, what was it? And, curious to know,

Away she will go

To seek an old rag in the closet.

THIS day, dear Bec, is thy nativity;
Had Fate a luckier one, she'd give it ye.
She chose a thread of greatest length,
And doubly twisted it for strength:
Nor will be able with her shears
To cut it off these forty years.
Then who says care will kill a cat?
Rebecca shows they're out in that.
For she, though overrun with care,
Continues healthy, fat, and fair.

As, if the gout should seize the head,
Doctors pronounce the patient dead;
But, if you can, by all their arts,
Eject it to the extremest parts,

They give the sick man joy, and praise
The gout that will prolong his days.
Rebecca thus I gladly greet,

Who drives her cares to hands and feet:

* Mrs. Dingley.

For, though philosophers maintain
The limbs are guided by the brain,
Quite contrary Rebecca's led;

Her hands and feet conduct her head;
By arbitrary power convey her,
She ne'er considers why or where:
Her hands may meddle, feet may wander,
Her head is but a mere by-stander :
And all her bustling but supplies
The part of wholesome exercise.
Thus nature has resolved to pay her
The cat's nine lives, and eke the care.
Long may she live, and help her friends
Whene'er it suits her private ends;
Domestic business never mind

Till coffee has her stomach lined;

But, when her breakfast gives her courage,
Then think on Stella's chicken porridge:
I mean when Tiger* has been served,
Or else poor Stella may be starved.
May Bec have many an evening nap,
With Tiger slabbering in her lap;
But always take a special care
She does not overset the chair;
Still be she curious, never hearken
To any speech but Tiger's barking!

And when she's in another scene,
Stella long dead, but first the Dean,
May fortune and her coffee get her
Companions that will please her better!
Whole afternoons will sit beside her,
Nor for neglects or blunders chide her.
A goodly set as can be found
Of hearty gossips prating round;

* Mrs. Dingley's favourite lap-dog.

Fresh from a wedding or a christening,
To teach her ears the art of listening,
And please her more to hear them tattle,
Than the Dean storm, or Stella rattle.
Late be her death, one gentle nod,
When Hermes, waiting with his rod,
Shall to Elysian fields invite her,
Where there will be no cares to fright her!

ON THE COLLAR OF TIGER,

MRS. DINGLEY'S LAP-DOG.

PRAY steal me not; I'm Mrs. Dingley's, Whose heart in this four-footed thing lies.

END OF VOL. XIV.

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
EDINBURGH AND LONDON.