The works of the English poets. With prefaces, biographical and critical, by S. Johnson

So canting coblers, while from tubs they teach,
Buffoon the gospel they pretend to preach.)
Boaft petty courts, whence rules new rigour draw,
Unknown to Nature's and to Statute-law;
Quirks that explain all faving rights away,.
To give th' attorney and the catchpoll prey.
Is there where law too rigorous may descend,
Or charity her kindly hand extend?
Thy courts, that, fhut when pity would redress,
Spontaneous open to inflict diftrefs.

Try mifdemeanours!-all thy wiles employ,
Not to chastise th' offender, but destroy;
Bid the large lawless fine his fate foretel;
Bid it beyond his crime and fortune fwell;
Cut off from fervice due to kindred blood,
To private welfare and to public good,
Pitied by all, but thee, he fentenc'd lies ;
Imprifon'd languishes, imprifon'd dies.

Boaft fwarming veffels, whofe plebeian state
Owes not to merchants but mechanics freight.
Boast nought but pedlar-fleets-in war's alarms,
Unknown to glory, as unknown to arms.

100

Boaft

Boaft thy bafe Tolfey, and thy turn-fpit dogs,

Thy Halliers horses and thy human hogs;
Upftarts and mushrooms, proud, relentlefs hearts;
Thou blank of fciences! thou dearth of arts!
Such foes as learning once was doom'd to fee! 105
Huns, Goths, and Vandals, were but types of thee.
Proceed, great Bristol, in all-righteous ways,
And let one Juftice heighten yet thy praise;
Still spare the catamite, and swinge the whore,
And be, whate'er Gomorrha was before.

110

* A place where the merchants used to meet to trans. act their affairs before the Exchange was erected. Set Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. XIII. p. 496.

+Halliers are the perfons who drive or own the fledges, which are here ufed inftead of carts.