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Think of that moment, you who Prudence boast;

For fuch a moment, Prudence well were loft.

CARDELIA.

At the Groom-Porter's, batter'd Bullies play,
Some Dukes at Marybone bowl Time away.
But who the Bowl, or rattling Dice compares
To Baffet's heavenly Joys, and pleasing Cares?

SMILINDA.

Soft Simplicetta doats upon a Beau; Prudina likes a Man, and laughs at Show, Their several graces in my Sharper meet; Strong as the Footman, as the Master sweet.

LOVET.

Cease your contention, which has been too long;

I grow impatient, and the Tea's too strong.
Attend, and yield to what I now decide;
The Equipage shall grace Smilinda's Side:
The Snuff-box to Cardelia I decree,
Now leave complaining, and begin your Tea,

100

105

110

VER

VERBATIM FROM BOILEAU.

UN JOUR DIT UN AUTEUR, &c.

NCE (fays an Author, where I need not fay)

ONCE

Two Travellers found an Oyster in their way;
Both fierce, both hungry; the difpute grew strong,
While Scale in hand Dame Justice past along.

Before her each with clamour pleads the Laws,
Explain'd the matter, and would win the cause.
Dame Justice weighing long the doubtful Right,
Takes, opens, fwallows it, before their fight.
The cause of ftrife remov'd fo rarely well,
There take (fays Juftice) take you each a Shell.
We thrive at Westminster on Fools like you:
'Twas a fat Oyster-Live in peace-Adieu.

ANSWER to the following Queftion of Mrs. HowE.

WHAT IS PRUDERY?

Seen with Wit and Beauty feldom.

'Tis a Beldam,

'Tis a fear that starts at fhadows.
'Tis (no, 'tis'nt) like Miss Meadows.
'Tis a Virgin hard of Feature,
Old, and void of all good-nature;
Lean and fretful; would feem wife;
Yet plays the fool before the dies,
'Tis an ugly envious Shrew,
That rails at dear Lepell and You.

Occafioned

Occafioned by fome Verses of his Grace the Duke of BUCKINGHAM.

MUSE, 'tis enough: at length thy labour ends,

And thou shalt live, for Buckingham commends. Let Crowds of Critics now my verse affail, 'Let Dennis write, and nameless numbers rail: This more than pays whole years of thankless pain, Time, health, and fortune, are not lost in vain.

Sheffield approves, confenting Phoebus bends,

And I and Malice from this hour are friends.

A PROLOGUE

BY MR. POPE,

To a Play for Mr. DENNIS'S Benefit, in 1733, when he was, old, blind, and in great Distress, a little before his Death.

A

S when that Hero, who in each Campaign,

Had brav'd the Goth, and many a Vandal flain,

Lay Fortune-ftruck, a spectacle of Woe!

Wept by each Friend, forgiv'n by every Foe:
Was there a generous, a reflecting mind,

But pitied Belifarius old and blind?

5

Was there a Chief but melted at the Sight?

A common Soldier, but who clubb'd his Mite?

Such

Such, fuch emotions fhould in Britons rife,
When prefs'd by want and weakness Dennis lies;
Dennis, who long had warr'd with modern Huns,
Their Quibbles routed, and defy'd their Puns ;
A defperate Bulwark, fturdy, firm, and fierce
Against the Gothic Sons of frozen verfe:

10

How chang'd from him who made the boxes groan, 15
And shook the stage with Thunders all his own!
Stood up to dafh each vain Pretender's hope,
Maul the French Tyrant, or pull down the Pope!
If there's a Briton then, true bred and born,
Who holds Dragoons and wooden fhoes in fcorn;
If there's a Critic of distinguish'd rage;

If there's a Senior, who contemns this age;
Let him to-night his just affistance lend,

And be the Critic's, Briton's, Old Man's Friend.

20

W

MAC E R:

A CHARACT E R.

HEN fimple Macer, now of high renown,
First fought a Poet's Fortune in the Town,
'Twas all th' Ambition his high foul could feel,
To wear red stockings, and to dine with Steel.
Some Ends of verse his Betters might afford;
And gave the harmless fellow a good word.
Set up with thefe, he ventur'd on the Town,
And with a borrow'd Play out-did poor Crown.

There

There he stopp'd short, nor fince has writ a tittle,
But has the Wit to make the most of little :
Like stunted hide-bound Trees, that just have got
Sufficient fap at once to bear and rot.

ΙΟ

Now he begs Verfe, and what he gets commends,
Not of the Wits his foes, but Fools his friends.
So fome coarse Country Wench, almost decay'd, 15
Trudges to town, and firft turns Chambermaid;
Awkward and fupple, each devoir to pay;
She flatters her good Lady twice a-day;

Thought wondrous honeft, though of mean degree,
And ftrangely lik'd for her Simplicity:

In a tranflated Suit, then tries the Town,
With borrow'd Pins, and Patches not her own:
But just endur'd the Winter fhe began,

And in four Months a batter'd Harridan.

20

Now nothing left, but wither'd, pale, and shrunk, 25 To bawd for others, and go shares with Punk.

To

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