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Young as I am! 'tis monftrous hard!
Befides, in truth, I'm not prepar'd:
My thoughts on other matters go;
This is my wedding-night, you know.'

What more he urg'd I have not heard,
His reafons could not well be stronger;
So Death the poor delinquent fpar'd,
And left to live a little longer.
Yet calling up a ferious look,

His hour-glafs trembled while he spoke,
Neighbour,' he faid,

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farewell: No more

• Shall Death disturb your mirthful hour;
And further to avoid all blame
Of cruelty upon my name,

To give you time for preparation,
And fit you for your future ftation,
Three feveral warnings you fhall have,
• Before you're fummon'd to the grave:
• Willing for once I'll quit my prey,
And grant a kind reprieve;

In hopes you'll have no more to fay, But when I call again this way, 'Well pleas'd the world will leave..

To thefe conditions both confented,

And parted perfectly contented.

What

What next the hero of our tale befel,
How long he liv'd, how wife, how well,
How roundly he purfu'd his course,

And fmok'd his pipe, and strok'd his horse,
The willing muse shall tell :

He chaffer'd then, he bought, he fold,
Nor once perceiv'd his growing old,

Nor thought of death as near:
His friends not falfe, his wife no fhrew,
Many his gains, his children few,

He pafs'd his hours in peace;

But while he view'd his wealth increase,
While thus along life's dufty road
The beaten track content he trod,

Old Time, whofe hafte no mortal spares,
Uncall'd, unheaded, unawares,

Brought on his eightieth year.

And now one night in mufing mood,

As all alone he fate,

Th' unwelcome meffenger of fate
Once more before him stood.

Half kill'd with anger and surprise,
• So foon return'd!' old Dobfon cries.
• So foon, d'ye call it!' Death replies :

• Surely,

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Surely, my friend, you're but in jeft;
Since I was here before,

'Tis fix-and-thirty years at least,
'And you are now fourscore.'

So much the worse,' the Clown rejoin'd;

To fpare the aged would be kind :

Befides, you. promis'd me Three Warnings,

• Which I have look'd for nights and mornings: But for that lofs of time and eafe,

I can recover damages.'

• I know, cries. Death, that at the best, < I feldom am a welcome gueft;

• But don't be captious, friend, at leaft; 'I little thought you'd ftill be able

To stump about your farm and stable; ‹ Your years have run to a great length,

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I wish you joy tho' of your ftrength.'

'Hold,' fays the farmer, 'not so fast I have been lame thefe four years past.' 'And no great wonder,' Death replies, • However, you still keep your eyes; • And fure to fee one's loves and friends, For legs and arms would make amends.' Perhaps,' fays Dobson, so it might, But latterly I've loft my fight."T

This

• This is a fhocking story, faith,

Yet there's fome comfort ftill,' fays Death; • Each strives your fadness to amuse; 'I warrant you hear all the news.'

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'There's none,' cries he, and if there were, I'm grown fo deaf I could not hear.'

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Nay then, the spectre stern rejoin'd,
These are unjustifiable yarnings;

If you are lame, and deaf, and blind,
'You've had your three fufficientwarnings.

• So come along, no more we'll part :'
He faid, and touch'd him with his dart;
And now old Dobfon turning pale,
Yields to his fate-fo ends my tale.

COLIN

COLIN AND

LUCY*.

OF

F Leinster, fam'd for maidens fair,
Bright Lucy was the grace;
Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid ftream
Reflect a fairer face;

Till luckless love, and pining care,
Impair'd her rofy hue,

Her coral lips, and damask cheeks,
And eyes of gloffy blue.
Oh! have you feen a lily pale,
When beating rains defcend?

So droop'd the flow-confuming maid,
Her life now near its end.

By Lucy warn'd, of flatt'ing fwains
Take heed, ye easy fair :

Of vengeance due to broken vows,
Ye perjur'd fwains, beware.
Three times, all in the dead of night,

A bell was heard to ring;
And, fhrieking at her window thrice,
The raven flapp'd his wing:

* Tickell.

Too

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