Whether we ought to chufe our Friends,
For their own Worth, or our own Ends?
What good, or better, we may call,
And what, the very best of all?
Our Friend Dan Prior, told (you know)
A Tale extremely "à propos:"
Name a Town Life, and in a trice,
He had a Story of two Mice.
Once on a time (fo runs the Fable)
A Country Moufe, right hofpitable,
Receiv'd a Town Mouse at his Board,
Just as a Farmer might a Lord.
A frugal Mouse, upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,
Knew what was handsome, and would do't,
On juft occafion, "coute qui coute."
He brought him Bacon (nothing lean)
Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean;
Divitiis homines, an fint virtute beati :
Quidve ad amicitias, ufus rectumne, trahat nos:
Et quae fit natura boni, fummumque quid ejus.
Cervius haec inter vicinus garrit aniles
Ex re fabellas. fi quis nam laudat Arellî
Solicitas ignarus opes; fic incipit: Olim
Rufticus urbanum murem mus paupere fertur
Accepiffe cavo, veterem vetus hofpes amicum;
Afper, et attentus quaefitis; ut tamen arctum
Solveret hofpitiis animum, quid multa? neque illi
Sepofiti ciceris, nec longae invidit avenae :
Cheese, fuch as men in Suffolk make,
But wish'd it Stilton for his fake;
Yet, to his Gueft though no way fparing,
He eat himself the rind and paring.
Our Courtier fcarce could touch a bit,
But show'd his Breeding and his Wit;
He did his best to seem to eat,
And cry'd, "I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my Friend, this favage Scene!
"For God's fake, come, and live with Men:
"Confider, Mice, like Men, must die,
“Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,
"(This doctrine, Friend, I learn'd at Court.)" The verieft Hermit in the Nation
May yield, God knows, to strong temptation.
Aridum et ore ferens acinum, femefaque lardi
Frufta dedit, cupiens varia fastidia coena
Vincere tangentis male fingula dente superbo:
Cum pater ipfe domus palea porrectus in horna
Effet ador loliumque, dapis meliora relinquens.
Tandem urbanus ad hunc, Quid te juvat, inquit, amice.
Praerupti nemoris patientem vivere dorfo ?
Vin' tu homines urbemque feris praeponere fylvis ?
Carpe viam (mihi crede) comes: terreftria quando
Mortales animas vivunt fortita, neque ulla eft,
Aut magno aut parvo, leti fuga. quo, bone, circa,
Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus :
Vive memor quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dicta
Away they came, through thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's-Inn:
('Twas on the night of a Debate,
When all their Lordships had fate late.)
Behold the place, where if a Poet
Shin'd in Description, he might show it;
Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls,
And tips with Silver all the walls;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors;
But let it (in a word) be said,
The Moon was up, and Men a-bed,
The Napkin 's white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate," tête à tête."
Our Courtier walks from dish to dish,
Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
"Que ça eft bon! Ah goutez ça !
Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit: inde
Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes
Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat
Nox medium coeli fpatium, cum ponit uterque
In locuplete domo vestigia: rubro ubi cocco
Tin&ta fuper lectos canderet vestis eburnos ;
Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula coena,
Quae procul exftructis inerant hefterna caniftris,
Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in vefte locavit
Agreftem; veluti fuccinctus curfitat hofpes,
"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,
"Pray dip your Whiskers and your Tail in."
Was ever such a happy Swain ?
He stuffs and fwills, and stuffs again.
"I'm quite afham'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat fo much-but all's fo good.
"I have a thousand thanks to give—
"My Lord alone knows how to live."
No fooner faid, but from the Hall
Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all :
“ A Rat, a Rat! clap to the door”—
The Cat comes bouncing on the floor.
O for the heart of Homer's Mice,
Or Gods to fave them in a trice!
(It was by Providence they think,
For your damn'd Stucco has no chink.)
"An't please your Honour, quoth the Peasant,
"This fame Deffert is not fo pleasant :}
"Give me again my hollow Tree,
"A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!"
Continuatque dapes : nec non verniliter ipfis
Fungitur officiis, praelambens omne quod affert.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque
Rebus agit laetum convivam: cum fubito ingens
Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque.
Currere per totum pavidi conclave; magifque
Exanimes trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis
Perfonuit canibus, tum rufticus, Haud mihi vita
Eft opus hac, ait, et valeas; me fylva, cavusque
Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur arvo,
GAIN? new Tumults in my breaft?
Ah spare me, Venus! let me, let me reft!
I am not now, alas! the man
As in the gentle Reign of my Queen Anne.
Ah found no more thy foft alarms,
Nor circle fober fifty with thy Charms ! Mother too fierce of dear Defires!
Turn, turn to willing hearts your wanton fires. To Number five direct your Doves,
There fpread round Murray all your blooming Loves;
Ad VENERE M.
INTERMISSA, Venus, diu
Rurfus bella moves? parce precor, precor.
Non fum qualis eram bonae
Sub regno Cynarae. define, dulcium
Mater faeva Cupidinum,
Circa luftra decem flectere mollibus
Jam durum imperiis: abi
Quo blandae juvenum te revocant preces,
Tempeftivius in domum
Paulli, purpureis ales oloribus,
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