The Moments past, if thou art wise, retrieve, With pleasant Mem'ry of the Bliss they gave, The Present Hours, in present Mirth imploy, And bribe the Future with the Hopes of Joy. The Future (few or more, how e'er they be) Were destin'd e’rst, nor can by Fate's Decree Be now cut off, betwixt the Grave and Thee.

H 0

R A CE

LIB. I. EPIST. IX.

Septimius, Claudi, nimirum, intelligit unus,
Quanti me facias. &c.

To the Right Honourable R-H-, Efq;

D

EAR Dick, howe'er it comes into his Head,

Believes, as firmly as he does his Creed, That You and I, Sir, are extremely great ; Tho’I plain Matt, You Minister of State, One Word from me, without all doubt, he says Wou'd fix his Fortune in some little Place: Thus better than my self, it seems, he knows How far my Interest with my Patron goes, And answering all Objections I can make Still plunges deeper in his dear Mistake.

From

From this wild Fancy, Sir, there may proceed One wilder yet, which I foresee and dread, That I, in Fact, a real Intereft have, Which to my own Advantage I wou'd save, And with the usual Courtier's Trick intend To ferve my self, forgetful of my Friend,

To fhun this Cenfure I all Shame lay by,
And make my Reason with his Will comply,
Hoping for my Excuse 'twill be confest,
That of two Evils I have chose the leaft.
So, Sir, with this Epistolary Scroll,
Receive the Partner of my inmost Soul,
Him
you

will find in Letters and in Laws
Not unexpert; firm to his Country's Cause;
Warm in the Glorious Interest you pursue;
And, in one Word, a good Man and a true.

ΑΝ

Had thilke same Tale in other guise been tolde, ndrier Had they been yong, (pardie) and she been oldes he thin

FAR

Aná

JAIR Susan did her Wifehode well maintaine, EST

Algates assaulted fore by Leachers twaine: Now, an' I reade aryghte that auncient Song, The Paramours were Olde, the Dame was Yong. Her

your

Sweet Jesu! that had been much forer Tryall;
Full marvaillous, I wote, were such Denyall!

AN

CAN

E P I S T L E.

By Mr. BAT E.

EST ochers tempe your Youth with Praise

[not due, And tell you what your self too soon would

[know, Till Flate’ry's Breath with Fortune's Bleffings

[join'd, Stifle your Virtue, and corrupt your Mind"; Study your felf, know human Nature well, And view the things that makevain Morrals (well, The things that Souls above the Vulgar please; But view them, stript of their enchanting Dress: Nor 'midit those Thoughts with rash Disdain refuse This dul Description of a Rural Mufe.