cause any more confufion in the family; but as the motive was eafly difcerned, they went no farther than the rules of politene fs required, and only dreffed one poule.

After the lady was gone, a new council was held, to deliberate on the difpofal of the remainder. The daughter had now no objection to fell them again, but the mother having a law fuit in hand, thought it more for her intereft to fend them to her attorney which was accordingly done; and occafioned a very warm difpute between him and his wife: Madam loved good cheer, and infifted on regaling her friends with this rarity, but the attorney knew better how to ferve his own intereft, and sent them to the Marquis ———— who had promised to give him preferment.

But scarce were the peafe fet down on the table, when the lover who had adorned the basket with flowers, came to vifit the Marquis, and, feeing the prefent to his miftrefs thus, as it were, fly in his face, he concealed his refentment, but took the first opportunity to pay a vifit to his perfidious miftrefs, who very coolly, thanked him for his peafe, adding they had an excellent flavour: enraged at her carrying the matter fo far, he then told her, that fhe muft wait till the Marquis had tafted them, before fhe gave her opinion of their goodness.

goodness. The lady at a lofs to guess his meaning, and confounded at the violence of his tranfports, demanded an explanation; he then related to her the last incident, but fhe not fufpecting what had happened, affirmed they were not the fame peafe; this enraged him ftill more, and he required to fee the basket in which he himself had placed the pottles, and which he adorned with flowers; not being able to produce it, the quarrel feemed to admit of no terms of accommodation, when in came the peafe again! The Marquis who had a fecret.inclination for the lady (the greatest beauty in Paris) thought them a very proper prefent for her. Our lover was now fully convinced that the Marquis could not be so abfurd to fend his mift refs her prefent to him, yet he was covinced they were the very fame peafe:-the mother therefore was obliged to confefs the truth. It was then determined to facrifice the travelling peafe to the calls of nature, and they were accordingly confumed by the parties most interested in their fate.

WILLIAM and HELEN,

To a Friend at Dumfries in Scotland, on the Birth of a Daughter,

By S. Whitchurch, Ironmonger, of BATH.

UCH did the tuneful Homer boaft

MUC

Of beauteous Helen's wond'rous charms That fir'd with rage the Grecian hoft,

And rous'd a world of fools to arms.

A lovelier Fair 'twas yours to wed,

Than Greece or Homer ever knew, A Helen faithful to your bed,

Whose beauty blossom❜d but for you.

'Twas yours my friend, the blifs to gain A richer prize than Paris won,

Though ruin'd Troy, and Heroes flain,

Might boast what Helen's charms had done.

Sweet flow the joys when love lights up
In kindred Souls his conftant fires,
When fill'd with blifs fond Hymen's cup,
The mutual happiness infpires.

Happy the Pair, when bounteous heav'n
Has all their fondeft wishes crown'd,
At whofe domestic board 'tis giv'n
To plant young Olives all around.

Thrice happy you my friend who find
The fmiling pledge of Love fo foon,
Who with your lovely Helen kind
Embrace gay Hymen's infant boon,

Long may the little ftranger live

To fwell the joys of wedded life, Much comfort to receive and give,

And grow the image of your wife.

Long may fhe foothe her Parents' care,
And while fhe courts their fhelt'ring arms,
Much mental beauty may fhe fhare,
And emulate her Mother's charms.

Permit a diftant Bard to fwell

The friendly note of mirthful fong, Where William and his Helen dwell To waft fweet Poefy along.

Permit the Muse my friends for you

To twine the wreath of well-meant rhime To bid young Joy and pleafures new Gladden your hours of paffing time.

BATH, OCTOBER 8, 1795.

S.W.

ΤΟ

To a STATUARY of BATH, on his

MARRIAGE.

BY THE SAME.

HAPPY the Man, who far from female strife,

Can carve a Child, or chisel out a wife;

Stranger to broils, and matrimonial cares,
Uneafinefs for him no fcold prepares;

No jealous Fair complains of flighted charms,
Nor threatens ftriking vengeance with her arms;
Peace undisturb'd at home 'tis his to find-
No curtain lectures discompose his mind;
No ftrains cenforious vibrate on his ears
Like found of broken bells, or clashing spears;
He comes, he goes, juft whenfoe'er he please,
No frowns infult him, and no tongue can teaze;
He of variety may take his fill,

And make a Wife, to fmile or frown, at will;
Sole Monarch of his house, he reigns alone,
And leaves his filent Spouse to fret in ftone.

Still happier he; who to the Sculptor's art,
Has join'd the lovely idol of his heart;
From things inanimate has turn'd his eyes,
And won in Virtue's warfare, Beauty's prize;
Who not content with one of Parian ftone,
Can boast a Partner of his flesh and bone.