And when he felt himself awake,

He view'd the scene, and thus he spake :

"To be by local impulse mov'd, I oft have thought, but never prov'd, Until I Milton's Comus read Beneath the walls where it was bred: Thus would you woo the Muse of Gray, It should be by the church-yard way. Say, do you seek to charm the time, In chaunting Pope's melodious rhyme, Go wander 'midst the forest groves,

Which the chaste muse of Windsor loves :

Or would you feel dramatic rage In pondering over Shakespeare's page, You should pursue th' awak'ning theme,

On the green banks of Avon's stream.

-When the sun's soft declining light Has yielded to the shades of night, Then the more pensive hours prolong O'er the inspired verse of Young, Poet and Saint, to whom were given

These sacred names of Earth and Heaven."

Patrick, who did not feel the fuss, His master made with Pegasus, Nor what his active brain was brewing Upon a bank and 'neath a ruin, Conducted him with wond'ring grin,

And brought him mutt'ring to the inn.
-Whether it happen'd that the ground
Where Syntax lay in sleep profound,

Was moist with dew, or sunny ray Did an unwholesome heat convey,
It was not long ere he complain'd

That both his arms and back were pain'd;

While a dull, dizzy something shed Its drowsy influence o'er his head : But when a shiv'ring fit came on,

He thought that something must be done,

And Pat was sent off in a trice

To bring at once the best advice.

The Doctor came with solemn face, And heard the patient state his case,
His hand was felt, the pulse beat high,

The tongue was pale, the mouth was dry ;
When Galen spoke, "Upon my word
A grievous cold has been incurr'd;

But gentle sweats I trust will cure The fev'rish heats which you endure.

An ague threatens, but I hope

A most precipitate attack
But a strong simulating plaister
A bed, good Sir, I recommend
With op'ning draught I shall begin
The powders sent will then restore
When perspiration may return,
I will another visit pay,
But ere the Doctor came again
And now was added to the rest
Bleeding he therefore must apply

A mild puke will that evil stop:
Disturbs the region of the back;
Will rid you soon of that disaster.
To aid th' effects which I intend.
Just to prepare the way within :
The native fluids to each pore,
And the dry skin no longer burn.
And see you at the close of day.”
Poor Syntax felt increase of pain :
An inflammation of the breast:
As a specific remedy.

Galen the pointed lancet drew;
The vein was pierc'd, the blood out flew,
While the brain teem'd with fancies light
Through the slow progress of the night.

When the morn came the patient dos'd,
A blister therefore was propos'd,

And cooling draughts in plenty follow'd
Which the reluctant Doctor swallow'd;
Though he declar'd and almost swore
That, live or die, he'd take no more.
At length the pains forsook his head,
On the fourth morn he left his bed,
And thus employ'd his well known power
Of reas'ning on the passing hour:

“ "The lib'ral callings all agree
And he who can combine them all
Will have fulfill'd th' ambitious plan
DIVINITY I may profess;
Of PHYSIC I have got my fill
And I shall then by legal deed
With grave as well as just content,
For once, at least, then I shall be

Are Physic, Law, Divinity; To be obedient to his call, To be a truly learned man. That from my title I possess: As will appear by Doctor's bill. Ere on my journey I proceed, Make my last will and testament : LAW, PHYSIC, and DIVINITY."

-A Lawyer now was to be found;
And where's the spot of British ground,
Where our experience doth not show
That such a spreading plant will grow,
And where his dwelling is not known
As the best house in any town?

The attorney came, a figure grave, And Syntax his instructions gave.
"-As, Sir, the period is uncertain
When death may draw the sable curtain

That shuts out man from all the strife,
He has a duty to fulfil,
And on my prudence 'tis a blot,

The joys, or casualties of life ; A solemn one, to make his will: That I this duty have forgot.

But Heaven has just now pleas'd to give
Some hints that I may cease to live;

And that this same destroyer, Death, May rob me of my vital breath,
When health and strength and pleasure flout it,
And I, perhaps, least think about it:

Then thus, Sir, let your active quill, Sketch out the purpose of my will.
-My name, and titles, and abode, You'll state in form and legal mode;
And then, in order due, proceed
To trace this mortuary deed.

My SOUL I give to him who gave it,
Trusting his pard'ning grace to save it.

As for my body may it lay

Where my wife moulders in decay,

And wait with her the judgment day.

For any injury I have done

(Though I do not remember one,)

I ask that pardon to be given,
Which I myself may hope from Heaven.

—And by this will it is intended A hundred pounds may be expended

In some neat useful piece of plate,
And be by 'Squire Hearty view'd
-And as I cannot name a foe,
Unless a certain widow's breast

That might a side-board decorate,
As a small mark of gratitude.
I have no pardon to bestow,
Should be of enmity possest-

My friend 'Squire Hearty knows the rest :

A ring or tonish fantasy,

If so, I ask the 'Squire to buy
And to the Widow Hopeful give it,
If she will with good grace receive it ;
But both as to the mode and measure,
I leave it to the said 'Squire's pleasure;

And my executor will pay

What he demands without delay.

My books I give unto my friend The learn'd and Rev'rend Doctor Bend: And when he dies, that store of knowledge

He will bequeath unto his college,

To which, we both must own, we owe The better part of all we know.
To the wise FUND that's rais'd in aid
Of those who in the writing trade,

Although they empty all their skulls,

Obtain but scanty bellyfulls,

I give two hundred pounds, and wish

I could throw more into the dish.

-Ah! no one better knows than me The toil and painful drudgery
Of those, whose fortune 'tis to rule
With birchen rod the thankless school!

And shameful 'tis when they're bereft Of due support, and often left
On casual bounty to assuage
The sorrows of neglected age;

Though they by whom the mind's endued

With earliest thoughts of what is good;

They who the infant nation rear, Demand the full-grown nation's care. Three hundred pounds I leave to be My mite thrown in their treasury, Who form'd the gen'rous scheme to aid,

The schoolmaster's ungrateful trade.”

He

gave his psalm-book to the singers,

Nor did forget the parish ringers :

The clerk, the sexton, and the poor, Had some kind portion of his store. To the Divine, who should succeed The flock which he had fed, to feed, He gave his gown, his scarf, and cassock,

And to his wife, dear Dolly's hassock.

At length the residue he left,

When he should be of life bereft,

Unto 'Squire Worthy's free controul,
To whom, indeed, he ow'd the whole.

The Doctor came to bring his bill, And was a witness to the will. -Thus, having done this solemn deed, Syntax did on his way proceed.

CANTO V.

SOME I have known, who did not dare

To make their wills from very fear;

Alarm'd lest the dread hand of fate

Should on the ceremony wait :

But Syntax, we must ne'er suppose

Was govern'd by such whims as those.

He knew that all life's seasons tend To bring us nearer to our end : By good alone that we're prepar'd, To gain our last, our great reward; For which alone, by gracious Heaven,

To man the boon of life was given.

'Twas here he let the matter rest,

Of no untimely fear possest,