MISCELLANIES. THE BASSET-TABLE. AN ECLOGUE. CARDELIA, SMILINDA, LOVET. CARDELIA. THE Basset-table spread, the tallier come, I joyless make my once ador'd Alpheu. [fair. And those feign'd sighs which cheat the list'ning A mightier grief my heavy heart sustains; One, one bad deal, three Septlevas have lost. 10 SMIL. Is that the grief which you compare with With ease the smiles of Fortune I resign: Would all my gold in one bad deal were gone, [mine? CARD. A lover lost is but a common care, SMIL. See Betty Lovet! very a-propos, 51 20 5 Dear Betty shall th' important point decide; LOV. Tell, tell your griefs, attentive will I stay, 25 CARD. Behold this equipage, by Mathers wrought, With fifty guineas (a great penn'worth) bought. 30 See on the toothpick Mars and Cupid strive, And both the struggling figures seem alive. Upon the bottom shines the Queen's bright face; A myrtle foilage round the thimble-case. Jove, Jove himself does on the scissors shine, 35 The metal and the workmanship, divine; When rival beauties for the present strove; At Corticelli's he the raffle won; SMIL. This snuff-box---once the pledge of Sharper's Then first his passion was in public shown: [love, This snuff-box---on the hinge see brilliants shine, Have made a soldier sigh, a lover swear. U 40 45 50 SMIL. But, ah! what aggravates the killing smart, She, at whose name I shed these spiteful tears, I introduc'd her to the Park and plays, And by my int'rest Cozens made her stays. 55 60 Ungrateful wretch! with mimic airs grown pert, 65 She dares to steal my fav'rite lover's heart. CARD. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, When Winnall tally'd, I would punt no more? I know the bite, yet to my ruin run, And see the folly which I cannot shun. 70 SMIL. How many maids have Sharper's vows deHow many curs'd the moment they believ'd? [ceiv'd? Yet his known falsehoods could no warning prove; Ah! what is warning to a maid in love. 74 CARD. But of what marble must that breast be To gaze on Basset and remain unwarm'd? [form'd, When kings, queens, knaves, are set in decent rank, Expos'd in glorious heaps the tempting bank, Guineas, half-guineas, all the shining train, The winner's pleasure, and the loser's pain: In bright confusion open rouleaus lie, They strike the soul, and glitter in the eye. 80 Fir'd by the sight, all reason I disdain, My passions rise, and will not bear the rain. 85 90 SMIL. What more than marble must that heart Think of that moment you who prudence boast; 95 100 CARD. At the Groom-porter's batter'd bullies play, Some dukes at Marybone bowl time away; But who the bowl, or rattling dice compares To Basset's heav'nly joys and pleasing cares? SMIL. Soft Simplicetta dotes upon a beau; Prudina likes a man, and laughs at show: Their several graces in my Sharper meet, Strong as the footman, as the master sweet. 105 LOV. Cease your contention, which has been too I grow impatient, and the tea's too strong. Now leave complaining, and begin your tea. [long; 110 VERBATIM FROM BOILEAU. Un jour, dit un auteur, &c. ONCE (says an author, where I need not say) Answer to the following question of Mrs. Howe. WHAT is prud'ry? 'Tis a beldam, Seen with wit and beauty seldom. 'Tis a fear that starts at shadows; 'Tis (no, 'tis n't) like Miss Meadows. That rails at dear Lapell and you. |