Then, like the dogs of Nile, be wise,
Who, taught by instinct how to shun
The crocodile, that lurking lies,
Run as they drink, and drink and run.
Antæus could, by magic charms,
Recover strength whene'er he fell;
Alcides held him in his arms,
And sent him up in air to Hell.
Directors, thrown into the sea,
Recover strength and vigour there;
But be tam'd another way,
may
Suspended for a while in air.
Directors! for 'tis you I warn,
By long experience we have found What planet rul'd when you were born We see you never can be drown'd. Beware, nor overbulky grow,
Nor come within your cully's reach; For, if the sea should sink so low
To leave you dry upon the beach,
You'll owe your ruin to your bulk :
Your foes already waiting stand,
To tear you like a founder'd hulk,
While you lie helpless on the sand.
Thus, when a whale has lost the tide,
The coasters crowd to seize the spoil;
The monster into parts divide,
And strip the bones, and melt the oil.
O! may some western tempest sweep
These locusts whom our fruits have fed,
That plague, directors, to the deep,
Driv'n from the South Sea to the Red.
VOL. XVI.
May he, whom Nature's laws obey,
Who lifts the poor and sinks the proud,
"Quiet the raging of the sea,
And still the madness of the crowd!"
But never shall our isle have rest,
Till those devouring swine run down,
(The devils leaving the possest)
And headlong in the waters drown.
The nation then too late will find,
Computing all their cost and trouble,
Directors' promises but wind,
South Sea at best a mighty bubble.
THE DOG AND SHADOW.
ORE cibum portans catulus dum spectat in undis,
Apparet liquido prædæ melioris imago:
Dum speciosa diu damna admiratur, et altè
Ad latices inhiat, cadit imo vortice præceps
Öre cibus, nec non simulachrum corripit una.
Occupat ille avidus deceptis faucibus umbram;
Illudit species, ac dentibus aëra mordet.
WHO HAD BEEN MUCH ABUSED IN MANY
THE greatest monarch may be stabb'd by night, And fortune help the murderer in his flight;
The vilest ruffian may commit a rape,
Yet safe from injur'd innocence escape;
And Calumny, by working under ground,
Can unreveng'd the greatest merit wound.
What's to be done? Shall Wit and Learning choose
To live obscure, and have no fame to lose?
By Censure frighted out of Honour's road,
Nor dare to use the gifts by Heaven bestow'd?
Or fearless enter in through Virtue's gate,
And buy distinction at the dearest rate?
BILLET TO A COMPANY OF PLAYERS.
THE enclosed prologue is formed upon the story
of the secretary's not suffering you to act, unless ou would pay him 300l. per annum; upon which, you got a licence from the lord mayor to act as strollers!
The prologue supposes, that, upon your being forbidden to act, a company of country strollers came and hired the playhouse, and your clothes, etc., to act in.
Our set of strollers, wandering up and down,
Hearing the house was empty, came to town;
And, with a licence from our good lord mayor,
Went to one Griffith, formerly a player;
Him, we persuaded, with a moderate bribe,
To speak to Elrington and all the tribe,
To let our company supply their places,
And hire us out their scenes, and clothes, and faces.
Is not the truth the truth? Look full on me;
I am not Elrington, nor Griffith he.
When we perform, look sharp among our crew,
There's not a creature here you ever knew.
The former folks were servants to the king;
We, humble strollers, always on the wing.
Now, for my part, I think, upon the whole,
Rather than starve, a better man would stroll.
Stay! let me sce-Three hundred pounds a year,
For leave to act in town!-'Tis plaguy dear.
Now, here's a warrant; gallants, please to mark,
For three thirteens and sixpence to the clerk.
Three hundred pounds! Were I the price to fix,
The public should bestow the actors six;
A score of guineas, given underhand,
For a good word or so, we understand.
To help an honest lad, that's out of place,
May cost a crown or so ; a common case:
And, in a crew, 'tis no injustice thought
To ship a rogue, and pay him not a groat.
But, in the chronicles of former ages,
Who ever heard of servants paying wages?
I pity Elrington with all my heart;
Would he were here this night, to act my part!
I told him what it was to be a stroller;
How free we acted, and had no comptroller:
In every town we wait on Mr. may'r,
First get a licence, then produce our ware;
We sound a trumpet, or we beat a drum:
Huzza! (the schoolboys roar) the play'rs are come!
And then we cry, to spur the bumkins on,
Galiants, by Tuesday next we must be gone.
I told him, in the smoothest way I could,
All this and more, yet it would do no good.
But Elrington, tears falling from his cheeks,
He that has shone with Betterton and Wilks,
To whom our country has been always dear,
Who chose to leave his dearest pledges here,
Owns all your favours, here intends to stay,
And, as a stroller, act in every play :
And the whole crew this resolution takes,
To live and die all strollers, for your sakes;
Not frighted with an ignominious name,
For your displeasure is their only shame.
A pox on Elrington's majestic tone!
Now to a word of business in our own.
Gallants, next Thursday night will be our last;
Then without fail we pack up for Belfast.
Lose not your time, nor our diversion miss,
The next we act shall be as good as this.
GREAT folks are of a finer mould;
Lord! how politely they can scold!
While a course English tongue will itch,
For whore and rogue; and dog and bitch.
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