226

REPORT OF AN ADJUDGED CASE.

While chief baron Ear set to balance the laws,
So fam'd for his talent in nicely discerning.

III.

In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear,
And your lordship, he said, will undoubtedly find,
That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear,
Which amounts to possession time out of mind.

IV.

Then holding the spectacles up to the court-
Your lordship observes they are made with a
straddle,

As wide as the ridge of the nose is; in short,
Design'd to sit close to it, just like a saddle.

V.

Again, would your lordship a moment suppose ('Tis a case that has happen'd, and may be again) That the visage or countenance had not a Nose ! Pray who wou'd, or who cou'd, wear spectacles then?

VI.

On the whole, it appears—and my argument shows, With a reasoning the court will never condemn, That the spectacles plainly were made for the Nose, And the Nose was as plainly intended for them.

VII.

Then, shifting his side (as a lawyer knows how)
He pleaded again in behalf of the Eyes:

But what were his arguments few people know,

For the court did not think they were equally wise.

BURNING LORD MANSFIELD'S LIBRARY.

VIII.

227

So his lordship decreed, with a grave solemn tone,
Decisive and clear, without one if or but—
That, whenever the Nose put his spectacles on,
By day-light or candle-light-Eyes should be shut!

ON THE BURNING OF

LORD MANSFIELD'S LIBRARY,

TOGETHER WITH HIS MSS.

BY THE MOB, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1780.

I.

SO then-the Vandals of our isle,
Sworn foes to sense and law,
Have burnt to dust a nobler pile

Than ever Roman saw !

11.

And MURRAY sighs o'er Pope and Swift,
And many a treasure more,

The well judg'd purchase and the gift
That grac'd his letter'd store.

III.

Their pages mangled, burnt, and torn,
The loss was his alone;

But ages yet to come shall mourn

The burning of his own.

ON THE SAME.

I.

WHEN wit and genius meet their doom
In all-devouring flame,

They tell us of the fate of Rome,
And bid us fear the same.

11.

O'er MURRAY's loss the muses wept,
They felt the rude alarm,

Yet bless'd the guardian care that kept
His sacred head from harm.

There mem'ry, like the bee that's fed
From Flora's balmy store,
The quintessence of all he read
Had treasur'd up before.

IV.

The lawless herd, with fury blind,
Have done him cruel wrong;
The flow'rs are gone-but still we find
The honey on his tongue.

THE

LOVE OF THE WORLD REPROVED;

OR,

HYPOCRISY DETECTED.*

THUS says the prophet of the Turk-
Good mussulman, abstain from pork;

* It may be proper to inform the reader that this piece has already appeared in print, having found its way, though with some unnecessary additions by an unknown hand, into the Leeds Journal, without the author's privity.

There is a part in ev'ry swine
No friend or follower of mine
May taste, whate'er his inclination,
On pain of excommunication.
Such Mahomet's mysterious charge,
And thus he left the point at large.
Had he the sinful part express'd,
They might with safety eat the rest ;
But for one piece they thought it hard
From the whole hog to be debarr'd,
And set their wit at work to find
What joint the prophet had in mind.
Much controversy straight arose—
These choose the back, the belly those;
By some 'tis confidently said

He meant not to forbid the head;
While others at that doctrine rail,
And piously prefer the tail.

Thus, conscience freed from ev'ry clog,
Mahometans eat up the hog.

You laugh-'tis well.-The tale applied May make you laugh on t' other side. Renounce the world-the preacher cries. We do a multitude replies.

While one as innocent regards

A snug and friendly game at cards;

And one, whatever you may say,
Can see no evil in a play;

Some love a concert or a race;
And others-shooting, and the chase.

Revil'd and lov'd, renounc'd and follow'd,
Thus, bit by bit, the world is swallow'd;
Each thinks his neighbour makes too free,
Yet likes a slice as well as he;

With sophistry their sauce they sweeten,
Till quite from tail to snout 'tis eaten.

THE LILY AND THE ROSE.

I.

THE nymph must lose her female friend,
If more admir'd than she-
But where will fierce contention end,
If flowers can disagree?

II.

Within the garden's peaceful scene
Appear'd two lovely foes,
Aspiring to the rank of queen-
The Lily and the Rose.

111.

The Rose soon redden'd into rage,
And, swelling with disdain,
Appeal'd to many a poet's page
To prove her right to reign.

IV.

The Lily's height bespoke command-
A fair imperial flow'r ;

She seem'd design'd for Flora's hand,

The sceptre of her pow'r.