Ε Ρ Ι:

Τ Α Ρ Η

ON

DR. P A R N E L.

This

HIS tomb inscribed to gentle Parnel's name, May speak our gratitude, but not his fame. What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay, That leads to truth through pleasure's flowery way? Celestial themes confess'd his tuneful aid ; And heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid. Needless to him the tribute we bestow, The transitory breath of fame below: More lasting rapture from his works shall rise, While converts thank their poet in the skies.

Ε Ρ Ι Ι Ο G 0 E

I

TO THE COMEDY OF THE

S I S T E R S.

WHA
HAT: five long acts-and all to make us wiser!

—
Our authoress sure has wanted an adviser.
Had the consulted me, she should have made
Her moral play a speaking masquerade ;
Warm'd up each bustling scene, and in her rage
Have emptied all the green-room on the stage.
My life on't, this had kept her play from sinking;
Have pleas’d our eyes, and fav’d the pain of thinking.
Well, since she thus has shewn her want of skill,
What if I give a masquerade? I will.
But how? ay, there's the rub! [paufing]-I've got my

cue:

The world's a masquerade ! the masquers, you, you, · you.

[To Boxes, Pit, and Gallery. Lud! what a group the motley scene discloses ! False wits, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses ! Statesmen with bridles on ; and, close beside 'em, Patriots in party-colcur’d suits that ride 'em.

There

There Hebes, turn'd of fifty, try once more
To raise a fiame in Cupids of threescore.
These in their turn, with appetites as keen,
Deserting fifty, faften on fifteen.
Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,
Flings down her sampler, and takes up

the woman :
The little urchin smiles, and spreads her lure,
And tries to kill, ere she's got power to cure,
Thus 'tis with all their chief and constant care
Is to feem every thing-but what they are.
Yon broad, bold, angry spark, I fix my eye on,
Who seems thave robb’d his vizor from the lion ;
Who frowns, and talks, and swears, with round parade,
Looking, as who should say, dam’me! who's afraid?

[Mimicking Strip but this vizor off, and sure I am You'll find his lionship a very lamb.

. Yon politician, famous in debate, Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, beitrides the state; Yet, when he deigns his real shape t' assume, He turns old woman, and bestrides a broom. Yon patriot, too, who presses on your fight, And seems to every gazer, all in white, If with a bribe his candour you attack, He bows, turns round, and whip--the man is black! Yon critic, too-but whither do I run ? If I proceed, our bard will be undone ! Well then a truce, since the requests it too:

you spare her, and I'll for once spare you.

Do

THE