2lS poelry. Tel. 8. 



Awkw.ird were our present meeting, 



Should we here neglect the Fnir j 

 M»y the peerlefs maids of Britain, 



Still be heav'n's peculiar care ! 



Venus smiling here before us, 



Bids us lill a flowing glafs j 

 While in one harmonious (ihorui, 



Ev'ry lad Ihall pledge his lafs. ^ 



May our sweetheart's gentle bosoms, 



Glow with l»ye and modest fame ! 

 Still may Virtue's fairest blofsortis. 



With frefli laurels fhade their name. 



A Norland Shepherd. 



A FABLE. 

 For- the Bee. 



This tale 1 heard once in a /hop, 



Th^ owner was a monstrous fop ; 



His setting dog laid claim to wit, 



And call'd poor pufs a sneaking cit, 



Who'ne'er could taste what life att'ordi. 



And hunt in company with lords j 



Nor r.inge before the tube of fate, 



And see the partridge rise elate. 



Now fiutt'ring from its place of rest. 



Now panting on its speckled breast j 



Nor see the hare bound o'er the field, 



Nor see the timid trembler yield ; 



Nor at the peep of dew- clad morn. 



Exulting tread on unreap'd corn, 



While modest farmers see dcspoil'd. 



The fruits for which so long they've toil'd ; 



And if they dare the ill resent. 



Are damrCd, — licens'd by government! 



All this I taste, while master smiles. 



And /hopmen e;ise his low-bred toils. 



Siys puis, 'tis true I hunt for vermin. 

 Yet even I C' uld give a sermon. 

 If you and mastei thus employ 

 The hours of youth, — the hours of joy. 

 No (kill prophetic need presage, 

 A bankrupt, and a starving age. 



Few months went round, — the tradesman fail'd? 

 I'ufs stiU with mice was well regal'd, 

 W\z friends laugh'd at the mock disaster. 

 And Pompey'a sold to feed his master. 



The moral's (hort, nor need I cox ye, 

 E^t, — driuk, — but never work by proxy. 



A PHaMjt Hunter. 



