502 
But soon as he had gain’d the road, 
And saw the way was clear; 
He smil’d, and sat erect, which show'd 
He had dismiss’d a!l fear. 
‘To holy men, it sure is true, 
The devil owes a grudge} 
For now his steed, ’ganfret, and stew, 
And scorn the quiet trudge. 
For Nike a gad-fly, in the air, 
Old Satan, who’dsuspect him! 
Stung the poor nag, now here, now there 5 
Then popt into his rectum. 
On which the muchealarmed steed, 
Bounc’d forwards, with a crack 3 
And then set off, with frightful epeed 5 
The deuce was in the hack. 
With body bent, and tugging hand, 
To check his speed he strives; 
In vain he scours along the land; 
*¢ Needs must, the devil drives.” 
Swift as he flew, he saw each tree 
A prank in optics play 3 
And whisk aleng as fast as hes 
But just the other way. 
And now the turnpike’s in his van, 
He bilks it with such clatter 5 
Aimaz2’d 3 exclaims the turnpike man, 
¢¢ Preserve us! What’s the matter? 
¢i That is a robber, wife,” cries he, 
¢¢ For none so fast would fly, 
¢é Unless in fearful jeupardy, 
€< Pursu’d, with hue and cry. 
e’Thick head,” auoth she, **tis no such thing, 
s¢>Tis for Moll Jones, our neighbour, 
6* He mother Midnight flies to bring, 
«¢ For now she groans in labour.”” 
Meanwhile the hero of our tale, 
Prefers a pious vow 5 
For now he spies, with visage pale, 
' Before his nose—a cow. 
Full *gainst her rump, with furious bound, 
He ran, despising stop; 
Th’ astonish’d cow, spun round, and round, - 
’ As thof she were atop. 
Charybdis past ; now Scylla’s rocks 
' Obstruction dire, display; 
In likeness of a monstrous ox, 
" Slow limping in his way, 
Rouz’d to exert his utmost force, 
Which now began to flag ; 
He pulls, by jerks, th’ affrighted horse; 
In zig, and then in zag. 
In vain he tugs the head-strong steed, 
His course will not resign ; 
But still maintains, with spite and speed, 
The rectilinear line. 
Teedless of risk, of contact dire, 
He joins the ling’ring beast 5 : 
Head over heels, they reach the mires 
* To Nick, delightful feast. 
Original Poetry, 
[Dee. 1; 
The learn’d professor first arose, 
- And chuckled, when he found, 
Except the mischief to bis cloathes, 
That all was safe, and sound. 
‘* Surely,” quoth he, ‘a desp’rate falb ?* 
Then bolt upright he stood, 
Like Yorick’s famous Slop, inal} 
‘ The majesty of mud.” 
Tly astounded steed, arose also, 
And shook his plaster’d ears, 
And look’d so sad, and full of woe, 
That Will dismiss’d his fears, 
‘© Ah! ah!” cries he, your looks demure 
“ Denote your spirit’s gone; ‘ 
** Aye, aye, your tam’d enough, I’m surey 
** Sonow, we'll gently on.” 
The saddle then, again he press’d, 
And now the church he views ; 
But Nick, who ne’er was known to resty 
Again the chace renews. 
For all at once, he smartly stung 
The spot, -where snug he lay ; 
Loud snorts the nag, and Will now clung, 
And clinging, flew away. : 
Off went his hat, he drops his twig 
In sore, and wild surprise ; 
And doubtless, had he worn a wig 
It would have gone likewise. 
What terror seiz’d the parish then, 
When first the furious beast 
Came rushing on, within their ken; 
Bestridden by their priest. 
** I vow,” quoth Hodge, with eager stare, 
*< It is no trifling matter 
** Qur parson brings, with head all bare, 
€* To church in such a clatter.” 
«If 1,” cries Dick, ‘* have any skill, 
‘¢ He’s riding of a race ; 
‘* Or else he comes against his will; 
«So desp’rate is his pace.” 
Meanwhile, poor Will, with eye askance, 
Beheld them bowing low ; 
But pass’d them, with as quick a glance, 
As arrow shot from bow. 
¢€ You Dick,” cries Tummas, ** Dick I Say 
‘* How comes it that our pastor, 
‘¢ Instead of stopping here to pray, 
« Rides faster on, and faster °” 
¢* For sartin sure, he’s t’aen a glass, 
‘¢ For none, with sober pate, eo 
‘* This day the parish church would pass 
** At such unseemly rate.” ¥ 
But jo! when Nicky now perceives 
The church; he yan despair, 
At once his snug retreat he leaves, 
And bolts into the air, 
Loud was the crack, *twas hardly less 
Than thunder from on high ; 
Or signal gun, of sore distress, 
By found’ring ship let fly. — " ' 
Thus 
