L A DIALOGUE. IN Ruffel-street, enfued of late, Between two pofts a strange debate. -Two pofts-aye pofts- for pofts can In Latin, Hebrew, French or Greek, One Rubric thus addrefs'd the other: "A noble fituation, brother, "With authors lac'd from top to toe, "Methinks we cut a taring show, "The Dialogues of famous dead, "You know how much they're bought "Suppose again we raise their ghosts, "And make them chat through us two "A thing's half finish'd well begun, "So take the authors as they run. "The lift of names is mighty fine, "You look down this, and I that line. "Here's POPE and SWIFT, and STEELE "And CONGREVE, in the modern way. "Whilft you have thofe, I cannot speak "But found most wonderful in Greek. "With such a fhow of names before it." "Modern, your judgment wanders wide," The antient Rubric ftrait reply'd. "It grieves me much, indeed, to find "Turn o'er the leaves, and look about 66 D'ye think one author out of ten "Let CONGREVE fpeak as CONGREVE writ, "And keep the ball up of his wit; "Let Let SWIFT be SWIFT, nor e'er demean "The fenfe and humour of the DEAN. "E'en let the antients reft in peace, "Nor bring good folks from Rome or Greece "To give a cause for past transactions, "They never dreamt of in their actions. "I can't help quibbling, brother post, " "Twere better we should lay the ghost, "But 'twere a task of real merit "Could we contrive to raise their Spirit. "Peace, brother, peace, tho' what you fay, "I own has reason in its way, "On Dialogues to bear so hard, "Is playing with a dang'rous card; "Writers of rank are facred things, "And crush like arbitrary kings. "Perhaps your fentiment is right, "Heav'n grant we may not suffer by't. "For fhould friend DAVIES overhear, "He'll publish ours another year." THOUGH HOUGH winter its defolate train Of froft and of tempest may bring, Yet Flora steps forward again, And nature rejoices in spring. Though the fun in his glories decreast, And repairs them again in the morn. But what can youth's funfhine recall, The fpring-time of love then employ, 'Tis a leffon that's eafy to learn, For Cupid's a vagrant, a boy, And his feafons will never return. A FA A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO J. B. ESQ SHALL Embitter much, but nothing chang'd In that Affection firm and true, Which Gratitude excites to You; But you, perhaps, will kindly take Yet Trifles often fhew the Man, |