of wit, which might have ceased to excite admiration.

Men of genius are too often indifferent about the fate of their fugitive pieces; and the generality of readers are too carelefs to fearch after them. It is, therefore, abfolutely neceffary, that there be, in the republic of letters, a few unambitious members, who have a pleasure in the humble talk of collec ting what others have written.

WAL. RUDDIMAN.

EDINBURGH,
JUNE 1773.

Harlequin-Horace; or, the Art of Modern

Poetry

Art of Angling, in eight Dialogues, in Verse :

$81

113

131

207

216

231

Dialogue

ROD

DO

ob and dinner :

Iding

STATE JUGGLERS.

WH

CANTO I.

HEN learning grew to fuch a head
That authors wrote, who never read;

And special wits, in verfe and profe,
Like mushrooms, in a night arose;
Regal'd the Town a day, and then
Sunk to obfcurity again.

When Henley, pride of Butcher Row,
Was gone where Ch-11 too must go ;
But like Elijah left his spirit,

For this Elisha to inherit.

When bare a-s'd Caledonian rogues,

Forlook their oatmeal, plaids, and brogues;
And over Berwick-bridge came flocking,
For Galligafkine, fhoe and ftocking.

When knowledge, courage, fenfe, and worth,

Were first defin'd by South and North;

And Tweed's irremeable waves,

Became the boundary of-knaves.

When even T-ple grew a wife man,
Detence

And gauged

excife-man :

Imbibing fympathetic witt Ru

And eloquence from brother P-tt.

Then great RODONDO left the steerage,
And took a Pension and a Peerage ;
Yet warn'd by patriot P-tn-y's fate,
He kick'd and boggled at the bait ;
Nor would he touch a fingle tefter;
But left all that to Lady E-r.
See what it is to have a wife!
She wears the coronet for life;

And for her fake he stoops to bear,
Three thousand English pounds a-year!
And still a patriot firm and true,

Is not oblig'd to buckle to

;

But ftands upon his honour ftill,
Like captain Bluff, or Bobadil.
Yet, left this pimping penfion ftory,
Should tarnish patriotic glory.
He took at once to thrifty courfes,
And wifely advertis'd his horfes :

As who should say ;

" 'tis all a lie :

I can't afford a fet; not I!"

With borrow'd pair thro' Cheapfide drove,

To thank the city for her love;

And zealous in his country's caufe,

Bow'd and huzza'd-his own applause !

By