Brutes never meet in bloody fray, Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape Comes nearest us in human shape; A courtier any ape surpasses. View him soon after to inferiors Aping the conduct of superiors: He promises with equal air, And to perform takes equal care. He in his turn finds imitators: At court, the porters, lackeys, waiters, And footmen lords and dukes can act; NEW SIMILE, IN THE MANNER OF SWIFT. LONG had I sought in vain to find Imprimis, pray observe his hat, Well! what is it from thence we gather? With wit that's flighty, learning light; In the next place, his feet peruse, Wings grow again from both his shoes; Design'd no doubt their part to bear, And waft his godship through the air; And here my simile unites, For in a modern poet's flights, I'm sure it may be justly said, His feet are useful as his head. Lastly, vouchsafe t' observe his hand, Fill'd with a snake-encircled wand; By classic authors term'd caduceus, And highly fam'd for several uses: For let folks only get a touch, Though ne'er so much awake before, Add too, what certain writers tell, With this he drives men's souls to hell. The serpents round about it twin'd His frothy slaver, venom'd bites; An equal semblance still to keep, Alike too both conduce to sleep. This diff'rence only, as the god Drove souls to Tart'rus with his rod, With his goose-quill the scribbling elf, Instead of others damns himself. And here my simile almost tript, Yet grant a word by way of postscript. Moreover, Merc'ry had a failing: Well! what of that? out with it-stealing; In which all modern bards agree, Being each as great a thief as he: But e'en this deity's existence Shall lend my simile assistance. Our modern bards! why what a pox Are they but senseless stones and blocks? ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING. IMITATED FROM THE SPANISH. SURE 'twas by Providence design'd, That he should be, like Cupid, blind, |