They started as his form they view;
The horses also started too :
The dog with insultseem'd to treat him,
And look'd as if he long'd to eat him.
In piteous tones he humbly pray'd
They'd turn aside, and give him aid:
When each leap'd quickly from her
To join in charitable deed. [steed,
They drew their knives to cut the noose,
And let the mournful pris'ner loose;
With kindest words his fate bewail,
While grateful Syntax tells his tale.
The rustic matrons soothe his grief,
Nor offer, but afford relief;

And, turning from the beaten road,
Their well-lin'd panniers they unload;
When soon upon the bank appear'd
A sight his fainting spirits cheer'd:
They spread the fare with cheerful
grace,

And gave a banquet to the place.
Most haply, too, as they untied him:
He saw his hat and wig beside him:
So, thus bewigg'd and thus behatted,
Down on the grass the Doctor squatted;
When he uplifted either eye,
With grateful accents to the sky.
""Tis thus," he humbly said, "we read
In sacred books of heavenly deed:
And thus, I find, in my distress,
The Manna of the Wilderness:
'Tis Hermit's fare; but thanks to
Heaven,
[given."
And those kind souls, by whom 'tis
'Tis true that bread, and curds, and
fruit,

Do with the pious Hermit suit;
But Syntax surely was mistaken
To think their meals partake of bacon;
Or that those reverend men regale,
As our good Doctors do-with ale;
And these kind dames, in nothing loth,
Took care that he partook of both.

Of all their mighty pilfer'd treasure;
For haply there was no divining
I'd a snug pocket in my lining;
And, thanks to Spousy, ev'ry note
Was well sew'd up within my coat.
But where is Grizzle ?-Never mind
her;
[her."
I'll have her cried, and soon shall find
Thus he pursued the winding way,
Big with the evils of the day:
Though the good Doctor kept in view
The favour of its blessings too.
Nor had he pac'd it half an hour
Before he saw a parish tow'r,
And soon, with sore fatigue opprest,
An Inn receiv'd him as its guest.
But still his mind with anxious care,
Ponder'd upon his wand'ring mare;
He therefore sent the Bell-man round
To see if Grizzle might be found.

Grizzle, ungrateful to her master,
And careless of his foul disaster,
Left him tied up and took her way,
In hopes to meet with corn or hay;
But, as that did not come to pass,
She sought a meadow full of grass:
The farmer in the meadow found her,
And order'd John, his man, to pound
her.

Now John was one of those droll folk, Who oft take mischief for a joke;

yore

Who Quixote's lance and target bore! Bless'd be the man who first taught sleep

pray ?"

Thus wrapt in slumber, Syntax layForgot the troubles of the day: So sound his sleep, so sweet his rest, By no disturbing dreams distrest; That, all at ease, he lay entranc'd, Till the fair morn was far advanc'd. At length, the hostess thought it wrong He should be left to sleep so long; So bid the maid to let him know, That breakfast was prepar'd below. Betty then op'd the chamber door, And, tripping onwards 'cross the floor, Undrew the curtains, one by one; When, in a most ear-piercing tone, Such as would grace the London cries, She told him it was time to rise. The noise his peaceful slumbers broke; He gave a snort or two-and 'woke. Now as the Doctor turn'd his head, Betty was court'sying by the bed:

No small renown for making toast.
There's coffee, Sir, and tea, and meat,
And surely you must want to eat;
For ten long hours have pass'd away
Since down upon this bed you lay!"
The Doctor rubb'd his op'ning eyes,
Then stretch'd his arms, and 'gan to
But Betty still demurely stands, [rise :
To hear him utter his commands.
"Be gone," he cried, "get something
nice,

And I'll be with you in a trice."

Behold him then, renew'd by rest, His chin well shav'd,his peruke dress'd, Conning with solemn air the news, His welcome breakfast to amuse; And when the well-fed meal was o'er, Grizzle was order'd to the door : Betty was also told to say, The mighty sum there was to pay: Betty, obedient to his will,

Her court'sy makes, and brings the bill. Down the long page he cast his eye, Then shook his head, and heav'da sigh. "What! am I doom'd, where'er I go, In all I meet to find a foe? Where'er I wander to be cheated, To be bamboozled and ill-treated!" Thus, as he read each item o'er, The hostess op'd the parlour door; | When Syntax 'rose in solemn state, And thus began the fierce debate.

12

SYNTAX.

"Good woman; here, your bill retake,
And, prithee, some abatement make:
I could not such demands afford,
Were I a Bishop or a Lord:
And though I hold myself as good
As any of my brotherhood, [crown'd,
Howe'er, by bounteous Fortune
In wealth and honours they abound;
It is not in my power to pay
Such long-drawn bills as well as they.
The paper fills me with affright ;-
I surely do not read it right:
For at the bottom here, I see
Th'enormous total-one pound three!"

You've had such tea as few can boast, With a whole loaf turn'd into toast."

SYNTAX.

"And for your beef, and beer and tea, You kindly charge me-one pound three!"

HOSTESS.

"'Tis cheap as dirt-for well I know How things with country Curates go: And I profess that I am loth ] To deal unkindly with the cloth: Nay, oft and oft, as I'm a sinner, I've given hungry Clerks a dinner."

SYNTAX.

But, I'm in haste to get away, Though one pound three I will not pay: So, if you'll take one half th' amount, We'll quickly settle the account. There is your money, do you see? And let us part in charity."

HOSTESS.

“Well, as a charitable deed,
I'll e'en consent-so mount your steed,
And on your journey straight proceed:
But well you know, where'er you roam,
That Charity begins at home."

THE

paid,

The hostess left him to the maid; When Betty stood in humble guise, With expectation in her eyes, That he was surely so good-hearted, To give her something ere they parted. Now, Nature in her wanton freaks, Had given Betty rosy cheeks; And caused her raven locks to break In native ringlets on her neck: The roving bee might wish to sip The sweetness of her pouting lip; So red, so tempting to the view, 'Twas what the Doctor long'd to do. "You're a nice girl," he smiling said. "Am I?" replied the simp'ring maid. "I swear you are, and if you're willing

To give a kiss, I'll give a shilling." "If 'tis the same thing, Sir, to you, Make the gift two-fold and take two." [sure, He grimly grinn'd with inward pleaAnd instant seiz❜d the purchas'd trea[honey: "Your lips, my dear, are sweet as So one smack more—and there's your money."

sure.

This charming ceremony o'er, The parson strutted to the door; Where his poor wounded mare appears In cruel state of tail and ears.

To see him issue from the gate;
For country-town or village-green,
Had seldom such a figure seen.
Labour stood still to see him pass,
While ev'ry lad and every lass
Ran forward to enjoy the feast,
To jeer the Sage, and mourn the beast.
But one and all aloud declare
'Twas a fit sight for country-fair;
Far better than a dancing bear.

At length escap'd from all the noise Of women, men, and girls and boys, In the recesses of a lane

He thus gave utt'rance to his pain.
"It seems to be my luckless case,
At ev'ry point, in ev'ry place,
To meet with trouble and disgrace.
But yesterday I left my home,

In search of fancied wealth to roam;
And nought, I think, but ills betide

me;

Sure some foul spirit runs beside me :
Some blasting demon from the east,
A deadly foe to man and beast,
That loves to riot in disaster, [ter.
And plague alike both horse and mas-
Grizzle, who full five
and more,
years,
A trumpeter in triumph bore;
Who had in hard-fought battle been,
And many a bloody conflict seen;
Who, having'scap'd with scarce a scar,
'Mid all the angry threats of war;