* Jocus took Comus' rosy crown, And gaily wore the prize; And thrice, in mirth, he push'd him down, Then Cupid sought the myrtle grove, Where Venus did recline, And beauty close embracing love, And Comus, loudly cursing wit, Bacchus and Jocus still behind, But part in time, whoever hear This our instructive song; For though such friendships may be dear, [Dr. Parnell's version of this sportive song is executed with a vernacular air of graceful ease, that translation very rarely has put on; and we are accordingly made acquainted by Dr. Johnson, that the latter part is purely Parnell's: of whose compositions the same critic happily said—' It is impossible to determine whether they are the productions of Nature, so excellent as not to want the help of 'Art, or of Art so refined as to resemble Nature.'] 'On both sides slaughter and gigantic deeds.' GOD prosper long from being broke A doleful drinking-bout I sing, To chase the spleen with cup Duke Philip took his way, and can Babes yet unborn shall never see The stout and ever-thirsty duke Sir Musgrave too of Martindale, In drinking to delight. MILTON. * A pint bumper at sir Christopher Musgrave's. See G. Mag. for 1791. The bumpers swiftly pass about, And, with their calling for more wine, Now when these merry tidings reach'd 'And am I (quoth he, with an oath) 'Saddle my steed, bring forth my boots, 'I'll be with them right quick; And, master sheriff, come you too ; 'We'll know this scurvy trick.' 'Lo! yonder doth earl Harold come;' (Did one at table say ;) ''Tis well,' replied the mettled duke, 'How will he get away?' When thus the earl began; 'Great duke, 'I'll know how this did chance, 'Without inviting me, sure this 'You did not learn in France. One of us two, for this offence, 'Under the board shall lie; 'I know thee well, a duke thou art, 'But, trust me, Wharton, pity 't were, 'So much good wine to spill, As these companions here may drink, 'Ere they have had their fill. 'Let thou and I, in bumpers full, This grand affair decide:' 'Accurs'd be he (duke Wharton said) 'By whom it is denied.' To Andrews, and to Hotham fair, When, at the last, the duke espied He plied him with a full pint glass, Who never spoke more words than these, After he downward sunk, 'My worthy friends, revenge my fall, 'Duke Wharton sees me drunk.' Then, with a groan, duke Philip took And said, Earl Harold, 'stead of thee, • Would I had drunk the pint. Alack! my very heart doth bleed, 'For surely a more sober earl With that the sheriff, in a rage, To see the earl so smit, Vow'd to revenge the dead-drunk peer Upon renown'd sir Kit. Then step'd a gallant 'squire forth, Of visage thin and pale, Lloyd was his name, and of Gang-Hall, Fast by the river Swale. Who said he would not have it told, Where Eden river ran, That unconcern'd he should sit by ; 'So, sheriff, I'm your man.' Now when these tidings reach'd the room, Where the duke lay in bed ; How that the 'squire suddenly Upon the floor was laid: "O heavy tidings! (quoth the duke) 'Cumberland witness be, 'I have not any toper more, 'Of such account as he.' Like tidings to earl Thanet came, Was fallen from his place. 'Now God be with him (said the earl) 'Sith 'twill no better be, 'I trust I have within my town, 'As drunken knights as he.' Of all the number that were there, |