Which proves the stupid dolt's undoing,
Who would be others' work pursuing.
'Tis then his quondam friends turn tail,
And he who serv'd 'em rots in gaol;
Where, though too late, he learns this rule,
Who serves all but himself's—a fool.

L'ENVOY OF THE FOET.

None is so able favours to bestow,

As he whose labour gains the promis'd end; By industry thus teaching men to know, Who serves himself, can others' wants befriend.

THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS.

Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Crowds flock to man my Stultifera Navis.

SECTION XXX.

OF FOOLS WHO COLLECT OLD BOOKS AND

PRINTS.

Picciola cosa da lontano portata è da tutti molto bramata.

Is it to read this dolt doth buy,
Of books so large a quantity,
Which he can't comprehend:
Of classics prime editions rare,
No stain, no worm hole-title fair,
And margin without end* ?

What mean those piles of musty store,
These tiers of old black letter lore,

*This rage, which we will denominate Cacoethes Carpendi, has been carried by a set of asses to the most ridiculous pitch; as an extra inch of margin to a book has commanded ten times the price of an equally fine copy of the work without it; as if the sublimity of Homer, or the wit of Horace was heightened by this additional width of the blank paper that skirts the text of the author.

With wood-cuts so terrific ?

Of Caxton fam'd-Wynken de Worde,
Of Pynson's, Copland's, all the herd,
Whose types are hieroglyphic *.

Say is't for study you ne'er fail,
For quarto play + or tract at sale,
To bid as if quite crazy?

No, by the bindings, sense must laugh,
Fine gilt morocco, russia calf,

Proclaim the muse is lazy.

* Most of the works that issued from the presses of the above early printers, are illustrated with cuts so rudely executed, as frequently to appear like any thing but what they are really intended to represent; yet in the eyes of black-letter collectors, these deformities possess the most invincible charm; for as to the matter of the work, that never constitutes any part of the pleasure of these gentlemen; let the book be but perfect, and in good condition, and no more is required.

+ Interludes, Quarto plays and Tracts, have produced prices that may well brand their purchasers with the name of fools. What man of understanding would believe that the first edition of a play would produce £.80, while the same drama, printed at a later period, may be procured for sixpence? Or who would credit, that an interlude

'Tis all for silly pride and show,

That book worms like thyself may know,
And envy thee the bliss;
Which must arise with men so sage,
Who only read the title page,

Of such old works rariss :

Or what surprise would seize a stranger,
To view an illustrated Granger*,
With Faithornes, Passes, Hollars;
Where he might be indulg'd with peep
At Mull'd Sake*, famous chimney sweep,
Which cost three hundred dollars.

or tract, possessing neither rhyme nor reason, nor even an incident to afford instruction of any kind,will be knocked down by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby, &c. &c. for five, ten, or fifteen guineas; yet these are facts that will stand the test of inquiry, and stamp their possessors well worthy the title which the poet has bestowed upon them.

* The work above alluded to, gives an account of the several engravings of Englishmen that are extant, as well as Foreigners who have visited this country, to the period of the Revolution, among which are many rare prints mentioned, from the gravers of the artists here adverted to, and among the rest is an engraving of an infamous character, called Mull'd Sake, who not only followed the

Or else behold in wooden cut,
Nell Rummin* filthy sottish slut,
Or Hopkins, foe to witches:
Or Skelton poet, all as like
To human faces as a pike,

To postboy's leather breeches.

L'ENVOY OF THE POET.

The senseless dolt, who buys rare works for show, Is but the baby-man with gilded toy ; Content his eyes, nor more he seeks to know, In saperface concentrates all his joy.

THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS.

Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Crowds flock to man my Stultifera Navis.

employ of a chimney sweeper, but was also a most notorious cheat and thief. This fellow, who had nothing but his infamy to recommend him, is, however, rendered of infinite consequence to the collectors of Granger portraits; for this simple reason, that the print alluded to is supposed to be unique, and on that account alone, the writer very much questions whether if a second impression of the portraiture of this most celebrated character was exposed to public auction, it would not be knocked down for £.50 to some fool of a Col'ector.

* Eleanor Rummin, the keeper of a filthy alehouse in