PRAYING FOR RAIN. PETER PINDAR How difficult, alas! to please mankind! Good Lamb, the curate, much approved, Was one dry summer begged to pray for rain: The powers of prayer were soon displayed; It chanced that the church warden, Robin Jay, Thus was his hay to health quite past restoring. He sought the parson, like a lion roaring. "Zounds! Parson Lamb, why, what have you been doing? A pretty storm, indeed, ye have been brewing! What! pray for rain before I saved my hay! Oh! you're a cruel and ungrateful man! I that forever help you all I can; Ask you to dine with me and Mistress Jay, "Send you a goose, a pair of chicken, You that were welcome to a treat, "You, parson, serve one such a scurvy trick! Zounds! you must have the bowels of Old Nick. What! bring the flood of Noah from the skies, "Lord! parson, you're a fool, one might suppose- "Sir," quoth the curate, "know that Harry Cobb Your brother warden joined, to have the prayer.""Cobb! Cobb! why this for Cobb was only sport: What doth Cobb own that any rain can hurt?" Roared furious Jay as broad as he could stare. "The fellow owns, as far as I can larn, A few old houses only, and a barn; As that's the case, zounds! what are showers to him? Not Noah's flood could make his trumpery swim. "Besides-why could you not for drizzle pray? "Dear Mister Jay, I do protest, I acted solely for the best; I do affirm it, Mister Jay, indeed. Your anger for this once restrain, I'll never bring a drop again Till you and all the parish are agreed." APOLOGY FOR KINGS. PETER PINDAR. As want of candor really is not right, Why will the simple world expect wise things, Look on their poverty of education! Adored and flattered, taught that they are gods, Jove-like, to shake the pillars of creation! They scorn that little useful imp called mind, Sometimes, indeed, great kings will condescend An instance take:-A king of this great land, Did visit Salisbury's old church so fair: An Earl of Pembroke was the Monarch's guide; And into the cathedral stole the pair. The verger met them in his blue silk gown, Looking the frightened verger through and through, "I am the verger here, most mighty king: Sweep it, an't please ye, sir, and keep it clean." Hey? verger! verger!—you the verger?-hey? "Yes, please your glorious majesty, I be," The verger answered, with the mildest mien. Then turned the king about toward the peer, And winked, and laughed, then whispered in his ear, [It is a satire-royal: and if any thing were yet wanting to convince us that Master Pindar is no turncoat, here is proof sufficient.] Then with his glass, as hard as eye could strain, "He's a poor verger, sire," his lordship cried: "Sixpence would handsomely requite him." "Poor verger, verger, hey?" the king replied: No, no, then, we won't knight him-no, won't knight him." Now to the lofty roof the king did raise His glass, and skipped it o'er with sounds of praise! For thus his marveling majesty did speak: "An't please your majesty," with marveling chops, MORAL. This little anecdote doth plainly show That ignorance, a king too often lurches ; STORY THE SECOND. From Salisbury church to Wilton House, so grand, "My lord, you've got fine statues," said the king. "Who's this? who's this?-who's this fine fellow here ?" Sir Sostris, hey?-Sir Sostris ?-'pon my Knight or a baronet, my lord? word! One of my making ?—what, my lord, my making?" "Se-sostris, sire," so soft, the peer replied- "Pray, pray, my lord, who's that big fellow there?" Killed snakes, great snakes, that in a cradle found him— Our moral is not merely water-gruel— It shows that curiosity's a jewel! It shows with kings that ignorance may dwell: As information to great folk is hell: It shows that decency may live with kings, On whom the bold virtu-men turn their backs; And shows (for numerous are the naked things) That saucy statues should be lodged in sacks. PETER PINDAR. ODE TO THE DEVIL. The devil is not so black as he is painted. Ingratum Odi. PRINCE of the dark abodes! I ween Your highness ne'er till now hath seen Yourself in meter shine; Ne'er heard a song with praise sincere, |