Thefe, to the church they fight for ftrangers, Have faith in nothing but her dangers ; While those, a more believing people, Can fwallow all things but a steeple. But I, my Lord, who, as you know, Care little how these matters go, And equally deteft the ftrife And usual joys of country life, Nor reckon wonderful inviting, With sheep to rot, and cows to die: Militia Militia fcarlet edg'd with gold, Or the white staff high sheriffs hold; The judge's bow, the bishop's bleffing; In the dull feast of neighb'ring knight, In white gloves meets you at the door, First makes you fick, and then with feeding: Or if, with ceremony cloy'd, You would next time fuch plagues avoid, And vifit without previous notice, JOHN, JOHN, a coach!-I can't think who 'tis, My lady cries, who spies your coach, Ere you the avenue approach; Lord, how unlucky!-washing day! · Thefe Thefe difficulties all o'ercome, We reach at length the drawing-room; To get clean fleeves to hide her smock; The cook-maid raves for want of butter, Pigs fqueak, fowls fcream, and green geese flutter. And having nine times view'd the garden, Then, that we may have four and four, And by and by, the fecond courfe A falver A falver then to church and king, The cloth remov'd, the toafts go round, And as the knight more tipsy waxes, We damn all minifters and taxes. At laft the ruddy fun quite funk, The coachman tolerably drunk, We home return, a wond'rous token Of Heaven's kind care, with limbs unbroken. With many days like this, or dinners! But if civilities thus teaze me, Nor business, nor diverfions please me: 'Twixt reading, walking, eating, riding; But books are ftill my highest joy, These earliest please, and latest cloy. Sometimes Sometimes o'er diftant climes I ftray, By guides experienc'd taught the way; From frozen LAPLAND to PERU; Bound o'er rough feas, and mountains bare, Yet ne'er forfake my elbow chair. Sometimes fome fam'd hiftorian's pen Recalls paft ages back agen, Where all I fee, thro' ev'ry page, Is but how men, with fenfeless rage, They fight fo long, it would amaze ye : With reprobation abfolute; 2 There |