A FRAGMENT OF ANCIENT POETRY. LORDLY gallants! tell me this, (Though my safe content you weigh not,)In your greatness what one bliss Have you gain'd that I enjoy not? Bound to none my fortune be; This or that man's fall I fear not; Him I love that loveth me; For the rest a pin I care not. You are sad when others chafe, And to none be slave I would, By great titles some believe And yet kings have power to give To their fools what these have gain'd. Till mine own wing carry me. Seek to raise your titles higher, They are toys not worth my sorrow; Those that we to-day admire, Prove the age's scorn to-morrow. Though of dainties you have store You, to please your senses, feed, Though you lord it over me, You in vain thereof have brav'd; And are that which I do seem. When your faults I open lay, You are mov'd and mad with vexing; But you ne'er could do or say Aught to drive me to perplexing. You are pleased more or less No men well or ill report you, And show discontentedness When the times forbear to court you. That in which my pleasures be, Be not proud, because you view But your fortune that's befriended. In these thoughts my riches are; Now though poor or mean you deem me, I am pleas'd, and do not care How the times or you esteem me. For those toys that make you gay, VOL. III. PROLOGUE To the new dramatic entertainment of "NOT AT HOME." But undetermin'd still what means to use From thought to thought with double haste he rov'd, I could not bear to see him thus perplex'd, Observe my lord-the copy of his groom But not at home when tradesmen would be paid, And least at home, oh mean! and grovelling mind! At home! oh monstrous! is there then no way And Mrs. Shuttle, odious, rustic creature! Whose suppers we endure from mere good nature. |