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The Moments past, if thou art wife, retrieve, With pleasant Mem'ry of the Bliss they gave. The Present Hours, in present Mirth imploy, And bribe the Future with the Hopes of Joy. The Future (few or more, how e'er they be) Were destin'd e'rst, nor can by Fate's Decree

Be now cut off, betwixt the Grave and Thee.

梁爽爽

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【味味

F

HORACE

HORACE

LIB. I. EPIST. IX.

Septimius, Claudi, nimirum, intelligit unus,
Quanti me facias. &c. m

To the Right Honourable R-H-, Efq;

D

EAR Dick, howe'er it comes into his Head,

Believes, as firmly as he does his Creed, That You and I, Sir, are extremely great; Tho' I plain Matt, You Minifter of State, One Word from me, without all doubt, he fays Wou'd fix his Fortune in fome little Place:

Thus better than my self, it seems, he knows
my Patron goes,
And answering all Objections I can make
Still plunges deeper in his dear Mistake.

How far my Interest with

From

From this wild Fancy, Sir, there may proceed
One wilder yet, which I forefee and dread,
That I, in Fact, a real Interest have,

Which to my own Advantage I wou'd fave,
And with the usual Ccurtier's Trick intend
Friend.

To ferve my felf, forgetful of my

To fhun this Cenfure I all Shame lay by,
And make my Reafon with his Will comply,
Hoping for my Excufe 'twill be confeft,
That of two Evils I have chose the leaft.
So, Sir, with this Epiftolary Scroll,
Receive the Partner of my inmost Soul,
Him you will find in Letters and in Laws
Not unexpert; firm to his Country's Cause;
Warm in the Glorious Interest you pursue;
And, in one Word, a good Man and a true.

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FA

Algates affaulted fore by Leachers twaine: Now, an' I reade aryghte that auncient Song, The Paramours were Olde, the Dame was Yong.

Had thilke fame Tale in other guise been tolde, Had they been yong, (pardie) and the been olde, Sweet Jefu! that had been much forer Tryall; Full marvaillous, I wote, were fuch Denyall!

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AN

EPIST L
T LE

By Mr. BAT E.

EST others tempt your Youth with Praise

L

[not due,

And tell you what your felf too foon would Till Flatt'ry's Breath with Fortune's Bleffings

[know,

[join'd,

Stifle your Virtue, and corrupt your Mind;
Study your felf, know human Nature well,
And view the things that make vain Mortals fwell,
The things that Souls above the Vulgar pleafe;
But view them, ftript of their enchanting Dress:
Nor 'midft thofe Thoughts with rafh Difdain refuse
This dull Defcription of a Rural Mufe.

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