AN EPISTLE TO TWO FRIENDS *.

TO DR. HELSHAM t.

SIR,

Nov. 23, at night, 1731.

WHEN I left you, I found myself of the grape's

juice sick;

I'm so full of pity, I never abuse sick;

And the patientest patient ever you knew sick: Both when I am purge-sick, and when I am spewsick.

I pitied my cat, whom I knew by her mew sick : She mended at first, but now she's anew sick. Captain Butler made some in the church black and blue sick.

Dean Cross, had he preach'd, would have made us all pew-sick.

Are not you, in a crowd when you sweat and you stew, sick?

Lady Santry got out of the church when she grew sick,

And, as fast as she could, to the deanery flew sick. Miss Morice was (I can you assure 'tis true) sick: For, who would not be in that numerous crew sick? Such musick would make a fanatick or Jew sick, Yet, ladies are seldom at ombre or loo sick.

Nor is old Nanny Shales, whene'er she does brew, sick.

*This medley (for it cannot be called a poem) is given as a specimen of those bagatelles for which the Dean hath perhaps been too severely censured. H.

Richard Helsham, M. D. professor of physick and natural philosophy in the university of Dublin. See the Preface to Delany on Polygamy. N.

My footman came home from the church of a bruise

sick,

And look'd like a rake, who was made in the stews sick;

But

you learned doctors can make whom you choose sick:

And poor I myself was, when I withdrew, sick; For the smell of them made me like garlick and rue sick,

And I got through the crowd, though not led by a clew, sick.

Yet hop'd to find many (for that was your cue) sick; But there was not a dozen (to give them their due)

sick,

And those to be sure, stuck together like glew, sick. So are ladies in crowds, when they squeeze and they screw, sick;

You may find they are all, by their yellow pale hue, sick;

So am I, when tobacco, like Robin, I chew, sick.

TO DR. SHERIDAN.

IF I write any more, it will make my poor Muse sick.

This night I came home with a very cold dew sick,
And I wish I may soon be not of an ague sick;
But I hope I shall ne'er be like you, of a shrew sick,
Who often has made me, by looking askew, sick.

DR. HELSHAM'S ANSWER.

THE doctor's first rhyme would make any Jew

sick :

I know it has made a fine lady in blue sick,

For which she is gone in a coach to Killbrew sick, Like a hen I once had, from a fox when she flew

sick:

Last Monday a lady at St. Patrick's did spew sick:
And made all the rest of the folks in the pew sick,
The surgeon who bled her his lancet out drew sick,
And stopt the distemper, as being but new sick.
The yacht, the last storm, had all her whole crew

sick;

Had we two been there, it would have made me and you sick :

A lady that long'd, is by eating of glew sick;
Did you ever know one in a very good Q sick?
I'm told that my wife is by winding a clew sick;
The doctors have made her by rhyme and by rue
sick.

There's a gamester in town, for a throw that he threw sick,

And yet the old trade of his dice he'll pursue sick;
I've known an old miser for paying his due sick;
At present I'm grown by a pinch of my shoe sick,
And what would you have me with verses to do sick?
Send rhymes, and I'll send you some others in lieu
sick.

Of rhymes I have plenty.

And therefore send twenty.

Answer'd the same day when sent, Nov. 23.

I desire you will carry both these to the Doctor, together with his own; and let him know we are not persons to be insulted.

"Can you match with me,
"Who send thirty-three?
"You must get fourteen more,
"To make up thirty-four:
"But, if me you can conquer,
"I'll own you a strong cur *.'

This morning I'm growing, by smelling of yew, sick;

My brother's come over with gold from Peru sick;. Last night I came home in a storm that then blew

sick;

This moment my dog at a cat I halloo sick;

I hear, from good hands, that my poor cousin Hugh's sick;

By quaffing a bottle, and pulling a screw sick:
And now there's no more I can write (you'll excuse)

sick;

You see that I scorn to mention word musick.

I'll do my best,

To send the rest;
Without a jest,

I'll stand the test.

These lines that I send you, I hope you'll peruse

sick;

I'll make you with writing a little more news sick; Last night I came home with drinking of booze sick; My carpenter swears that he'll hack and he'll hew

sick;

An officer's lady, I'm told, is tattoo sick;

I'm afraid that the line thirty-four you will view sick. Lord; I could write a dozen more;

You see, I've mounted thirty-four.

*The lines" thus marked" were written by Dr. Swift, at the bottom of Dr. Helsham's twenty lines; and the following fourteen were afterward added on the same paper.

N.

SIR

A LETTER TO DR. HELSHAM.

Pray discruciate what follows.
THE dullest beast, and gentleman's liquor,
When young is often due to the vicar.
The dullest of beasts, and swine's delight,
Make up a bird very swift of flight.

The dullest beast when high in stature,
And another of royal nature,
For breeding is a useful creature.

The dullest beast, and a party distress'd,
When too long, is bad as best.

The dullest beast, and the saddle it wears,
Is good for partridge, not for hares.

The dullest beast and kind voice of a cat,
Will make a horse go, though he be not fat.

The dullest of beasts and of birds in the air,
Is that by which all Irishmen swear.

The dullest beast and fam'd college for Teagues,
Is a person very unfit for intrigues.

The dullest beast and a cobler's tool,
With a boy that is only fit for school,
In summer is very pleasant and cool.

The dullest beast and that which you kiss,
May break a limb of master or miss.

Of serpent kind, and what at distance kills,
Poor mistress Dingley oft hath felt its bills,