He shakes his bag, he shows all fair; Vice now stept forth, and took the place, 25 With all the forms of his grimace. 'This magic looking-glass,' she cries, ‘(There, hand it round) will charm your eyes.' Each eager eye the sight desired, 30 And every man himself admired. 'See this bank-note; observe the blessing. Breathe on the bill. Heigh, pass! 'tis gone.' 35 A second puff the magic broke ; The padlock vanished, and he spoke. By clean conveyance disappear, And now two bloody swords are there. 40 45 He sees a halter in its stead. She bids Ambition hold a wand; He grasps a hatchet in his hand. A box of charity she shows. 'Blow here;' and a churchwarden blows. 50 'Tis vanish'd with conveyance neat, And on the table smokes a treat. She shakes the dice, the board she knocks, And from all pockets fills her box. A counter, in a miser's hand, Grew twenty guineas at command. 55 She bids his heir the sum retain, A guinea with her touch you see 'Can I such matchless sleight withstand? John Gay. 60 65 CXL RULE BRITANNIA. When Britain first at Heaven's command This was the charter of her land, And guardian angels sung the strain: Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! The nations not so blest as thee Must in their turn to tyrants fall, Whilst thou shalt flourish great and free, The dread and envy of them all. Still more majestic shalt thou rise, More dreadful from each foreign stroke; As the loud blast that tears the skies Serves but to root thy native oak. Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame; All their attempts to bend thee down Will but arouse thy generous flame, And work their woe and thy renown. 5 1Ο 15 To thee belongs the rural reign; Thy cities shall with commerce shine; And every shore it circles thine! The Muses, still with Freedom found, James Thomson. 20 25 CXLI ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST. ON THE TAKING OF PORTO-BELLO BY ADMIRAL VErnon. NOV. 22, 1739. As near Porto-Bello lying On the gently swelling flood, On a sudden, shrilly sounding, Hideous yells and shrieks were heard; Which for winding-sheets they wore, Frowning on that hostile shore. 5 10 15 20 25 30 On them gleamed the moon's wan lustre, 'Heed, O heed, our fatal story. I am Hosier's injured ghost, You now triumph free from fears, You will mix your joy with tears. 'See these mournful spectres, sweeping Whose wan cheeks are stained with weeping; Lo! each hangs his drooping forehead, 'I, by twenty sail attended, Did this Spanish town affright: I had cast them with disdain, And obeyed my heart's warm motion, To have quelled the pride of Spain. 'For resistance I could fear none, But with twenty ships had done 335 40 45 50 What thou, brave and happy Vernon, Hast achieved with six alone. Then the Bastimentos never Had our foul dishonour seen, Nor the sea the sad receiver Of this gallant train had been. Thus, like thee, proud Spain dismaying, Of a grieved and broken heart. Unrepining at thy glory, Thy successful arms we hail; 'Hence, with all my train attending Here the Bastimentos viewing, We recall our shameful doom, And our plaintive cries renewing, Wander through the midnight gloom. 'O'er these waves for ever mourning Shall we roam, deprived of rest, If to Britain's shores returning, |