The board on which we fet our a-s With which, in proper ftation plac'd, You fave the charge of lime and trowels. Each groov'd and dove-tail'd like a box; Thy words together ty'd in small hanks, Or like the umbo of the Romans, Which fierceft foes could break by no means. P 2 Nor Nor will they dare to break the joints, Long, long, long, long, like Dan's long nofe. GEORGE-NIM-DAN-DEAN'S INVITATION TO THOMAS SHERIDAN. Gaulftoun, Aug. 2, 1721. DEAR Tom, this verse, which however the beginning may appear, yet in the end's good metre. Is fent to defire that, when your Auguft vacation comes, your friends you'd meet here. For why should you ftay in the filthy hole, I mean the city fo fmoaky, When you have not one friend left in town, or at leaft not one that's witty, to joke w'ye? For, For as for honeft John *, though I am not sure on 't, yet I'll be hang'd, left he Be gone down to the county of Wexford with that - great peer the lord Anglesey. Oh! but I forgot; perhaps, by this time, you may have one come to town, but I don't know whether he be friend or foe, Delany: But, however, if he be come, bring him down, and you fhall go back in a fortnight, for I know there's no delaying ye. Oh! I forgot too; I believe there may be one more, I mean that great fat joker, friend Helfham, he. That wrote the prologue †, and if you stay with him, depend on't, in the end, he'll sham ye. Bring down Long Shanks Jim too; but, now I think on't, he's not yet come from Courtown, I fancy; For I heard, a month ago, that he was down there a courting fly Nancy. However, bring down yourself, and you bring down all; for, to fay it we may venture, In thee Delany's fpleen, John's mirth, Helfham's jokes, and the foft foul of amorous Jemmy, centre. Supposed to mean Dr. Walmfeyr + One spoken by young Putland, in 1720, before Hippolytus; in which Dr. Sheridan (who had written in a prologue for the occa fion) was most unexpectedly and egregioufly laughed at. POSTSCRIPT. I had forgot to defire you to bring down what I fay you have, and you'll believe me as fure as a gun, and own it; I mean, what no other mortal in the univerfe can boaft of, your own fpirit of pun, and own wit. And now I hope you'll excufe this rhyming, which I muft fay is (though written fomewhat at large) trim and clean; And fo I conclude, with humble refpects as ufual, Your moft dutiful and obedient GEORGE-NIM-DAN-DEAN. TO GEORGE-NIM-DAN-DEAN, Efq, Upon his incomparable VER SE S, &c. By Dr. DELANY, in SHERIDAN'S Name * HAIL, human compound quadrifarious, Hail! doubly-doubled mighty merry one, Unable, in her utmost flight, To reach thy huge Coloffian height. • These were written all in circles. Yet Yet let me blefs, in humbler ftrain, Like rivers rattling in their fall! Against thy verse Time fees with pain, With Roman elegance of tafte, Oh thou, of all the Nine infpir'd! Thy Mufe, majestic in her rage, |