His fpirits of a fudden fail'd him, Heftop'd,and could not tell what ail'd him. What was the message I receiv'd ? Why certainly the captain rav'd: To dine with her! and come at three ! Impoffible! it can't be me. Or may be I miftook the word; My lady!— it must be my lord! My lord's abroad; my lady too: What must th' unhappy doctor do? Is* captain Crach'rode here pray?—no. Nay then 'tis time for me to go. Am I awake, or do I dream? I'm fure he call'd me by my name; Nam'd me as plain as he could fpeak, And yet there must be some mistake. Why, what a jeft fhou'd I have been Had now my lady been within? What could I've faid? I'm mighty glad She went abroad--fhe'd thought me mad. The hour of dining now is paft; Well then I'll e'en go home and fast; And, since I 'scap'd being made a fcoff, I think I'm very fairly off. The gentleman who brought the message. My My lady now returning home The captain walks about, and fearches Through all the rooms, and courts, and arches ; Examines all the fervants round, In vain no doctor's to be found, But, pray, to-morrow go at ten, The captain was a man of reading, The The captain too--he did not know Beg'd the'd forgive him. In conclufion And would not only grant his fuit, But vifit him and eat fome fruit; Provided, at a proper time, He told the real truth in rhyme. 'Twas to no purpose to oppose, She'd hear of no excufe in profe. The doctor ftood not to debate, Glad to compound at any rate; So bowing, feemingly comply'd; Though if he durft he had deny’d. But firft refolv'd to fhew his tafte Was too refin'd to give a feaft: He'd treat with nothing that was rare, But winding walks and purer air; 'Would entertain without expence, Or pride, or vain magnificence; For well he knew to fuch a guest The plaineft meals must be the best. To ftomachs clog'd with costly fare Simplicity alone is rare; VOL. VII. U Whilft Whilft high, and nice, and curious meats, Though feeming pleas'd at all she sees Madam, the mighty pow'r of use "Now ftrangely pleads in my excuse. "If you, unus'd, have scarcely ftrength "The cooler air, and dazzling fun ; "The powder'd courtier's witty fneer; "To fee th'important man of dress Scoffing my college aukwardness, "To be the ftrutting cornet's sport; "To run the gauntlet of the court, Winning my way by flow approaches, Through crouds of coxcombs and of "coaches, "From the firft fierce cockaded centry, Quite through the tribe of waiting 66 gentry; "To pass so many crowded stages, "And ftand the flaring of your pages; U2 And, |