When once he begins, he never will flinch,
But repeats the same note a whole day like a Finch.1
I have heard all the speech repeated by Hoppy,2
And, "mistakes to prevent, I've obtained a copy."

THE SPEECH.

WHEREAS, notwithstanding I am in great pain,
To hear we are making a peace without Spain;
But, most noble senators, 'tis a great shame,
There should be a peace, while I'm Not-in-game.
The duke show'd me all his fine house; and the

[clutches:

duchess From her closet brought out a full purse in her I talk'd of a peace, and they both gave a start, His grace swore by G-d, and her grace let a f―t: My long old-fashion'd pocket was presently

cramm'd;

And sooner than vote for a peace I'll be damn'd.

But some will cry turn-coat, and rip up old stories, How I always pretended to be for the Tories: I answer; the Tories were in my good graces, Till all my relations were put into places.

But still I'm in principle ever the same,

And will quit my best friends, while I'm Not-in-game.

2

1 Lord Nottingham's family name.---Scott.

Hoppy is supposed by Dr. Barrett. to be a person, elsewhere called old Hooper, in another part of the " Whimsical Medley."-Scott.

When I and some others subscribed our names To a plot for expelling my master King James, I withdrew my subscription by help of a blot, And so might discover or gain by the plot : I had my advantage, and stood at defiance, For Daniel' was got from the den of the lions: I came in without danger, and was I to blame? For, rather than hang, I would be Not-in-game.

I swore to the queen, that the Prince of Hanover During her sacred life would never come over : I made use of a trope; that "an heir to invite, Was like keeping her monument always in sight.” But, when I thought proper, I alter'd my note; And in her own hearing I boldly did vote, That her Majesty stood in great need of a tutor, And must have an old or a young coadjutor: For why; I would fain have put all in a flame, Because, for some reasons, I was Not-in-game.

Now my new benefactors have brought me about, And I'll vote against peace, with Spain or without: Though the court gives my nephews, and brothers, and cousins,

And all my whole family, places by dozens;
Yet, since I know where a full purse may be found,
And hardly pay eighteen-pence tax in the pound:
Since the Tories have thus disappointed my hopes,
And will neither regard my figures nor tropes,
I'll speech against peace while Dismal's my name,
And be a true Whig, while I'm Not-in-game.

1 This was the Earl's Christian name.-Scott.

THE WINDSOR PROPHECY.'

"ABOUT three months ago, at Windsor, a poor knight's widow was buried in the cloisters. In digging the grave, the sexton struck against a small leaden coffer, about half a foot in length, and four inches wide. The poor man, expecting he had discovered a treasure, opened it with some difficulty; but found only a small parchment, rolled up very fast, put into a leather case; which case was tied at the top, and sealed with St. George, the impression on black wax, very rude and gothic. The parchment was carried to a gentleman of learning, who found in it the following lines, written in a black old English letter, and in the orthography of the age, which seems to be about two hundred years ago. I made a shift to obtain a copy of it; but the transcriber, I find, hath in many parts altered the spelling to the modern way. The original, as I am informed, is now in the hands of the ingenious Dr. Woodward, F.R.S. where, I suppose, the curious will not be refused the satisfaction of seeing it.

"The lines seem to be a sort of prophecy, and written in verse, as old prophecies usually are, but in a very hobbling kind of measure. Their meaning is very dark, if it be any at all; of which the learned reader can judge better than I however it be, several persons were of opinion that they deserved to be published, both as they discover somewhat of the genius of a former age, and may be an amusement to the present."

This Prophecy excited, as well it might, the deepest hatred on the part of the lady against whom it was levelled; indeed the charge of being privy to her second husband's assassination by the villany of Coningsmark, was too gross to be forgiven; and was moreover wholly undeserved. It must be remembered, that the Duchess's favour with

VOL. III.

D

WHEN a holy black Swede, the son of Bob,1
With a saint at his chin and a seal at his fob,
Shall not see one3 New-year's-day in that year,
Then let old England make good cheer:
Windsor and Bristow then shall be
Joined together in the Low-countree.1
Then shall the tall black Daventry Birds
Speak against peace right many a word;
And some shall admire his conying wit,
For many good groats his tongue shall slit.
But, spight of the Harpy that crawls on all four,
There shall be peace, pardie, and war no more.
But England must cry alack and well-a-day,
If the stick be taken from the dead sea.7
And, dear Englond, if ought I understond,

Queen Anne was so great as often to shake the confidence of the Tory party, notwithstanding their reliance on the yet superior influence of Lady Masham.---Scott.

1 Dr. John Robinson, Bishop of Bristol, one of the plenipotentiaries at Utrecht.---Scott.

2 He was Dean of Windsor, and lord privy seal.---Ibid. 3 The New Style (which was not used in Great Britain and Ireland till 1752) was then observed in most parts of Europe. The bishop set out from England the latter end of December, O. S.; and on his arrival at Utrecht, by the variation of the style, he found January somewhat advanced.---Ibid.

Alluding to the deanery and bishopric being possessed by the same person, then at Utrecht.---Ibid.

5 Earl of Nottingham.---Ibid.

6 Duke of Marlborough.---Ibid.

7 The treasurer's wand, taken from Harley, whose second title was Lord Mortimer.---Ibid.

Beware of Carrots' from Northumberlond.
Carrots sown Thynne a deep root may get,
If so be they are in Somer set:

Their Conyngs mark thou; for I have been told,
They assassine when young, and poison when old.
Root out these Carrots, O thou, whose name
Is backwards and forwards always the same;
And keep close to thee always that name, [same.
Which backwards and forwards 5 is almost the
And, Englond, wouldst thou be happy still,
Bury those Carrots under a Hill.6

CORINNA, A BALLAD.

THIS day (the year I dare not tell)
Apollo play'd the midwife's part;
Into the world Corinna fell,

And he endued her with his art.

1 The Duchess of Somerset.---Scott.

2 Thomas Thynne of Longleate, esq. married the above lady after the death of her first husband, Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ogle, only son to Henry, Duke of Newcastle, to whom she had been betrothed in her infancy. The marriage was never consummated; and Count Koningsmark having fallen in love with her while abroad, caused Thynne to be shot in his own carriage in Pall-Mall. To this horrid story the following lines allude.---Ibid.

3 Count Koningsmark.---Ibid.

4 ANNA.---Ibid.

5 MASHAM.---Ibid.

6 Lady Masham's maiden name was Hill.---Ibid.

7 This ballad refers to the history of Mrs. Manley, a political writer. It is difficult to say what could have tempted Swift to attack her so severely, at a time when they were