Thus forced on ways unlike each former way,
Thus led to prayer without a heart to pray,
He quits the gay and rich, the young and free,
Among the badge-men with a badge to be:
He sees an humble tradesman raised to rule
The grey-beard pupils of this moral school;
Where he himself, an old licentious boy,
Will nothing learn, and nothing can enjoy;
In temp'rate measures he must eat and drink,
And, pain of pains! must live alone and think.

In vain, by fortune's smiles, thrice affluent made,
Still has he debts of ancient date unpaid;
Thrice into penury by error thrown,

Not one right maxim has he made his own;

The old men shun him,-some his vices hate,
And all abhor his principles and prate;
Nor love nor care for him will mortal show,
Save a frail sister in the female row.

THE BOROUGH,

LETTER XV.

INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE.

CLELIA.

All she did was right: did she dismiss blushes

She early found herself mistress of herself. all she said was admired. Early, very early, from her cheek: she could not blush, because she could not doubt; and silence, whatever was the subject, was as much a stranger to her as diffidence.

Richardson.

Quo fugit Venus? heu! Quove color? decens

Quo motus? Quid habes illius, illius,

Quæ spirabat amores,

Quæ me surpuerat mihi?

Horatius, lib. iv. od. 13.

:

Her lively and pleasant Manners-Her Reading and Decision-Her Intercourse with different Classes of Society-Her Kind of Character-The favoured Lover-Her Management of him his of her-After one Period, Clelia with an Attorney: her Manner and Situation there-Another such Period, when her Fortune still declines-Mistress of an Inn-A WidowAnother such Interval: she becomes poor and infirm, but still vain and frivolous-The fallen Vanity-Admitted into the House: meets Blaney.

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER XV.

CLELIA.

We had a sprightly nymph-in every town Are some such sprights, who wander up and down; She had her useful arts, and could contrive, In time's despite, to stay at twenty-five;— "Here will I rest; move on, thou lying year, "This is mine age, and I will rest me here."

Arch was her look, and she had pleasant ways Your good opinion of her heart to raise ; Her speech was lively, and with ease express'd, And well she judged the tempers she address'd: If some soft stripling had her keenness felt, She knew the way to make his anger melt; Wit was allow'd her, though but few could bring Direct example of a witty thing;

'Twas that gay, pleasant, smart, engaging speech, Her beaux admired, and just within their reach;

VOL. III.

E