EPIGRAMS PRINTED IN 1802.*

I.

"WHAT AN EPIGRAM IS."

HAT is an Epigram? a dwarfish whole,

Its body brevity, and wit its soul.

II.

HOW THE LIAR CHEATED HIM

SELF.

HARLES, grave or merry, at no lie would stick,

And taught at length his memory the same trick.

* In the Morning Post.

Believing thus what he so oft repeats,

He's brought the thing to such a pass, poor youth,

That now himself and no one else he cheats, Save when unluckily he tells the truth.

III.

"POSSESSOR OR POSSESSED."

N evil spirit's on thee, friend! of late,

Ev'n from the hour thou camest to thy estate.

Thy mirth all gone, thy kindness, thy discretion, The estate has proved to thee a most complete possession.

Shame, shame, old friend! would'st thou be truly blest,

Be thy wealth's lord, not slave! possessor, not possess'd.

IV.

TO ONE WHO PUBLISHED IN PRINT

WHAT HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIM

BY MY FIRESIDE.

WO things hast thou made known to half the nation,

My secrets and my want of penetra

tion:

For O! far more than all which thou hast

penn'd,

It shames me to have call'd a wretch like thee my friend!

V.

"SCANDAL."

“ Obscuri sub luce maligna.”—VIRG.

CARCE any scandal, but has a handle;

In truth most falsehoods have

their rise;

Truth first unlocks Pandora's box,
And out there fly a host of lies.
Malignant light, by cloudy night,
To precipices it decoys one!
One nectar-drop from Jove's own shop
Will flavour a whole cup of poison.

VI.

"CASTLES IN THE AIR."

LD Harpy jeers at castles in the air,
And thanks his stars, whenever
Edmund speaks,

That such a dupe as that is not his

But know, old Harpy! that these fancy freaks,

Though vain and light, as floating gossamer, Always amuse, and sometimes mend the heart: A young man's idlest hopes are still his pleasures,

And fetch a higher price in Wisdom's mart Than all the unenjoying Miser's treasures.

VII.

TO A VAIN YOUNG LADY.

D

IDST thou think less of thy dear self,
Far more would others think of thee!
Sweet Anne! the knowledge of thy
wealth

Reduces thee to poverty.

Boon Nature gave wit, beauty, health,
On thee as on her darling pitching;
Couldst thou forget thou'rt thus enrich'd,

That moment would'st thou become rich in ! And wert thou not so self-bewitch'd,

Sweet Anne! thou wert, indeed, bewitching.

VIII.

"AURELIA ANSWERED."

ROM me, Aurelia! you desired
Your proper praise to know;
Well! you're the Fair by all ad-
mired-

Some twenty years ago.

IX.

FOR A HOUSE-DOG'S COLLAR.

HEN thieves come, I bark; when gallants, I am still;

So perform both my master's and mistress's will.

X.

EPITAPH ON A MERCENARY MISER.

POOR benighted Pedlar knock'd
One night at Sell-all's door,

The same who saved old Sell-all's

life

'Twas but the year before!

And Sell-all rose and let him in,

Not utterly unwilling,