THE POETICAL NOTE BOOK, AND EPIGRAMMATIC MUSEUM. THE SECRET. In a fair lady's heart, once, a secret was lurking, It toss'd and it tumbled, it long'd to get out, The lips half betrayed it by smiling and smirking, And Tongue was impatient to blab it, no doubt. But honour look'd gruff on the subject, and gave it 'Twas said and 'twas settled, and honour departed, B THE BACHELOR'S SOLILOQUY. (A Parody.) Marry, or not to marry? that is the question- THE MISER AND THE MOUSE, (From the Greek.) To a Mouse said a Miser, "My dear Mr. Mouse, Pray what may you please now to want in my house?" Said the Mouse, "Mr. Miser, pray keep yourself quiet, You are safe in your person, your purse, and your diet; A lodging I want, which e'en you may afford, board." THE ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES. 'Tis no wonder that Oxford and Cambridge abound In such excellent stores of deep learning profound; Since so many we see come from thence every day, Who scarce ever are known to bring any away. MUTATIS MUTANDIS. Once, in a Barn, the strolling Wardrobes' list, Had but one Ruffle left for Hamlet's wrist: Necessity, which has no law, they say, Could, with one Ruffle, but one arm display"What's to be done?" the hero said and sigh'd : "Shift hands each scene," - A brother buskin cry'd; "Now in your pocket keep the left from sight, "Whilst o'er your breast you spread the ruffled right; "Now in your robe the naked right repose, "Whilst down your left the dingy cambric flows; "Thus, though half-skilled, as well as half-array'd, "You'll make one change-which Garrick never made." ON COOKE'S PRONUNCIATION. In 1810, when George Frederick Cooke was performing at New York, the critics complained that he pronounced the words thy and my as thee and me. A wag thus defended him : "Great Cooke, your tragic powers surprise, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOULD AND GOLD. An old gentleman of the name of Gould, lately married a girl scarcely nineteen years af age. After the wedding the juvenile bridegroom addressed to his friend Dr. G-- the following couplet to inform him of the happy event: "So you see, my dear sir, though eighty years old, "A girl of nineteen falls in love with old Gould." To which the Doctor replied : "A girl of nineteen may love Gould, it is true; "But believe me, dear sir, it is Gold without U." THREE SWALLOWS MAKE A SUMMER. One sharp frosty day, his Majesty, when Prince of Wales went into the Thatched House Tavern, and ordered a beef-steak; but the weather being very cold, desired the waiter to bring him first a glass of brandy and water. He emptied that in a twinkling, then a second, then a third. • Now,' said his royal highness, 'I am warm and comfortable; bring me my steak. On this, Mr. Sheridan who was present, wrote the following impromptu : The prince came in and said 'twas cold, Till swallow after swallow came, |