PREFACE.

The Editor acknowledges, with pleasure, some original petites pièces, which he has been favoured with by others: those signed "ISABELLA" are the production of a Lady, whose name he is not permitted to mention; he is under a similar injunction with regard to the Lines signed "G. B." For the "Lines to Isabella" he is indebted to the versatile Muse of Dr. Wolcot. The other pieces, marked with an asterisk, claim no other poetical parent than the Editor,

Inner Temple,

June, 1807.

W. T.

ANTHOLOGIA,

&c.

ITALIAN PUN.

WHEN General Wurmser had compelled the French to evacuate Verona, and raise the siege of Mantua, the Italians, rejoiced at his successes, received the French every where with execration and insult. Pasquin and Marforio contributed their share to the general contempt; on the statue of Marforio was written, "Si dice che i Francesi sono tutti ladroni," " They say the French are all rascals." To which Pasquin replies, "Non tutti, ma buona-parte; "No, not all, but Buonaparte:" the latter word, in Italian, meaning a great many, as well as being the name of the French General.

B

BON MOT OF LORD ERSKINE,

THE PRESENT CHANCELLOR.

SPENCER PERCEVAL, the late Attorney-General, coming into the Court of King's Bench later than usual, the Bar was rather crowded; a Barrister observed to Erskine, "We must make room, here is a Gentleman of the long robe coming." "No," replied Erskine, "he is only a Spencer of the law."

*MISCONCEPTION.

A TALE.

ERE Night her sable curtain spread,
Ere Phoebus had retir'd to bed

In Thetis' lap ;

Ere drowsy watchmen yet had ta’en
Their early nap;

A wight, by hungry fiend made bold,
To Farmer Fitz Maurice's fold

Did slily creep,

Where numerous flocks were quiet laid .
In th' arms of sleep.

No doubt the sheep he meant to steal;
But, hapless, close behind his heel
Was ploughman Joe,

Who just arriv'd in time to stop
The murd'rous blow.

May ill luck on ill actions wait!
The felon must to Justice strait
Be dragg'd perforce,

Where prosecutors urge his guilt
Without remorse.

With fear o'erwhelm'd the victim stands, Anticipates the dread commands

From th' elbow-chair,

Where Justice sits in solemn state,

With brow austere.

Rogue, what excuse hast thou for this?

"For to old Gilbert Fitz Maurice

"Thou knew'st full well

"The sheep within that fold belong'd; "Come, quickly tell :

"Confess thy crime, 'twill nought avail "To say, the mark above the tail

"Thou didst not heed;

"For G. F. M. in letters large,

"Thou plain might'st read."

'Tis true, I did," the thief replies, "But man is not at all times wise; "As I'm a glutton,

"I clearly thought that G. F. M.
"Meant Good Fat Mutton."

EPIGRAM.

ST. GEORGE, to save a maid, a dragon slew;
A gallant action, grant the thing were true:
Some say there are no dragons-nay, 'tis said
There's no St.George-pray heav'n there be a maid!

THE CHAIN OF GOVERNMENT.

WHEN Beelzebub first to make mischief began, He the woman attack'd, and she gull'd the poor man: This Moses asserts, and from hence would infer, That woman rules man, and the Devil rules her.

ON THE DEATH OF MARAT.

INFERNAL King, beware! a mortal foe
Descends to visit thy dread realms below;
Or from thy loins he'll strip thy regal coat,

And quickly change thee to a sans-culotte.

i