spite of _Addison_ and ancient _Rome_,
Sir _Cloudesly Shovel_'s is my fav'rite tomb.
How oft have I with admiration stood,
To view some City-magistrate in wood?
I gaze with pleasure on a Lord May'r's head,
Cast with propriety in gilded lead.
Oh could I view through _London_ as I pass,
Some broad Sir _Balaam_ in _Corinthian_ brass;
High on a pedestal, ye Freemen, place
His magisterial Paunch and griping Face;
_Letter'd and Gilt_, let him adorn _Cheapside_,
And grant the _Tradesman_, what a _King_'s deny'd.
Old Coins and Medals I collect, 'tis true,
Sir _Andrew_ has 'em, and I'll have 'em too.
But among friends if I the truth might speak,
I like the modern, and despise th' antique.
Tho' in the draw'rs of my japan _Bureau_,
To Lady _Gripeall_ I the _Caesars_ shew,
'Tis equal to her Ladyship or me,
A copper _Otho_, or a _Scotch Baubee_.
Without _Italian_, or without an ear,
To _Bononcini_'s musick I adhere:
Musick has charms to sooth a savage beast,
And therefore proper at a Sheriff's feast.
My soul has oft a secret pleasure found,
In the harmonious Bagpipe's lofty sound.
Bagpipes for men, shrill _German-flutes_ for boys,
I'm _English_ born, and love a grumbling noise.
The Stage should yield the solemn Organ's note,
And Scripture tremble in the Eunuch's throat.
Let _Senesino_ sing, what _David_ writ,
And _Hallelujahs_ charm the pious pit.
Eager in throngs the town to _Hester_ came,
And _Oratorio_ was a lucky name.
Thou, _Heeideggre!_ the _English_ taste has found,
And rul'st the mob of quality with sound.
In _Lent_, if Masquerades displease the town,
Call 'em _Ridotto_'s, and they still go down:
Go on, Prince _Phyz_! to please the British nation,
Call thy next _Masquerade_ a _Convocation_.
Bears, Lyons, Wolves, and Elephants I breed,
And _Philosophical Transactions_ read.
Next Lodge I'll be _Free-Mason_, nothing less,
Unless I happen to be _F.R.S._
I have a _Palate_, and (as yet) _two Ears_,
Fit company for _Porters_, or for _Peers_.
Of ev'ry useful knowledge I've a share,
But my top talent is a bill of fare.
Sir Loins and rumps of beef offend my eyes,
Pleas'd with frogs fricasseed, and coxcomb-pies.
Dishes I chuse though little, yet genteel,
_Snails_ the first course, and _Peepers_ crown the meal.
Pigs heads with hair on, much my fancy please,
I love young colly-flow'rs if stew'd in cheese,