"Tis not in artful measures, in the chime And idle tinkling of a minstrel's lyre,

To charm his ear, whose eye is on the heart; Whose frown can disappoint the proudest strain, Whose approbation-prosper even mine.

AN

EPISTLE

то

JOSEPH HILL, ESQ.

DEAR JOSEPH-five and twenty years ago-
Alas how time escapes!-'tis even so—
With frequent intercourse, and always sweet,
And always friendly, we were wont to cheat
A tedious hour-and now we never meet!
As some grave gentleman in Terence says,
("Twas therefore much the same in ancient days)
Good lack, we know not what to morrow brings-
Strange fluctuation of all human things!
True. Changes will befall, and friends may part,
But distance only cannot change the heart:
And, were I call'd to prove th' assertion true,

One proof should serve-a reference to you.

Y

Whence comes it then, that in the wane of life, Though nothing have occur'd to kindle strife, We find the friends we fancied we had won, Though num'rous once, reduc'd to few or none? Can gold grow worthless that has stood the touch? No; gold they seem'd, but they were never such.

Horatio's servant once, with bow and cringe, Swinging the parlour-door upon it's hinge, Dreading a negative, and overaw'd

Lest he should trespass, begg'd to go abroad.
Go, fellow!-whither?-turning short about—
Nay. Stay at home-you're always going out.
Tis but a step, sir, just at the street's end.-
For what?-An please you, sir, to see a friend.—
A friend! Horatio cried, and seem'd to start-
Yea marry shalt thou, and with all my heart.-
And fetch my cloak; for though the night be raw,
I'll see him too-the first I ever saw.

I knew the man, and knew his nature mild, And was his plaything often when a child; But somewhat at that moment pinch'd him close, Else he was seldom bitter or morose.

Perhaps his confidence just then betray'd,

His grief might prompt him with the speech he

made;

Perhaps 'twas mere good humour gave it birth, The harmless play of pleasantry and mirth. Howe'er it was, his language, in my mind, Bespoke at least a man that knew mankind.

But not to moralize too much, and strain,
To prove an evil of which all complain,
(I hate long arguments verbosely spun)
One story more, dear Hill, and I have done.
Once on a time an emp'ror, a wise man,
No matter where, in China or Japan,
Decreed, that whosoever should offend
Against the well-known duties of a friend,
Convicted once should ever after wear

But half a coat, and show his bosom bare.
The punishment importing this no doubt,
That all was naught within, and all found out.

O happy Britain! we have not to fear Such hard and arbitrary measure here;