From whence you draw such bold conclusions;
But poets love profuse allusions. 
And, if you now so little spare us,
Who knows how soon you may compare us
To Chartres, Walpole, or a king,
If once we let you have your swing. 
Such wicked insolence appears
Offensive to all pious ears. 
To flatter women by a metaphor! 
What profit could you hope to get of her? 
And, for her sake, turn base detractor
Against your greatest benefactor. 
  But we shall keep revenge in store
If ever you provoke us more: 
For, since we know you walk a-foot,
We’ll soundly drench your frieze surtout;
Or may we never thunder throw,
Nor souse to death a birth-day beau. 
  We own your verses are melodious;
But such comparisons are odious.]

[Footnote 1:  The highest point of Howth is called the Cape of Howth.—­ F.]

[Footnote 2:  The Dogstar.—­Hyginus, “Astronomica.”]

[Footnote 3:  Who murdered his father-in-law, and was taken into heaven and purified by Jove, but when, after he had begot the Centaurs from the cloud, he boasted of his imaginary success with Juno, Jupiter hurled him into Tartarus, where he was bound to a perpetually revolving wheel.  “Volvitur Ixion:  et se sequiturque fugitque.”  Ovid, “Metam.,” iv, 460.  Tibullus tells the tale in one distich, lib.  I, iii: 
  “Illic Junonem tentare Ixionis ausi
  Versantur celeri noxia membra rota.”—­W.  E. B.]

PEG RADCLIFFE THE HOSTESS’S INVITATION

To the Reverend Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D. written with a design to be spoken by her on his arrival at Glassnevin, Dr. Delany having complimented him with a house there.  From the London and Dublin Magazine for June, 1735.  The lines are probably by Delany or Sheridan.

Though the name of this place may make you to frown, Your Deanship is welcome to Glassnevin town; [1]A glass and no wine, to a man of your taste, Alas! is enough, sir, to break it in haste; Be that as it will, your presence can’t fail To yield great delight in drinking our ale; Would you but vouchsafe a mug to partake, And as we can brew, believe we can bake.  The life and the pleasure we now from you hope, The famed Violante can’t show on the rope; Your genius and talents outdo even Pope.  Then while, sir, you live at Glassnevin, and find The benefit wish’d you, by friends who are kind;
One night in the week, sir, your favour bestow,
To drink with Delany and others your know:  They constantly meet at Peg Radcliffe’s together, Talk over the news of the town and the weather; Reflect on mishaps in church and in state, Digest many things as well as good meat; And club each alike that no one may treat.  This if you will grant without coach or chair, You may, in a trice, cross the way and be there; For Peg is your neighbour, as well as Delany, A housewifely woman full pleasing to any.

[Footnote 1:  A pun on Glassnevin—­Glass—­ne, no, and vin, wine.—­Scott.]