That I’ve faults is confess’d; but it won’t be denied,
’Tis my interest the faults of my neighbours to hide;
If I’ve sometimes lent Scandal occasion to prate,
I’ve often conceal’d what she lov’d to relate;
If to Justice’s bar some have wander’d from mine,
’Twas because the dull rogues wouldn’t stay by their wine;
And for brawls at my house, well the poet explains,
That men drink shallow draughts, and so madden their brains.

------------------------

Inns.

A difficult Subject for Poetry—­Invocation of the Muse—­Description of the principal Inn and those of the first Class—­The large deserted Tavern—­Those of a second Order—­Their Company—­One of particular Description—­A lower kind of Public-Houses; yet distingushed among themselves—­Houses on the Quays for Sailors—­The Green Man; its Landlord, and the Adventure of his Marriage, &c.

Much do I need, and therefore will I ask,
A Muse to aid me in my present task;
For then with special cause we beg for aid,
When of our subject we are most afraid: 
Inns are this subject—­’tis an ill-drawn lot,
So, thou who gravely triflest, fail me not;
Fail not, but haste, and to my memory bring
Scenes yet unsung, which few would choose to sing;
Thou mad’st a Shilling splendid; thou hast thrown
On humble themes the graces all thine own;
By thee the Mistress of a Village-school
Became a queen enthroned upon her stool;
And far beyond the rest thou gav’st to shine
Belinda’s Lock—­that deathless work was thine. 
   Come, lend thy cheerful light, and give to please,
These seats of revelry, these scenes of ease;
Who sings of Inns much danger has to dread,
And needs assistance from the fountain-head. 
   High in the street, o’erlooking all the place,
The rampant Lion shows his kingly face;
His ample jaws extend from side to side,
His eyes are glaring, and his nostrils wide;
In silver shag the sovereign form is dress’d,
A mane horrific sweeps his ample chest;
Elate with pride, he seems t’assert his reign,
And stands the glory of his wide domain. 
   Yet nothing dreadful to his friends the sight,
But sign and pledge of welcome and delight. 
To him the noblest guest the town detains
Flies for repast, and in his court remains;
Him too the crowd with longing looks admire,
Sigh for his joys, and modestly retire;
Here not a comfort shall to them be lost
Who never ask or never feel the cost. 
   The ample yards on either side contain
Buildings where order and distinction reign; —
The splendid carriage of the wealthier guest,
The ready chaise and driver smartly dress’d;
Whiskeys and gigs and curricles are there,
And high-fed prancers many a raw-boned pair. 
On all without a lordly host sustains
The care of empire, and observant reigns;
The parting guest beholds him at his side,