The Merry-Thought | Page 7

Hist'ry state each
Fact, Teach{~DAGGER~} London how to think, or Walpole how to
act.
O say from whence should all this Learning come.---- From
whence?----from each dead Sage around the Room.
If Corny thence his Fund of Learning draws, How great his Skill in
Politicks or Laws? ---- How deeply read? ---- how vast his learned
Store? ---- ---- When ---- past the Title, all his Learning's o'er.
{~DAGGER~} Bishop.
Another in the Same.
Is Corny's Learning much; my Friends; Since where it does begin, ----
it ends?
From a Window in Ardenham-House, Hertfordshire.
As glass obdurate no Impression takes, But what the radiant piercing
Diamond makes; Just so my Heart all other Pow'rs defies, But those of
fair Venilla's brilliant Eyes.
Written in a Lady's Dressing Room.
Brunetta, I grant you, can give her Swain Death; But 'tis not with her
Eyes, but with her - - ill Breath.
From a Window in the Inner Temple-Hall.

Come hither, Barristers of Dress, That once your Lips may meet
Success: From Rufus' filthy Hall withdraw; Here only ye can live by
Law.
A Rebus on Lady of Quality, on a Glass at the Old Devil Tavern.
What fly from her Eyes, and the Place whither I Must soon be convey'd
to, unless she comply, Is the Name of the Beauty for whom I could die.
N. B. Darts and Shafts fly from her Eyes, and if one dies, one must be
bury'd.
Under the Rebus on Lady Sh - - - bury, at the Devil Tavern, is this;
What opens a Door, and a Word of Offence, Tell the Name of a Nymph
of Wit, Beauty, and Sense.
Supposed to be for Miss Ke - ly.
From the Window of a Chamber in the Inner Temple.
For dear Venilla in my Arms, I'd scorn all other female Charms; Ten
thousand Beauties she can spare, And still be Fairest of the Fair.
From innumerable Windows.
Like Mars I'll fight, like Antony I'll love, I'll drink like Bacchus, and I'll
whore like Jove.
From the Apollo, the large Dancing-Room in the Devil Tavern, written
when some were engaged in a particular Country-Dance.
This Dance foretells that Couple's Life, Who mean to dance as Man
and Wife; As here, they'll first with Vigour set, Give Hands, and turn
whene'er they meet; But soon will quit their former Track, Cast off and
end in Back to Back.
From the Angel Tavern, Temple-Bar.

'Tis hard! 'tis wonderous hard! That the Life of a Man Should be but a
Span, And that of a Woman a Yard!
From a Watch-Maker's Window, Fleet-Street.
Here Time is bought and sold: 'Tis plain, my Friend, My Clocks and
Watches shew what I intend; For you I Time correct, My Time I spend;
By Time I live, But not one Inch will lend, Except you pay the ready
down or send: I trust no Time, Unless the Times do mend.
On a Watch-Case in a Gentleman's Pocket, given him by a Lady.
The Wretched pray to make more Haste, The Happy say we fly too fast;
Therefore impossible to know, Whether I go too fast or slow.
S. M.
At Hollyhead, I suppose, written by some Creation-Mender.
Arra, now what signifies the making the two great Lights? The Sun to
light the Day, and the Moons to light the Nights: For the Sun in the
Day-Time there is no Occasion, Because I can see very well after my
Persuasion: But for the Moons, they are very good in a dark Night,
Because when we cannot see they give us a Light.
Crown at Harlow.
Rail at your Father, rail at your Mother, Rail at your Sister, rail at
your Brother, Rail on, my Boys, and rail at one another.
Underwritten.
Rail as you say, and you'll be all railed in.
Written upon the Wall of Clements-Inn, when the Dial was put up
which is supported by a black Slave in a kneeling Posture.
In vain poor sable Son of Woe, Thou seek'st a tender Ear; In vain thy
Tears with Anguish flow, For Mercy dwells not here: From Cannibals

thou fly'st in vain, Lawyers less Quarter give; The first won't eat you
till you're slain, The last will do't alive.
Hampstead on a Window.
I am a Dog ---- In true Fidelity I am a Sun ---- In faithful Constancy: I
am a Stote, ---- To please a lustful Lass; I am a Hog, ---- And you may
kiss my A----se. But if my Celia comes within my Ken; Then I shall be
again like other Men.
On another at the same Place.
My Wife says, Whither do you go? And I return, my dear, I do not know;
Then d----n your Blood, says she, to use me thus; And then I call her