Strange  if  they  love  the  breath  that  cannot  flatter
Its  foes  but  show  their  ignorance  ;  can  he
Who  scorns  the  leaf  of  knowledge,  love  the  tree
The  tainted  Templar  (more  prodigious  yet)

Rails  at  Tobacco,  though  it  makes  him spit

Citronia  vows  it  has  an  odious  stink  ;

She  will  not  smoke  (ye  gods !) — but  she  will  drink

And  chaste  Prudella  (blame  her  if  you  can)

Says,  pi|>e8  are  used  by  that  vile  creature  Man :

Yet  crowds  remain,  who  still  its  worth  procbim,

While  some  for  pleasure  smoke,  and  some  for  fame

Fame,  of  our  actions  universal  spring.
For  which  we  drink,  eat,  sleep,  smoke— ever^'thing

— ♦_.  -
IMITATION  V.-MR.  POPE.
Vanescit  fumus.
Soils  ad  ortus

LUOAM.
Ct  Gent  t  Mag.  for  1736.  p  743.]


Blest  leaf  !  whose  aromatic  gales  dispense
To  Templars  modesty,  to  parsons  sense  :
So  raptured  priests,  at  famed  Dodona's  shrine,
Drank  inspiration  from  the  steam  divine.
Poison  that  cures,  a  vapour  that  affords
Content,  more  solid  than  the  smile  of  lords  :
Rest  to  the  weary,  to  the  hungry  ftK>d,
The  last  kind  refuge  of  the  wise  and  good.
Inspired  by  thee,  dull  cits  adjust  the  scale
Of  Europe's  peace,  when  other  statesmen  fail.
By  thee  protected,  and  thy  sister,  beer.
Poets  rejoice,  nor  think  the  bailiff  near.
Nor  less  the  critic  owns  thy  genial  aid.
While  supperless  he  plies  the  piddling  trade.
What  though  to  love  and  soft  delights  a  foe,
By  ladies  hated,  hated  by  the  beau.
Yet  social  freedom,  long  to  courts  unknown,
Fair  health,  fair  truth,  and  virtue  are  thy  own.
Come  to  thy  poet,  come  with  healing  wings,
And  let  me  taste  thee  unexciaed  by  kings.
JOHN   BYROM.
445


IMITATION  VL— DEAN  SWIFT.
Ex  ftimo  dare  lucem. — Hon.
