look'd, and swore The rascal had mistook the door:      At coming in, you saw her stoop; The entry brush'd against her hoop:      Each moment rising in her airs, She curst the narrow winding stairs:      Began a thousand faults to spy; The ceiling hardly six feet high; The smutty wainscot full of cracks:      And half the chairs with broken backs:      Her quarter's out at Lady-day; She vows she will no longer stay In lodgings like a poor Grisette, While there are houses to be let. Howe'er, to keep her spirits up, She sent for company to sup:      When all the while you might remark, She strove in vain to ape Wood Park. Two bottles call'd for, (half her store, The cupboard could contain but four:)      A supper worthy of herself, Five nothings in five plates of delf. Thus for a week the farce went on; When, all her country savings gone, She fell into her former scene, Small beer, a herring, and the Dean. Thus far in jest: though now, I fear, You think my jesting too severe; But poets, when a hint is new, Regard not whether false or true:      Yet raillery gives no offence, Where truth has not the least pretence; Nor can be more securely placed Than on a nymph of Stella's taste. I must confess your wine and vittle I was too hard upon a little:      Your table neat, your linen fine; And, though in miniature, you shine:      Yet, when you sigh to leave Wood Park, The scene, the welcome, and the spark, To languish in this odious town, And pull your haughty stomach down, We think you quite mistake the case, The virtue lies not in the place:      For though my raillery were true, A cottage is Wood Park with you. 

      [Footnote 1: Horat., "Epist.," i, 18, 31.—W. E. B.]       [Footnote 2: In its proper sense—to pick at table, to feed squeamishly.        "With entremets to piddle with at hand."        BYRON, Don Juan.—W. E. B.]       [Footnote 3: The constant companion of Stella.]       [Footnote 4: Where the two ladies lodged.] 

  

  

       A NEW YEAR'S GIFT FOR BEC [1]     

      1723-4 Returning Janus[2] now prepares, For Bec, a new supply of cares, Sent in a bag to Dr. Swift, Who thus displays the new-year's gift. First, this large parcel brings you tidings Of our good Dean's eternal chidings; Of Nelly's pertness, Robin's leasings, And Sheridan's perpetual teazings. This box is cramm'd on every 

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