3-^30 D 1 ) 1 ) (1 1 1 11 1 Duncombe An evening contemplation in a college r THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND ajONia lltHdWVd A N Evening Contemplation I N A COLLEGE, Being a PARODY on the ELEGY I N A Country Church- Yard. By another GENTLEMAN of CAMBRIDG E. LONDON: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-mall ; and Sold by M. Cooper in Patcr-noflcr-Row. 1753. [ Price Six- pence. ] Advertifement. ^ / H E Author of the excellent Poem on ivhich the foU lo-joing Parody is built ^ it is hofd will forgive this innocent Plfiy upon it ; ivhich a fincere adiniratio?i of its beauties invited the Parodijl to attempt : and if it fjjould he thought there is any fnerit in this Imitationy it muji be at- tributed in a great vieafurc to his vi07'h7ig after fo fine an Original, *^ 858557 ?^:^'%W '9.7^^.Wr',-*^^^^^,?>-./ ^. -''i- A N Evening Contemplation IN A COLLEGE. TH E Curfew tolls the hour of clofing gates, With jarring found the porter turns the key, Then in his dreary manlion Humb'ring waits, And flowly, fternly quits it— tho' ior me. Now fhine the fpires beneath the paly moon, And thro' the cloyfter Peace and Silence reign, Save where fome fidler fcrapes a drowfy tunc, Or copious bowls infpire a jovial ftrain : Save ( 6 ) Save that in yonder cobweb-mantled room. Where lies a ftudent in profound repofe Oppref&'d with ale, wide-echos thro' the gloom The droning muHc of his vocal nofe. Within thofe walls, where thro' the glimm'ring fhade- Appear the pamphlets in a mold 'ring heap, Each in his narrow bed till morning laid. The peaceful fellows of the college fleep. The tinkling bell proclaiming early prayVsj, The noify fervants rattling o'er their head. The calls of bulinefs, and domeflic cares. Ne'er rouze thcfe fleepers from their downy bed.. No chatt'ring females crowd their focial fire. No dread have they of difcord and of ftrife ; Unknown the names of hufband and of fire, Unfelt the plagues of matrimonial life. Oft have they bafk'd along the funny walls. Oft have the benches bow'd beneath their weight : How jocund are their looks when dinner calls ! How fmoke the cutlets on their crowded plate ! O let ( 7 ) O let not Temperance too-difdainful hear How long our fcafts, how long our dinners laft ; Nor let the fair with a contemptuous fneer On thefe unmarry'd men reflexions caft ! The fplendid fortune and the beauteous face (Themfelves confefs it and their fires bemoan) Too foon are caught by fcarlet and by lace : Thefe fons of Science fhine in black alone. Forgive, ye fair, th' involuntary fault, If thefe no feats of gayety difplay, Where thro' proud Ranclagh's wide-echoing vault Melodious Frail trills her quav'ring lay. Say, is the fword well fuited to the band, Does broider'd coat agree with fable gown, Can Drefden's laces fliade a churcliman's hand, Or Learning's vot'ries ape the beaux of town ? Perhaps in thefe time-tott'ring walls refide Some who were once the darUngs of the fair ; Some who of old could taftes and falliions guide, Controul the manager and awe the pbyV. But ( 8 ) But Science now has fill'd their vacant mind With Rome's rich fpoils and Truth's exalted views • Fir'd them with tranfports of a nobler kind, And bade them flight all females — but the Mufe. Full many a lark, high-tow'ring to the (ky. Unheard, unheeded greets th' approach of light j Full many a ftar, unfecn by mortal eye, With twink'ling luftre glimmers thro' the night. Some future Hekring, that with dauntlefs breaft Rebellion's torrent fliall like him oppofe ; Some mute, fome though tlefs Hardwicke here may reft. Some Pelham, dreadful to his country's foes. From prince and people to command applaufe, 'Midft ermin'd peers to guide the high debate. To fliield Britannia's and Religion's laws. And fteer with fteady courfe the helm of ftate Fate yet forbids ; nor circumfcribes alone Their growing virtues, but their crimes confines ; Forbids in Freedom's veil t' infult the throne, Beneath her mafk to hide the worft defigns, To ( 9 ) To fill the madding crowd's perverted mind With " Penfions, Taxes, Marriages, and Jews;" Or fliiit the gates of heav'n on loft mankind, And wreft their darling hopes, their future views. Far from the giddy town's tumultuous ftrife, Their wifhes yet have never learn'd to ftray ; Content and happy in a fingle life They keep the noifelefs tenor of their way. Ev'n now their books from cobwebs to protecl, Inclos'd by doors of glafs, in Doric ftylc, On fluted pillars rais'd, with bronzes deck'd, They claim the pafling tribute of a fmile. Oft are the authors' names, tho' richly bound,- Mif-fpelt by blund'ring binders' want of care ; And many a catalogue is ftrow'd around. To tell th' admiring gueft what books are there. For who, to thoughtlefs Ignorance a prey, Negleds to hold fliort dalliance with a book ? "Who there but willies to prolong his ftay. And on thofe cafes cafts a ling' ring look ? B Reports { lo ) Reports attrad the lawyer's parting eyes, Novels Lord Fopling and Sir Plume require ; For fongs and plays the voice of Beauty cries, And Senfe and Nature Grandifon dcdre. For thee, who mindful of thy lov'd compeers- Doft in thefe lines their artlefs tales relate. If Chance, with prying fearch, in future years. Some antiquarian fhall enquire thy fate, Haply fome friend may fhake his hoary head And fay, ' Each morn, unchill'd by frofts, he ram * With hofe ungarter'd, o'er yon turfy bed,, * To reach the chapel ere the pfalms began. * There in the arms of that lethargic chair, * Which rears it's moth-devoured back fo high, * At noon he quaff'd three glaffes to the fair,, * And por'd upon the news with curious eye. ' Now by the fire, engag'd in ferious talk ' Or mirthful converfe, would he loit'ring ftand ; * Then in the garden chofe a funny walk, * Or launch'd the polifli'd bowl with fteady hand ; One ( " ) * One morn we mifs'd him at the hour of prayV, * Befidc tlie fire, and on his fav'rite green ; * Another came, nor yet within the chair, * Nor yet at bowls, nor chapel was he feen. * The next we heard that in a ncighb'ring iTiirc * That day to church he led a bluHiing bride j *" A nymph, whofc fnowy veft and maiden fear * Improv'd her beauty while the knot was ty'd. * Now by his patron's bounteous care rcmov'd, * He roves enraptur'd thro' the fields of Kent ; * Yet ever mindful of the place he lov'd, * Read here the letter which he lately fent.' The LETTER. ^'' In rural innocence fecure I dwell, ** Alike to Fortune and to Fame unknown ; *' Approving Confcience chears my humble cell, *' And focial Quiet marks me for her own* n Next (12) " Next to the bleflings of Religious Trutli " Two gifts my endlefs gratitude engage ; " A wife, the joy and tranlport of my youth, " Now, with a fon, the comfort of my age. " Seek not to draw me from this kind retreat, *' In loftier fpheres unfit, untaught to move ; " Content with calm, domeftic life, where meet " The fmiles of Friendship and the fweets of Love." FINIS. UNIVERSITV' OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. .J t M^CV. 1 y , 'j' Form L9-50m-7, '54(5990)444 3 1158 00989 9658 ^