 | A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes |  |
281
NATURE and FORTUNE.
To the Earl of Chesterfield.
Nature and fortune blith and gay,
To pass an hour or two,
In frolick mood agreed to play
At “What shall this man do?”
To pass an hour or two,
In frolick mood agreed to play
At “What shall this man do?”
Come, I'll be judge then, Fortune cries,
And therefore must be blind;
Then whipt a napkin round her eyes,
And ty'd it fast behind.
And therefore must be blind;
Then whipt a napkin round her eyes,
And ty'd it fast behind.
Nature had now prepar'd her list
Of names on scraps of leather,
Which roll'd, she gave them each a twist,
And husled them together.
Of names on scraps of leather,
Which roll'd, she gave them each a twist,
And husled them together.
Thus mixt, which ever came to hand
She very surely drew;
Then bade her sister give command,
For what that man should do.
She very surely drew;
Then bade her sister give command,
For what that man should do.
282
'Twould almost burst one's sides to hear
What strange commands she gave;
That C---r should the laurel wear,
And C---e an army have.
What strange commands she gave;
That C---r should the laurel wear,
And C---e an army have.
At length when Stanhope's name was come,
Dame Nature smil'd and cry'd,
Now tell me, sister, this man's doom,
And what shall him betide?
Dame Nature smil'd and cry'd,
Now tell me, sister, this man's doom,
And what shall him betide?
That man, said Fortune, shall be one
Blest both by you and me:—
Nay, then, quoth Nature, let's have done;
Sister, I'm sure you see.
Blest both by you and me:—
Nay, then, quoth Nature, let's have done;
Sister, I'm sure you see.
| A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes | |