To a Friend in Wales , sent from B ATH .

At Friendship's Call th' impartial Muse,
(I know you've Candour to excuse)
Wou'd thus address my Norton Friend ,
Residing almost at Land's-End:
Your cordial Letter likes me well;
Before you wrote I cou'd not tell,
(For no Enquiry had I made
Of Hare or Letter) how mislay'd;
But now I learn from Mr. L EAKE ,
'Tis strange he shou'd forget to speak ;
Both were receiv'd — but Scribbler U
Had quitted B ATH — no Fault of you.
Puss was dispatch'd a-down the Lane,
Ne'er to return that Maze again:
As to Epistle, that indeed
I never saw, with Ma'am was flead;
Well, let it pass, 'tis out of date,
We seldom relish what's too late.
Thanks for the worthy Names remitted,
Assure yourself I'll see 'em pitted;
The Medley-Work goes gliby down;
In present Month at C ARDIFF'S Town,
I hope you'll find 'em ready; there
My worthy Voters may repair;
To S AVOUR'S I'll dispatch 'em all,
Acquaint my Friends, 'tis there they call. —
In the mean Time, to kill an Hour,
(Admit 'tis in the Muse's Pow'r)
I've sent you my last mental Brat ,
Fair L IBERTY ! a Subject pat:
If they don't take my wholesome Hint,
I'll souse 'em well when next I print.

I N Course of Summer's chearful Prime,
Expect to see this Imp of Rhime;
But first I've got a Norfolk Trip;
As soon as I can give the Slip,
I'll haste to pass your Severn Stream,
A visit to Glamorgan's Scene.

I BEG your Piper may be told,
In what Esteem his Worth I hold;
And tho' I've not receiv'd from Wales
His promis'd Spoil, no Doubt prevails
But shortly Madam will appear,
In Form and Flavour of — a Hare.

W HEN L IBERTY (for this may cloy,
As well as ev'ry human Joy)
Has giv'n you Shock — so lame the Sense —
Her Honesty can't give Offence!
Let your good neighb'ring Friends peruse
The Product of an honest Muse;
But then this Goddess of my Brain,
Observe you claim her back again.

R ESPECTS at Home — I fear you'll chide;
Farewell — we'll check this hectic Tide .