——Teneas tuis Te.

“They who in Quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody Nose.”
A Maxim this from honest Gay ,
And yet we find how far astray,
Blind Mortals wander ev'ry Day.
But little did I think Friend P** E ,
(You see I've hitch'd you in a Line)
Would so forget himself, and Bard,
For whom he had profess'd Regard,
As to neglect this golden Rule,
And thus display, the meddling Fool;
Impertinent , officious, wrong—
(Much better he had held his Tongue)
For let your Brother Artist know,
Since 'tis Himself that nerves my Bow,
The promis'd Shaft ere long shall wing,
For you've but doubly brac'd the String:
In the mean while his dapper Squire,
Compos'd of true pacific Fire ,
May fetch and carry , bluster, swear—
But all in vain—he hectors Air.