NEW RIDDLE BOOK._Food for the Mind: Or, A New Riddle-book

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While young I'm as gay as the maidens in _May_,

And when dress'd in my holiday cloaths,

Am the joy of the swains, and the pride of the plains,

And may vie with the belles and the beaux.

But my time's of short date, and so hard is my fate,

That when to full stature I'm grown,

I'm cut down by the lout, toss'd and tumbled about,

Till no signs of life can be shown.

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Four wings I have,

Which swiftly mount on high

On sturdy pinions,

Yet I never fly;

And tho' my body often moves around,

Upon the self-same spot

I'm always found;

And, like a nurse who chews the infants meat,

I chew for man before that he can eat.

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With words unnumber'd I a-bound,

In me mankind take much delight,

In me great store of learning's found,

Yet I can neither read nor write.

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The world I view in little space

I'm restless, ever changing place

Nothing I eat, but by my pow'r,

Procure what all mankind devour.

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My body is both plump and round,

With comely neck and breast,

No brighter creature would be found

Were I but oftner dress'd:

But daily I am wearied so

And my employment such,

Black as any negro go,

Nor scarce am fit to touch:

Upon my mistress morn and eve,

I constantly attend;

Yet many a blow and nick-name have,

Tho' I did ne'er offend.

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When mortals are involv'd in ills,

I sing with mournful voice;

If mirth their hearts in gladness fills,

I celebrate their joys.

And as the lark with warbling throat,

Ascends upon the wing;

So I lift up my chearful note,

And as I mount I sing.

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A tall and slender shape I bear,

Nor lady's skin's more white or fair:

My life is short, and doth decay

So soon it seldom lasts a day.

If in the evening brought to light,

I make my exit in the night;

Yet to mankind I'm useful ever,

And many hidden things discover;

Which makes all those who round me tend,

Oft with a sigh lament my end.

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I'm of the same materials made as you,

Have native ignorance and beauty too;

But when I fly for safety to your arms,

You to a foreigner resign my charms;

He, to defile me thinks it no offence;

And rudely robs me of my innocence;

With inward rage I burn--but hug the foe,

And breathe out vengeance wherefo'er I go.

Nay, while thus lovingly we seem to agree,

I serve him just as _Jove_ did _Semele_,

For e'er from me the thoughtless _sot_ retires,

By my embrace consum'd he soon expires.

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_The_ HIGHWAY.

When _Cæsar_ did this Isle invade,

I first experienc'd royal aid:

Nay, now to Majesty belong,

Tho' subject to the vulgar throng;

Who with uncivil usage treat,

And trample me beneath their feet;

With heavy burdens me oppress,

And money gain by my distress;

Yet all their insults I endure,

While they my given bruises cure:

I am in every country found,

And traverse all the kingdom round:

Say what's my name, that's so well known,

I am a common proverb grown.

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I can money procure,

For the rich and the poor,

If I open my mouth pretty wide;

So that there's not a house,

Worth the skip of a louse,

But will for me a lodging provide;

Tho' with Tom, Will, or Bob,

I am licens'd to rob,

And plunder my country all over;

Yet, however unjust,

I keep true to my trust,

And ne'er will my patron discover:

When engag'd for the great,

Or the minions of state,

You'd be shock'd at the havock I make;

For I hack, cut, and slay,

Whate'er falls in my way,

And send it to _hell_ for their sake.

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_The_ EYE-LIDS.

In courts or cottages we may be found;

Our skirts with fringe of various dyes are bound;

And as we were by providence design'd,

A guard from harm t' a fav'rite applejoin'd.

We ne'er rove long, nor far asunder stray,

But meet and part a thousand times a day:

When dark, like loving couples, we unite,

And cuddle close together every night.

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