Page:Trivia (John Gay) to which is added London (Samuel Johnson) (1809).djvu/56

46 Here dives the skulking thief; with practis'd sleight And unfelt fingers makes thy pockets light. Where's now thy watch, with all its trinkets, flown? And thy late snuff-box is no more thy own. But, lo! his bolder thefts some tradesman spies: Swift from his prey the scudding lurcher flies; Dext'rous he 'scapes the coach with nimble bounds, Whilst ev'ry honest tongue "Stop thief!' resounds.— So speeds the wily fox, alarm'd by fear, Who lately filch'd the turkey's callow care: Hounds, following hounds, grow louder as he flies, And injur'd tenants join the hunters' cries.— Breathless he stumbling falls. Ill-fated boy! Why did not honest work thy youth employ? Seiz'd by rough hands, he's dragg'd amid the rout, And stretch'd beneath the pump's incessant spout; Or plung'd in miry ponds he gasping lies, Mud chokes his mouth, and plasters o'er his eyes.
 * Let not the ballad-singer's shrilling strain,

Amid the swarm, thy list'ning ear detain. Guard well thy pocket; for these syrens stand To aid the labours of the diving hand: