And now the duke has wifely ta'en him If this rule holds in ev'ry art; Or if his grace were no more skill'd in THE VIRTUES OF SID HAMET ΤΗ THE MAGICIAN's ROD. Written in 1712. HE rod was but a harmless wand, While Mofes held it in his hand ; But, foon as e'er he laid it down, 'Twas a devouring ferpent grown. Our great magician, Hamet Sid, Reverses what the prophet did: His rod was honeft English wood, That fenfeless in a corner ftood, rough. The duke of Marlbo Godolphin, which, on the 29th of May 1711, was given to Robert Harley, earl of Oxford. G 3 The ftaff of lord treasurer Till, Till, metamorphos'd by his grafp, So to her midnight feast the hag That bending down its top, divines The virgula divina, or divining rod, is defcribed to be a forked branch of a hazel or willow, two feet and an half long it is to be held in the palms of the hands with the Angle end elevated about eighty degrees; and in this pofition is faid to be attracted by minerals and fprings, fo as by a forcible inclination to direct where they are to be found. d Suppofed to allude to the union of the two kingdoms. And by a gentle bow divin'd The rod of Hermes was renown'd For charms above and under ground; To fleep could mortal eye-lids fix, And drive departed fouls to Styx. That rod was just a type of Sid's, Which o'er a British fenate's lids Could scatter opium full as well, And drive as many fouls to hell. Sid's rod was flender, white, and tall, Which oft he us'd to fish withal; A plaife was faften'd to the hook, And many score of gudgeons took : Yet still so happy was his fate, He caught his fish, and fav'd his bait. Sid's brethren of the conj'ring tribe A circle with their rod defcribe, Which proves a magical redoubt To keep mifchievous spirits out. Sid's rod was of a larger ftride, And made a circle thrice as wide, Where Spirits throng'd with hideous din, And he ftood there to take them in : But, when th' enchanted rod was broke, They vanish'd in a stinking smoke. G4 Achilles' Achilles' fceptre was of wood, Thence, thro' a long descent of kings, Dear Sid, then why wer't thou so mad An eminent toyman in Fleet-ftreet. ATLAS; OR, THE MINISTER OF STATE. TO THE LORD TREASURER OXFORD. TLAS, we read in ancient fong, He bore the skies upon his back, A premier minifter of state; Alcides one of fecond rate. Suppose then Atlas ne'er fo wife, THE |