"Near this commodious Market's miry Verge, The Prince of Prisons Stands, compact and large; When, by the Jigger's[115] more than magick Charm, Kept from the Pow'r of doing Good--or Harm, Relenting Captives only ruminate Misconduct past, and curse their present State; Tho' sorely griev'd, few are so void of Grace, As not to wear a seeming chearful Face: In Drinks or Sports ungrateful Thoughts must die, For who can bear Heart-wounding Calumny? Therefore Cabals engage of various Sorts, To walk, to drink, or play at different Sports: Here, on the oblong Table's verdant Plain, The ivory Ball bounds, and rebounds again;[116] There, at Backgammon, two sit _tete a tete_, And curse alternately their Adverse Fate; These are at Cribbage, those at Whist engag'd And, as they lose, by turns become enrag'd: Some of more sedentary Temper, read Chance-medley Books, which duller Dullness breed; Or Politicks in Coffee-Room, some pore The Papers and Advertisements thrice o'er: Warm'd with the _Alderman_,[117] some set up late, To fix th' Insolvent Bill, and Nation's Fate; Hence, knotty Points at different Tables rise, And either Party's wond'rous, wond'rous wise: Some of low Taste, ring Hand Bells, direful Noise! And interrupt their Fellows' harmless Joys; Disputes more noisy now a Quarrel breeds. And Fools on both Sides fall to Loggerheads: Till wearied with persuasive Thumps and Blows, They drink, and Friends, as tho' they ne'er were Foes. "Without Distinction, intermix'd is seen, A 'Squire quite dirty, a Mechanick clean: The Spendthrift Heir, who in his Chariot roll'd, All his Possessions gone, Reversions sold, Now mean, as once Profuse, the stupid Sot Sits by a _Runner's_ Side,[118] and _shules_[119] a Pot. "Some Sots ill-manner'd, drunk, a harmless Fight! Rant noisy thro' the Galleries all Night; For which, if Justice had been done of late, The Pump[120] had been three pretty Masters Fate. With Stomacks empty, and Heads full of Care Some Wretches swill the Pump and walk the Bare;[121] Within whose ample Oval is a Court, } Where the more Active and Robust resort, } And glowing, exercise a manly Sport } (Strong Exercise with mod'rate Food is good, It drives in sprightful Streams the circling Blood;) While these with Rackets strike the flying Ball, Some play at Nine Pins, Wrestlers take a Fall; Beneath a Tent some drink, and some above Are slily in their Chambers making Love; _Venus_ and _Bacchus_ each keeps here a Shrine, And many Vot'ries have to Love and Wine.