The great Dr. _Bentley_ calls it more than once _Machaera Herculis_, having proved out of the fragments of a _Greek_ Poet, that of this tree was made that club with which the hero is said to have overcome the fifty wild daughters of _Thespius_, but which Queen _Omphale_ afterwards reduced to a distaff. Others have thought the celebrated _Hesperian_ trees were of this sort; and the very name of _Poma Veneris_, frequently given by Authors to the fruits of this tree, is a sufficient proof these were really the _Apples_ for which three Goddesses contended in so warm a manner, and to which the Queen of beauty had undoubtedly the strongest title. The vertues are so many, a large volume might be wrote of them. The juice taken inwardly cures the green-sickness and other infirmities of the like sort, and is a true specific in most disorders of the fair sex. It indeed often causes tumours in the umbilical region; but even those being really of no ill consequence, disperse of themselves in a few Months. It chears the heart, and exhilarates the mind, quiets jars, feuds and discontents, making the most churlish tempers surprizingly kind and loving. Nor have private persons only been the better for this reconciling vertue, but whole states and kingdoms, nay, the greatest empires in the world have often received the benefit of it; the most destructive wars have been ended, and the most friendly treaties been produced, by a right application of this universal medicine among the chief of the contending parties. If any person is desirous to see this excellent and wonderful plant in good perfection, he may meet with it at the aforementioned Mr _Bowen's_ garden at _Lambeth_, who calls it _The Silver-Spoon Tree_; and is at all times ready to oblige his friends with the sight of it. THE Ridotto al' Fresco, A POEM. What various Arts attempts the am'rous Swain, To force the Fair, or her Consent to gain-- Now _Balls_, now _Masquerades_ his Care employ, And _Play_ and Park alternately give Joy-- Industrious _H----gg----r_, whose magick Brains Still in their Shell the _Recipe_ retains Like some good Midwife brings the Plot to light And helps the lab'ring Swain to _Celia's_ Sight; For this his Eunuchs in high Buskins tread-- And chaunt harmonious Lays for this,--and _Bread_; For this the _Assembly's_ fix'd; and the huge Dome Swells with the Lady's Vows, _when the Stake's gone_.-- For this he forms the vicious Masquerade, Where Damsels may securely drive their Trade, For which the Salesman, Chandler, Chairmen loudly pray, And Pickpockets too, _hail_ the joyful Day-- But now what Tongue can praise the mighty Worth, Who to _Ridotto_ gave an _English_ Birth; To him let every Templar bend the Knee, Receive a Ticket, and give up the Fee: Let _Drury-Lane_ eternal Columns raise, And every wanton Wife resound his Praise; Let Courtiers with implicit Faith obey, And to their grand Procurer Homage pay.