Novella, a young Bolognese, The daughter of a learn'd Law Doctor, Who had with all the subtleties Of old and modern jurists stock'd her, Was so exceeding fair, 'tis said, And over hearts held such dominion, That when her father, sick in bed, Or busy, sent her, in his stead, To lecture on the Code Justinian, She had a curtain drawn before her, Lest, if her eyes were seen, the students Should let their young eyes wander o'er her, And quite forget their jurisprudence. Just so it is with Truth, when _seen_, Too dazzling far,--'tis from behind A light, thin allegoric screen, She thus can safest teach mankind. FABLE. In Thibet once there reign'd, we're told, A little Lama, one year old-- Raised to the throne, that realm to bless, Just when his little Holiness Had cut--as near as can be reckon'd-- Some say his _first_ tooth, some his _second_. Chronologers and Nurses vary, Which proves historians should be wary. We only know th' important truth, His Majesty _had_ cut a tooth. And much his subjects were enchanted,-- As well all Lama's subjects may be, And would have giv'n their heads, if wanted, To make tee-totums for the baby. Throned as he was by Right Divine-- (What Lawyers call _Jure Divino_, Meaning a right to yours, and mine, And everybody's goods and rhino,) Of course, his faithful subjects' purses, Were ready with their aids and succours; Nothing was seen but pension'd Nurses, And the land groan'd with bibs and tuckers. Oh! had there been a Hume or Bennet, Then sitting in the Thibet Senate, Ye Gods, what room for long debates Upon the Nursery Estimates! What cutting down of swaddling-clothes And pin-a-fores, in nightly battles! What calls for papers to expose The waste of sugar-plums and rattles!