Church, Benjamin, 1734-1778. Commonplace book : of poetry : manuscript, 1750-1752. MS Am 1369. Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Paper [sen?] at Harvard College [W.E.?] by one of the [Societies?] in 17.52-54

Written by Dr. Ben. Church

[Bookplate of Jennie Ives Ellis]

and Thus having copulated our plebian Endeavours we exasculate the Subumbrations of [your] subligacles. & sooner Shall the Surges of the [indeferous] Sea ignify and evaporate, than the Cave of our Duty to words [You] be in the least inconnate or dissolved; always wishing you health &c Happiness

* - together with our Domesticks + Grammatici quam non Intelligant populi

[D? Mc?]

[Mannell?] Good Bug Barret transform'd into a Brandy BBottle by Mather Byles Assit, Ye Gods, since ye alone can tell, In equal Strains how mighty Barrett fell: Mortals behold ye Period of the Great, Caesar & Barret must resign to Fate: In Days of Yore as ancient Poets tell, E'er Homer sang or great Achilles fell, E'er impious mortals with ye Gods wou'd fight, E'er Saturn vanquish'd left ye Realms of Light.

Great Barrett liv'd a Sage of vast Renown His Shape was crooked & his Skin was brown, His matted Hair hung horr'd o'er his head And his vast Jaws a hideous Form display'd, His Gorgon Eyes did all around affright. Great Son of Chaos & eternal Night. Long on his Shelf a shining Bottle stood, While safe in Glass, y' blushing Liquor glows Known by a differen Name here & above, Here Brandy call'd, but Nectar nam'd by Jove. Each blushing morn, when first he did arise, Joy in his Lookes, but Pleasure in his Eyes, He to his wonted Bottle wou'd repair, For all his Joys & Pleasures center'd there, One fatal Morning, when he came to view; By Time subdu'd, (What will not Time subdue,

His well known shelf lay broken on ye Ground, And spread a wild Destruction all around But Oh! what Mortal can his Visage paint, When to ye Gods he utter'd his Complaint; Ah! why ye cruel Forvers have ye decree'd, To pour distinguish'd Vengeance on my Head. But Oh! permit me since my Brandy fell, To bear ye Form of that, I lov'd so well, Quick to a Bottle was great Barrett turn'd And his hot Blood, in hotter Brand burn'd, His Head, a Cork was in ye Bottle toss'd And in an Instant, all ye Man was lost. Harvard College {New} Eng-: Per Mather Byles land 1750------------------------------------------

A Satire on Tea ____________________

Which of ye NINE will aid my feeble Verse, While I of Tea, the dire Effects rehearse: