An Epigram. To William, Earl of Newcastle

When first, my lord, I saw you back your horse,
Provoke his mettle, and command his force
To all the uses of the field and race,
Methought I read the ancient art of Thrace,
And saw a centaur, past those tales of Greece,
So seem'd your horse and you both of a piece!
You shew'd like Perseus upon Pegasus,
Or Castor mounted on his Cyllarus;
Or what we hear our home-born legend tell,
Of bold Sir Bevis, and his Arundel;
Nay, so your seat his beauties did endorse,
As I began to wish myself a horse:
And surely, had I but your stable seen
Before, I think my wish absolv'd had been.
For never saw I yet the Muses dwell,
Nor any of their household, half so well.
So well! as when I saw the floor and room,
I look'd for Hercules to be the groom;
And cried, Away with the Caesarian bread!
At these immortal mangers Virgil fed.