Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray and Smollett

Imitation of the Style of * * *

1 Hermit hoar, in solemn cell
      Wearing out life’s evening gray,
    Strike thy bosom, sage, and tell
      What is bliss, and which the way.

2 Thus I spoke, and speaking sigh’d,
      Scarce repress’d the starting tear,
    When the hoary sage replied,
      ‘Come, my lad, and drink some beer.’