Farewell, and O! where'er thy voice be tried,
On Torno's cliffs, or Pambamarca's side,
Whether where equinoctial fervours glow,
Or winter wraps the polar world in snow,
Still let thy voice, prevailing over time,
Redress the rigours of th' inclement clime;
Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain;
Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;
Teach him, that states of native strength possest,
Though very poor, may still be very blest;
That trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay,
As oceans sweep the labour'd mole away—
While self-dependent power can time defy,
As rocks resist the billows and the sky.*
These four lines were contributed by Dr Johnsou.
Our herald hath proclaim'd this saying:
"See Esop dancing"-and his monkey playing.
THE CLOWN'S REPLY.t
John Trott was desired by two witty peers
To tell them the reason, Why asses had ears?
"An't please you," quoth John, "I'm not given to letters,
Nor dare I pretend to know more than my betters;
Howe'er, from this time I shall ne'er see your graces,
As I hope to be saved, without thinking on asses."
STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.I
Sure, 'twas by Providence design'd,
Rather in pity than in hate,
That he should be, like Cupid, blind,
To save him from Narcissus' fate.
From "The Miscellaneous Works," 1801, Life, page 5. Oliver's retaliation on the musician who ventured, at Elphin, to compare him to Æsop.
+ Writton at Edinburgh in 1753. From "The Bee," 1759.
TO IRIS, IN BOW STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.
Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake,
Dear mercenary beauty,
What annual offering shall I make
Expressive of my duty?
My heart, a victim to thine eyes,
Should I at once deliver-
Say, would the angry fair one prize
The gift, who slights the giver?
A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,
My rivals give-and let 'em;
If gems or gold impart a joy,
I'll give them when I get 'em
I'll give but not the full-blown rose,
Or rosebud more in fashion-
Such short-lived offerings but disclose
A transitory passion—
I'll give thee something yet unpaid,
Not less sincere than civil-
I'll give thee-ah, too charming maid,
I'll give thee to the devil!
IN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT,
Logicians have but ill defined
As rational the human mind:
Reason, they say, belongs to man—
But let them prove it, if they can.
* From "The Bee," 1759.
+ Printed in "The Busy Body," 1759.
Wise Aristotle and Smiglesius,
By ratiocinations specious,
Have strove to prove with great precision,
With definition and division,
Homo est ratione præditum—*
But for my soul I cannot credit 'em,
And must, in spite of them, maintain
That man and all his ways are vain,
And that this boasted lord of nature
Is both a weak and erring creature—
That instinct is a surer guide
Than reason, boasting mortals' pride,
And that brute beasts are far before 'em:
Deus est anima brutorum.t
Who ever knew an honest brute
At law his neighbour prosecute,
Bring action for assault and battery,
Or friend beguile with lies and flattery?
O'er plains they ramble unconfined,
No politics disturb their mind;
They eat their meals, and take their sport,
Nor know who's in or out at court;
They never to the levee go,
To treat as dearest friend a foe;
They never importune his grace,
Nor ever cringe to men in place;
Nor undertake a dirty job,
Nor draw the quill to write for Bob.
Fraught with invective they ne'er go
To folk at Paternoster Row:
No judges, fiddlers, dancing-masters,
No pickpockets, or poetasters,
Are known to honest quadrupeds;
No single brute his fellow leads:
Brutes never meet in bloody fray,
Nor cut each other's throats for pay.
Man is endowed with reason. t God is the soul of brutes.
Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape
Comes nearest us in human shape:
Like man, he imitates each fashion,
And malice is his ruling passion;
But, both in malice and grimaces,
A courtier any ape surpasses.
Behold him, humbly cringing, wait,
Upon the minister of state:
View him soon after to inferiors
Aping the conduct of superiors:
He promises with equal air,
And to perform takes equal care.
He in his turn finds imitators:
At court, the porters, lackeys, waiters,
Their masters' manners still contract-
And footmen, lords and dukes can act
Thus at the court both great and small
Behave alike for all ape all.
MADRIGAL.*
Weeping, murmuring, complaining,
Lost to every gay delight-
Myra, too sincere for feigning,
Fears the approaching bridal night.
Yet why impair thy bright perfection,
Or dim thy beauty with a tear?
Had Myra follow'd my direction,
She long had wanted cause of fear.
STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC.+
Amidst the clamour of exulting joys
Which triumph forces from the patriot heart,
*From "The Bee," 1759.
+ Printed in "The Busy Body " 1759.
|