Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

With bright ideas there infpir'd anew,

I

By them excited, and inform'd by you,
may
with happier fkill effay to fing
Sublimer notes, and ftrike a bolder string.

Languid and dull, when absent from her cave,
No oracles of old the Sibyl gave;

But when beneath her facred fhrine the stood,
Her fury foon confefs'd the coming god;
Her breast began to heave, her eyes to roll,
And wondrous vifions fill'd her labouring foul.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

To make a poem and a pill,

'Twas my misfortune t' other night,
To be tormented with a fpright.

On either fide his head the hair
Seem'd bufhing out, the top was bare;
His garb antique, but on his face
There reign'd a fweet majeftic grace;
Of comely port, and in his hand
He decent war'd a laurel-wand.

On the left foot (by which I found
His name was on the ftage renown'd)
A Sock of curious fhape he wore,
With myrtle foliage flourish'd o'er;
A purple Bufkin grac'd the right,
And strong he ftep'd, yet lovely light.

Thy friendly care, he cry'd, I crave
To give me quiet in my grave :
Tryphon conftrains me from the dead,
A wizard whom I hate and dread;
By him to dangle on a post,

I'm conjur'd up---" Alas, poor Ghost !"
A pendulum I there am made,

To move the leaden wheels of trade.
And while each little author ftruts
In calves-fkin gilt, adorn'd with cuts;
I, vouching, pafs 'em off as dear
As any staple-claffick ware.

Peers, parfons, cits, a motly tribe,
Flock there to purchase, and subscribe;
While Tryphon, as the gudgeons bite,
Chuckles to fee them grow polite.
For ends thus infamously low,
It fure wou'd feem as a-propos,
For Dennis at his door to ftand,
With a good broomstick in his hand.
Then, fhould the chaps find ought amifs,
Or blame the price, the tragic Swifs
Might have his better parts employ'd,
To criticize them back and fide.

Or

Or is there none of all his race,

Whose features would a fign-board grace?

Oft' in the wizard's cell I 've seen
A forrel man, of awkward mien
Prying with bufy leer about,
As if he were the devil's fcout.
I ne'er was vers'd in modifh vice,
But fure thofe whorefon gloating eyes
Have travell'd much on love affairs,
Between the key-hole and the stairs.
O cheat the gibbet of a sign,

And with his head commute for mine.
When firft I heard his damn'd intent,
To Tryphon's bed by night I went;
Where he lay bleft with dreams of gain,
Furs, fcarlet, and a golden chain.
I rouz'd the wretch, and weeping faid,
O take my wit, and fpare my head,
Urge not the wags to fneer, and jape us,
Juft as of old they us'd Priapus.
But as a whelp starts up with fear
When a bee 's humming at his ear:
With upper lip elate, he grins,
Whilft round the little teazer fpins;
But when aloof in air it foars,

He straight forgets th' alarm, and fnores :
So did his fellow-creature flight

The fleeting vifion of the night.

My prayers were loft, though while I stay'd
I fmelt they strong impreffions made.

R 3

,་་་་

T

There

There is a Knight, who takes the field

With Saxon pen, and fable shield ;
Who doubtless can relieve my ghost,
And difinchant me from the post.
Then I could reft as ftill, as thofe
Whom he has drudg'd to fure repofe;
As if he traded in the whole,

And with the body kill'd the foul.
To him for aid with speed repair---
"But foft! I fcent the morning air :".
Be mindful of my piteous plight,
And to my caufe engage the Knight.
Now, gentle Sir, give ear to me,
For I prefcribe without a fee;
From Curll's remove the feat of war,
Encamp on t' other fide the Bar:
Level your eye at Tryphon's shop,
Another epic at him pop;

What though without report it move,
Like the fure darts of death or love?
I know your powder is fo ftrong,
No mortal fign can stand you long.
But if by magic, this oppofe
The volley of your verfe and profe;
I'll be your 'fquire, and firm ally,
Write, crimp, and coax him up to buy;
Not all the necromancer's art

Will fave it then, befhrew his heart!
What can fupport a fhop, or fign,
When two fuch perilous wits combine?

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

To th' Orphean lyre,

"He fung of Chaos and eternal night;

66

Taught by the heavenly Mufe to venture down "The dark defcent, and up to re-afcend,

"Though hard, and rare."

PARADISE LOST, B. iii.

WHEN fpeeding fea-ward, to the fleet we came

That anchor'd nigh the coaft, we launch'd our ship

Into the facred deep: the maft up-rear'd

Bore every

fail expanded; whilst aboard

We ftow'd devoted victims, and afcend

The veffel, inly griev'd, and filent showers
Fell from our drooping eyes. A friendly wind
Circe the fair, of human race divine,
Propitious fent; to ply the struggling oar
Small need remain'd, the freshening gale suffic'd
Each bellying canvas.

On with fpced we fare

R 4

Prof

« ПредишнаНапред »