s: His goods, he hopes are prime, and brought from far,


s: I'd best step back -- and order up a sample.


s: The base bestow them:  but the good agree


s: Then all their trophies last; and flattery turns to fame.


s: Bless'd spirit thou, whose fame, just born to bloom


s: Shall spread and flourish from the tomb,


s: And, wondering how their rage was borne,


s: Like some well-fashion'd arch thy patience stood,


s: And purchas'd strength from its increasing load.


s: Pain met thee like a friend that set thee free;


s: Affliction still is virtue's opportunity!


s: Yet, ah!  what terrors frowned upon her fate --


s: Fever and pain and pale consumptive care,


s: They robb'd the relic and defac'd the shrine.


s: The labouring ship, and hear the tempest roar,


s: While winds and waves their wishes cross --


s: They stood, while hope and comfort fail,


s: Truth, beauty, worth, and all that most engage,


s: But wake thy vengeance and provoke thy rage.


s: Yet let that wisdom, urged by her example,


s: Teach us to estimate what all must suffer;


s: Let us prize death as the best gift of nature --


s: When they have journeyed through a world of cares,


s: May put off life and be at rest for ever.


s: Groans, weeping friends, indeed, and gloomy sables,


s: May oft distract us with their sad solemnity:


s: Death, when unmasked, shows me a friendly face,


s: To Death's great court, the prospect seems more fair.


s: 'Tis Nature's kind retreat, that's always open


s: To take us in when we have drained the cup


s: Of life, or worn our days to wretchedness.


s: The beggar's pouch and prince's purple lie,


s: And ah!  bless'd spirit, wheresoe'er thy flight,


s: Through rolling worlds, or fields of liquid light,


s: May cherubs welcome their expected guest;


s: May saints with songs receive thee to their rest;


s: May peace that claimed while here thy warmest love,


s: May blissful endless peace be thine above!


s: Our vows are heard!  Long, long to mortal eyes,


s: Her soul was fitting to its kindred skies:


s: Where modest want and patient sorrow dwell;


s: Then only poor, indeed, the day she died.


s: And oh!  for this!  while sculpture decks thy shrine,


s: Truth, Fortitude, and Friendship shall agree


s: To blend their virtues while they think of thee.


s: FAST by that shore where Thames' translucent stream


s: Where, splendid as the youthful poet's dream,


s: He forms a scene beyond Elysium blest --


s: Where sculptur'd elegance and native grace


s: Unite to stamp the beauties of the place,


s: From China borrows aid to deck the scene --


s: There, sorrowing by the river's glassy bed,


s: The good old sire, unconscious of decay,


s: The modest matron, clad in homespun gray,


s: The shatter'd veteran, now first dismay'd;


s: These sadly join beside the murmuring deep,


s: Call on their mistress -- now no more -- and weep.


s: That she who form'd your beauties is no more.


s: First of the train the patient rustic came,


s: Whose callous hand had form'd the scene,


s: Bending at once with sorrow and with age,


s: With many a tear and many a sigh between;


s: 'And where,' he cried, 'shall now my babes have bread,


s: Or how shall age support its feeble fire?


s: No lord will take me now, my vigour fled,


s: Nor can my strength perform what they require;


s: Each grudging master keeps the labourer bare --


s: A sleek and idle race is all their care.


s: And as my strength decay'd, her bounty grew.'


s: Clasp'd in her hand a godly book was borne,


s: She still reliev'd, nor sought my praise,


s: I'll praise her while my life shall last,


s: Each day, each hour, her name I'll bless --


s: The hardy veteran after struck the sight,


s: Lopp'd of his limbs in many a gallant fight,


s: Mute for a while, and sullenly distress'd,


s: At last the impetuous sorrow fir'd his breast.


s: The raging deep, the whirlwind's roar --


s: Oh, let me fly a land that spurns the brave,


s: Oswego's dreary shores shall be my grave;


s: And lay my body where my limbs were lost.'


s: Shall crowd from Crecy's laurell'd field,


s: For thine and Britain's wrongs they feel,


s: 'The garland of beauty' -- 'tis thus she would say --


s: 'No more shall my crook or my temples adorn,


s: I'll not wear a garland -- Augusta's away,


s: I'll not wear a garland until she return;


s: But alas!  that return I never shall see,


s: The echoes of Thames shall my sorrows proclaim,


s: There promised a lover to come -- but, O me!


s: 'Twas death, -- 'twas the death of my mistress that came.


s: But ever, for ever, her image shall last,


s: I'll strip all the spring of its earliest bloom;


s: On her grave shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,


s: And the new-blossomed thorn shall whiten her tomb.'


s: With garlands of beauty the queen of the May


s: No more will her crook or her temples adorn;


s: For who'd wear a garland when she is away,


s: When she is remov'd, and shall never return.


s: On the grave of Augusta these garlands be plac'd,


s: We'll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom,


s: And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,


s: And the new-blossom'd thorn shall whiten her tomb.


s: On the grave of Augusta this garland be plac'd,


s: And the tears of her country shall water her tomb.


s: With grammar, and nonsense, and learning;


s: Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians:


s: Their Quis, and their Quaes, and their Quods,


s: But you, my good friend, are the pigeon.


s: Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever.


s: Here's a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons.


s: WELL, having stoop'd to conquer with success,


s: And gain'd a husband without aid from dress,


s: Still, as a Bar-maid, I could wish it too,


s: As I have conquer'd him, to conquer you:


s: And let me say, for all your resolution,


s: That pretty Bar-maids have done execution.


s: Our life is all a play, compos'd to please,


s: The First Act shows the simple country maid,


s: Harmless and young, of ev'ry thing afraid;


s: Blushes when hir'd, and, with unmeaning action,


s: 'I hopes as how to give you satisfaction.'


s: Her Second Act displays a livelier scene --


s: Th' unblushing Bar-maid of a country inn,


s: Who whisks about the house, at market caters,


s: Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters.


s: Next the scene shifts to town, and there she soars,


s: The chop-house toast of ogling connoisseurs.


s: On 'Squires and Cits she there displays her arts,


s: And on the gridiron broils her lovers' hearts:


s: And as she smiles, her triumphs to complete,


s: The Fourth Act shows her wedded to the 'Squire,


s: Pretends to taste, at Operas cries 'caro',


s: And quits her 'Nancy Dawson', for 'Che faro',


s: Doats upon dancing, and in all her pride,


s: Swims round the room, the Heinel of Cheapside;


s: 'Till having lost in age the power to kill,


s: She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.


s: Such, through our lives, the eventful history --


s: The Fifth and Last Act still remains for me.


s: The Bar-maid now for your protection prays.


s: Turns Female Barrister, and pleads for Bayes.


s: OF old, when Scarron his companions invited,


s: Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was united;


s: If our landlord supplies us with beef, and with fish,


s: Let each guest bring himself, and he brings the best dish:


s: Our Dean shall be venison, just fresh from the plains;


s: Our Burke shall be tongue, with a garnish of brains;


s: Our Will shall be wild-fowl, of excellent flavour,


s: Our Cumberland's sweet-bread its place shall obtain,


s: And Douglas is pudding, substantial and plain:


s: Our Garrick's a salad; for in him we see


s: Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree:


s: To make out the dinner, full certain I am,


s: That Ridge is anchovy, and Reynolds is lamb;


s: That Hickey's a capon, and by the same rule,


s: Magnanimous Goldsmith a gooseberry fool.


s: At a dinner so various, at such a repast,


s: Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last?


s: Here, waiter!  more wine, let me sit while I'm able,


s: Till all my companions sink under the table;


s: Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,


s: Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.


s: Here lies the good Dean, re-united to earth,


s: Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:


s: If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt,


s: At least, in six weeks, I could not find 'em out;


s: Yet some have declar'd, and it can't be denied 'em,


s: That sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em.


s: Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,


s: We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much;


s: Who, born for the Universe, narrow'd his mind,


s: And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.


s: Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat


s: To persuade Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote;


s: Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining,


s: And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining;


s: Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,


s: Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit:


s: For a patriot, too cool; for a drudge, disobedient;


s: And too fond of the 'right' to pursue the 'expedient'.


s: In short, 'twas his fate, unemploy'd, or in place, Sir,


s: To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.


s: Here lies honest William, whose heart was a mint,


s: While the owner ne'er knew half the good that was in't;


s: The pupil of impulse, it forc'd him along,


s: His conduct still right, with his argument wrong;


s: Still aiming at honour, yet fearing to roam,


s: The coachman was tipsy, the chariot drove home;


s: Would you ask for his merits?  alas!  he had none;


s: What was good was spontaneous, his faults were his own.


s: Here lies honest Richard, whose fate I must sigh at;


s: Alas, that such frolic should now be so quiet!


s: What spirits were his!  what wit and what whim!


s: Now breaking a jest, and now breaking a limb;


s: Now wrangling and grumbling to keep up the ball,


s: Now teasing and vexing, yet laughing at all!


s: That we wish'd him full ten times a day at Old Nick;


s: But, missing his mirth and agreeable vein,


s: Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts,


s: The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;


s: A flattering painter, who made it his care


s: To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.


s: His gallants are all faultless, his women divine,


s: Like a tragedy queen he has dizen'd her out,


s: His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd


s: Of virtues and feelings, that folly grows proud;


s: And coxcombs, alike in their failings alone,


s: Adopting his portraits, are pleas'd with their own.


s: Say, where has our poet this malady caught?


s: Or, wherefore his characters thus without fault?


s: Say, was it that vainly directing his view


s: To find out men's virtues, and finding them few,


s: Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,


s: He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?


s: Here Douglas retires, from his toils to relax,


s: The scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks:


s: Come, all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines,


s: Come, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines:


s: When Satire and Censure encircl'd his throne,


s: I fear'd for your safety, I fear'd for my own;


s: But now he is gone, and we want a detector,


s: Our Dodds shall be pious, our Kenricks shall lecture;


s: Macpherson write bombast, and call it a style,


s: Our Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile;


s: New Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross over,


s: No countryman living their tricks to discover;


s: Detection her taper shall quench to a spark,


s: And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark.


s: Here lies David Garrick, describe me, who can,


s: An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man;


s: As an actor, confess'd without rival to shine:


s: As a wit, if not first, in the very first line:


s: Yet, with talents like these, and an excellent heart,


s: The man had his failings, a dupe to his art.


s: Like an ill-judging beauty, his colours he spread,


s: And beplaster'd with rouge his own natural red.


s: On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;


s: 'Twas only that when he was off he was acting.


s: With no reason on earth to go out of his way,


s: He turn'd and he varied full ten times a day.


s: Though secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick


s: If they were not his own by finessing and trick,


s: He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack,


s: For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.


s: Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came,


s: And the puff of a dunce he mistook it for fame;


s: Till his relish grown callous, almost to disease,


s: Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.


s: But let us be candid, and speak out our mind,


s: If dunces applauded, he paid them in kind.


s: Ye Kenricks, ye Kellys, and Woodfalls so grave,


s: What a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave!


s: How did Grub-street re-echo the shouts you rais'd,


s: While he was be-Roscius'd, and you were be-prais'd!


s: But peace to his spirit, wherever it flies,


s: To act as an angel, and mix with the skies:


s: Those poets, who owe their best fame to his skill,


s: Shall still be his flatterers, go where he will.


s: Old Shakespeare, receive him, with praise and with love,


s: And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above.


s: Here Hickey reclines, a most blunt, pleasant creature,


s: And slander itself must allow him good nature:


s: He cherish'd his friend, and he relish'd a bumper;


s: Yet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper.


s: Perhaps you may ask if the man was a miser!


s: I answer, no, no, for he always was wiser:


s: Too courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat?


s: His very worst foe can't accuse him of that:


s: And so was too foolishly honest!  Ah no!


s: Then what was his failing?  come, tell it, and burn ye!


s: He was, could he help it? -- a special attorney.


s: Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind,


s: He has not left a better or wiser behind:


s: His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand;


s: His manners were gentle, complying, and bland;


s: His pencil our faces, his manners our heart:


s: To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,


s: When they judg'd without skill he was still hard of hearing:


s: When they talk'd of their Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff,


s: He shifted his trumpet, and only took snuff.


s: After the Fourth Edition of this Poem was printed, the Publisher


s: HERE Whitefoord reclines, and deny it who can,


s: Though he 'merrily' liv'd, he is now a 'grave' man;


s: Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun!


s: Who relish'd a joke, and rejoic'd in a pun;


s: Whose temper was generous, open, sincere;


s: A stranger to flatt'ry, a stranger to fear;


s: Who scatter'd around wit and humour at will;


s: Whose daily 'bons mots' half a column might fill;


s: A Scotchman, from pride and from prejudice free;


s: What pity, alas!  that so lib'ral a mind


s: Should so long be to news-paper essays confin'd;


s: Who perhaps to the summit of science could soar,


s: Yet content 'if the table he set on a roar';


s: Whose talents to fill any station were fit,


s: Yet happy if Woodfall confess'd him a wit.


s: Ye news-paper witlings!  ye pert scribbling folks


s: Who copied his squibs, and re-echoed his jokes;


s: Ye tame imitators, ye servile herd, come,


s: Still follow your master, and visit his tomb:


s: To deck it, bring with you festoons of the vine,


s: And copious libations bestow on his shrine:


s: Then strew all around it (you can do no less)


s: 'Cross-readings, Ship-news', and 'Mistakes of the Press'.


s: Merry Whitefoord, farewell!  for 'thy' sake I admit


s: That a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit:


s: This debt to thy mem'ry I cannot refuse,


s: 'Thou best humour'd man with the worst humour'd muse.'


s: Lovers are plenty; but fail to relieve me:


s: Offers to love, but means to deceive me.


s: But I will rally, and combat the ruiner:


s: Not a look, not a smile shall my passion discover:


s: She that gives all to the false one pursuing her,


s: CHASTE are their instincts, faithful is their fire,


s: No foreign beauty tempts to false desire;


s: The snow-white vesture, and the glittering crown,


s: Prompt not their loves:-- the patriot bird pursues


s: His well acquainted tints, and kindred hues.


s: Hence through their tribes no mix'd polluted flame,


s: No monster-breed to mark the groves with shame;


s: But the chaste blackbird, to its partner true,


s: Thinks black alone is beauty's favourite hue.


s: The nightingale, with mutual passion blest,


s: Sings to its mate, and nightly charms the nest;


s: While the dark owl to court its partner flies,


s: And owns its offspring in their yellow eyes.


s: THANKS, my Lord, for your venison, for finer or fatter


s: Never rang'd in a forest, or smok'd in a platter;


s: The haunch was a picture for painters to study,


s: The fat was so white, and the lean was so ruddy.


s: Though my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting


s: To spoil such a delicate picture by eating;


s: I had thoughts, in my chambers, to place it in view,


s: To be shown to my friends as a piece of 'virtu';


s: As in some Irish houses, where things are so so,


s: One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show:


s: But for eating a rasher of what they take pride in,


s: They'd as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.


s: But hold -- let me pause -- Don't I hear you pronounce


s: This tale of the bacon a damnable bounce?


s: Well, suppose it a bounce -- sure a poet may try,


s: By a bounce now and then, to get courage to fly.


s: But, my Lord, it's no bounce:  I protest in my turn,


s: It's a truth -- and your Lordship may ask Mr. Byrne.


s: To go on with my tale -- as I gaz'd on the haunch,


s: I thought of a friend that was trusty and staunch;


s: So I cut it, and sent it to Reynolds undress'd,


s: To paint it, or eat it, just as he lik'd best.


s: Of the neck and the breast I had next to dispose;


s: 'Twas a neck and a breast -- that might rival M--r--'s:


s: But in parting with these I was puzzled again,


s: With the how, and the who, and the where, and the when.


s: I think they love venison -- I know they love beef;


s: There's my countryman H--gg--ns--  Oh!  let him alone,


s: For making a blunder, or picking a bone.


s: But hang it -- to poets who seldom can eat,


s: Your very good mutton's a very good treat;


s: Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt,


s: It's like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.


s: While thus I debated, in reverie centred,


s: An acquaintance, a friend as he call'd himself, enter'd;


s: An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he,


s: And he smil'd as he look'd at the venison and me.


s: 'What have we got here? -- Why, this is good eating!


s: Your own, I suppose -- or is it in waiting?'


s: 'Why, whose should it be?' cried I with a flounce,


s: 'I get these things often;' -- but that was a bounce:


s: 'Some lords, my acquaintance, that settle the nation,


s: Are pleas'd to be kind -- but I hate ostentation.'


s: 'If that be the case, then,' cried he, very gay,


s: 'I'm glad I have taken this house in my way.


s: To-morrow you take a poor dinner with me;


s: No words -- I insist on't -- precisely at three:


s: We'll have Johnson, and Burke; all the wits will be there;


s: My acquaintance is slight, or I'd ask my Lord Clare.


s: And now that I think on't, as I am a sinner!


s: We wanted this venison to make out the dinner.


s: What say you -- a pasty?  it shall, and it must,


s: And my wife, little Kitty, is famous for crust.


s: Here, porter! -- this venison with me to Mile-end;


s: No stirring -- I beg -- my dear friend -- my dear friend!


s: Thus snatching his hat, he brush'd off like the wind,


s: And the porter and eatables follow'd behind.


s: Left alone to reflect, having emptied my shelf,


s: Though I could not help thinking my gentleman hasty,


s: Yet Johnson, and Burke, and a good venison pasty,


s: Were things that I never dislik'd in my life,


s: Though clogg'd with a coxcomb, and Kitty his wife.


s: So next day, in due splendour to make my approach,


s: I drove to his door in my own hackney coach.


s: When come to the place where we all were to dine,


s: (A chair-lumber'd closet just twelve feet by nine:)


s: With tidings that Johnson and Burke would not come;


s: 'For I knew it,' he cried, 'both eternally fail,


s: The one with his speeches, and t'other with Thrale;


s: But no matter, I'll warrant we'll make up the party


s: With two full as clever, and ten times as hearty.


s: They['re] both of them merry and authors like you;


s: The one writes the 'Snarler', the other the 'Scourge';


s: Some think he writes 'Cinna' -- he own to 'Panurge'.'


s: While thus he describ'd them by trade, and by name,


s: They enter'd and dinner was serv'd as they came.


s: At the top a fried liver and bacon were seen,


s: At the bottom was tripe in a swinging tureen;


s: At the sides there was spinach and pudding made hot;


s: In the middle a place where the pasty -- was not.


s: Now, my Lord as for tripe, it's my utter aversion,


s: And your bacon I hate like a Turk or a Persian;


s: So there I sat stuck, like a horse in a pound,


s: While the bacon and liver went merrily round.


s: But what vex'd me most was that d--'d Scottish rogue,


s: With his long-winded speeches, his smiles and his brogue;


s: And, 'Madam,' quoth he, 'may this bit be my poison,


s: Pray a slice of your liver, though may I be curs'd,


s: But I've eat of your tripe till I'm ready to burst.;


s: 'I could dine on this tripe seven days in the week:


s: I like these here dinners so pretty and small;


s: But your friend there, the Doctor, eats nothing at all.'


s: 'O--Oh!' quoth my friend, 'he'll come on in a trice,


s: He's keeping a corner for something that's nice:


s: 'I don't care if I keep a corner for't too.'


s: 'What the de'il, mon, a pasty!' re-echoed the Scot,


s: 'Though splitting, I'll still keep a corner for thot.'


s: 'We'll all keep a corner,' the lady cried out;


s: 'We'll all keep a corner,' was echoed about.


s: While thus we resolv'd, and the pasty delay'd,


s: With look that quite petrified, enter'd the maid;


s: A visage so sad, and so pale with affright,


s: Wak'd Priam in drawing his curtains by night.


s: But we quickly found out, for who could mistake her?


s: That she came with some terrible news from the baker:


s: And so it fell out, for that negligent sloven


s: Had shut out the pasty on shutting his oven


s: Sad Philomel thus -- but let similes drop --


s: And now that I think on't, the story may stop.


s: To be plain, my good Lord, it's but labour misplac'd


s: To send such good verses to one of your taste;


s: You've got an odd something -- a kind of discerning --


s: A relish -- a taste -- sicken'd over by learning;


s: At least, it's your temper, as very well known,


s: That you think very slightly of all that's your own:


s: So, perhaps, in your habits of thinking amiss,


s: You may make a mistake, and think slightly of this.


s: THIS tomb, inscrib'd to gentle Parnell's name,


s: May speak our gratitude, but not his fame.


s: What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay,


s: That leads to truth through pleasure's flowery way!


s: Celestial themes confess'd his tuneful aid;


s: And Heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid.


s: Needless to him the tribute we bestow --


s: More lasting rapture from his works shall rise,


s: While Converts thank their poet in the skies.


s: JOHN TROTT was desired by two witty peers


s: To tell them the reason why asses had ears?


s: 'An't please you,' quoth John, 'I'm not given to letters,


s: Nor dare I pretend to know more than my betters;


s: Howe'er, from this time I shall ne'er see your graces,


s: As I hope to be saved!  without thinking on asses.'


s: HERE lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,


s: He led such a damnable life in this world, --


s: HOLD!  Prompter, hold!  a word before your nonsense;


s: I'd speak a word or two, to ease my conscience.


s: My pride forbids it ever should be said,


s: My heels eclips'd the honours of my head;


s: Or ever thought that jumping was a jest.


s: Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth?


s: Nature disowns, and reason scorns thy mirth,


s: In thy black aspect every passion sleeps,


s: The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps.


s: How has thou fill'd the scene with all thy brood,


s: Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursu'd!


s: Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses,


s: Whose only plot it is to break our noses;


s: Whilst from below the trap-door Demons rise,


s: And shall I mix in this unhallow'd crew?


s: May rosined lightning blast me, if I do!


s: No -- I will act, I'll vindicate the stage:


s: Shakespeare himself shall feel my tragic rage.


s: Off!  off!  vile trappings!  a new passion reigns!


s: The madd'ning monarch revels in my veins.


s: Oh!  for a Richard's voice to catch the theme:


s: 'Give me another horse!  bind up my wounds!


s: Aye, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreating:


s: If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating.


s: 'Twas thus that Aesop's stag, a creature blameless,


s: Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless,


s: 'The deuce confound,' he cries, 'these drumstick shanks,


s: They never have my gratitude nor thanks;


s: They're perfectly disgraceful!  strike me dead!


s: But for a head, yes, yes, I have a head.


s: How piercing is that eye!  how sleek that brow!


s: My horns!  I'm told horns are the fashion now.'


s: Whilst thus he spoke, astonish'd, to his view,


s: Near, and more near, the hounds and huntsmen drew.


s: 'Hoicks!  hark forward!' came thund'ring from behind,


s: He bounds aloft, outstrips the fleeting wind:


s: He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways;


s: He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze.


s: At length his silly head, so priz'd before,


s: Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free,


s: And at one bound he saves himself, -- like me.


s: ('Taking a hump through the stage door'.)


s: 'who curtsies very low as beginning to speak.


s: 'who stands full before her, and curtsies to the audience'.


s: HOLD, Ma'am, your pardon.  What's your business here?


s: Sure you mistake, Ma'am.  The Epilogue, 'I' bring it.


s: Excuse me, Ma'am.  The Author bid 'me' sing it.


s: Ye beaux and belles, that form this splendid ring,


s: Why, sure the girl's beside herself:  an Epilogue of singing,


s: A hopeful end indeed to such a blest beginning.


s: And she, whose party's largest, shall proceed.


s: I've all the critics and the wits for me.


s: They, I am sure, will answer my commands:


s: Ye candid-judging few, hold up your hands.


s: What!  no return?  I find too late, I fear,


s: I'm for a different set. -- Old men, whose trade is


s: Still to gallant and dangle with the ladies; --


s: Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling,


s: Still thus address the fair with voice beguiling:--


s: Yes, I must die, ho, ho, ho, ho!  ('Da capo'.)


s: Let all the old pay homage to your merit;


s: Give me the young, the gay, the men of spirit.


s: Of French friseurs, and nosegays, justly vain,


s: To dress, and look like awkward Frenchmen here,


s: Lend me your hands. -- Oh!  fatal news to tell:


s: Their hands are only lent to the Heinel.


s: Ay, take your travellers, travellers indeed!


s: Give me my bonny Scot, that travels from the Tweed.


s: Where are the chiels?  Ah!  Ah, I well discern


s: The smiling looks of each bewitching bairn.


s: 'Air -- A bonny young lad is my Jockey'.


s: I'll sing to amuse you by night and by day,


s: When you with your bagpipes are ready to play,


s: Make but of all your fortune one 'va toute';


s: Ye jockey tribe, whose stock of words are few,


s: 'I hold the odds. -- Done, done, with you, with you;'


s: 'My Lord, -- your Lordship misconceives the case;'


s: Doctors, who cough and answer every misfortuner,


s: 'I wish I'd been called in a little sooner:'


s: Assist my cause with hands and voices hearty;


s: Come, end the contest here, and aid my party.


s: Ye brave Irish lads, hark away to the crack,


s: Assist me, I pray, in this woful attack;


s: For sure I don't wrong you, you seldom are slack,


s: When the ladies are calling, to blush and hang back;


s: Well, Madam, what if, after all this sparring,


s: We both agree, like friends, to end our jarring?


s: And that our friendship may remain unbroken,


s: Un-epilogued the Poet waits his sentence.


s: Condemn the stubborn fool who can't submit


s: To thrive by flattery, though he starves by wit.


s: Lost human wits have places assign'd them,


s: And they, who lose their senses, there may find them.


s: But where's this place, this storehouse of the age?


s: The Moon, says he:-- but 'I' affirm the Stage:


s: Both shine at night, for, but at Foote's alone,


s: We scarce exhibit till the sun goes down.


s: Both prone to change, no settled limits fix,


s: But in this parallel my best pretence is,


s: That mortals visit both to find their senses.


s: To this strange spot, Rakes, Macaronies, Cits


s: Come thronging to collect their scatter'd wits.


s: The gay coquette, who ogles all the day,


s: Comes here at night, and goes a prude away.


s: Hither the affected city dame advancing,


s: Who sighs for operas, and dotes on dancing,


s: Taught by our art her ridicule to pause on,


s: Quits the 'Ballet', and calls for 'Nancy Dawson'.


s: The Gamester too, whose wit's all high or low,


s: Oft risks his fortune on one desperate throw,


s: Comes here to saunter, having made his bets,


s: Finds his lost senses out, and pay his debts.


s: The Mohawk too -- with angry phrases stored,


s: Here lesson'd for a while, and hence retreating,


s: Goes out, affronts his man, and takes a beating.


s: Here come the sons of scandal and of news,


s: But find no sense -- for they had none to lose.


s: Of all the tribe here wanting an adviser


s: Our Author's the least likely to grow wiser;


s: Has he not seen how you your favour place,


s: On sentimental Queens and Lords in lace?


s: How can the piece expect or hope for quarter?


s: No high-life scenes, no sentiment:-- the creature


s: Still stoops among the low to copy nature.


s: Yes, he's far gone:-- and yet some pity fix,


s: SCENE - The Banks of the River Euphrates, near Babylon.


s: 'Israelites sitting on the Banks of the Euphrates'.


s: YE captive tribes, that hourly work and weep


s: Where flows Euphrates murmuring to the deep,


s: Suspend awhile the task, the tear suspend,


s: And turn to God, your Father and your Friend.


s: Insulted, chain'd, and all the world a foe,


s: That strain once more; it bids remembrance rise,


s: And brings my long-lost country to mine eyes.


s: Ye fields of Sharon, dress'd in flow'ry pride,


s: Ye plains where Jordan rolls its glassy tide,


s: Ye hills of Lebanon, with cedars crown'd,


s: Ye Gilead groves, that fling perfumes around,


s: These hills how sweet!  Those plains how wond'rous fair,


s: But sweeter still, when Heaven was with us there!


s: The wretch who wants each other blessing,


s: Yet, why complain?  What, though by bonds confin'd,


s: Should bonds repress the vigour of the mind?


s: Have we not cause for triumph when we see


s: Are not this very morn those feasts begun?


s: Where prostrate error hails the rising sun?


s: For superstitious rites and mirth profane?


s: And should we mourn?  Should coward virtue fly,


s: When impious folly rears her front on high?


s: No; rather let us triumph still the more,


s: And as our fortune sinks, our wishes soar.


s: But hush, my sons, our tyrant lords are near;


s: The sounds of barb'rous pleasure strike mine ear;


s: Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale;


s: The growing sound their swift approach declares; --


s: Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs.


s: Come on, my companions, the triumph display;


s: The sun calls us out on this festival day,


s: Like the sun, our great monarch all rapture supplies,


s: The sun with his splendour illumines the skies,


s: I'll waste no longer thought in choosing;


s: But whence, when joy should brighten o'er the land,


s: This sullen gloom in Judah's captive band?


s: Ye sons of Judah, why the lute unstrung?


s: Or why those harps on yonder willows hung?


s: Come, take the lyre, and pour the strain along,


s: The day demands it; sing us Sion's song.


s: Dismiss your griefs, and join our warbling choir,


s: For who like you can wake the sleeping lyre?


s: Bow'd down with chains, the scorn of all mankind,


s: To want, to toil, and every ill consign'd,


s: Is this a time to bid us raise the strain,


s: Or mix in rites that Heaven regards with pain?


s: No, never!  May this hand forget each art


s: That speeds the power of music to the heart,


s: Ere I forget the land that gave me birth,


s: Or join with sounds profane its sacred mirth!


s: Insulting slaves!  If gentler methods fail,


s: The whips and angry tortures shall prevail.


s: Why, let them come, one good remains to cheer;


s: We fear the Lord, and know no other fear.


s: Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies,


s: No more!  Too long has justice been delay'd,


s: The king's commands must fully be obey'd;


s: Compliance with his will your peace secures,


s: Praise but our gods, and every good is yours.


s: You spurn the favours offer'd from his hand,


s: Think, timely think, what terrors are behind;


s: Reflect, nor tempt to rage the royal mind.


s: Ah, me! What angry terrors round us grow;


s: How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten'd blow!


s: Ye prophets, skill'd in Heaven's eternal truth,


s: Forgive my sex's fears, forgive my youth!


s: If, shrinking thus, when frowning power appears,


s: I wish for life, and yield me to my fears.


s: To-morrow's tears may wash our stains away.


s: Why this delay? At length for joy prepare;


s: I read your looks, and see compliance there.


s: Come on, and bid the warbling rapture rise,


s: Our monarch's fame the noblest theme supplies.


s: Begin, ye captive bands, and strike the lyre,


s: The time, the theme, the place, and all conspire.


s: But hush!  See, foremost of the captive choir,


s: The master-prophet grasps his full-ton'd lyre.


s: Feels for each tone, and speeds it to the heart;


s: See how prophetic rapture fills his form,


s: Awful as clouds that nurse the growing storm;


s: And now his voice, accordant to the string,


s: Prepares our monarch's victories to sing.


s: From north, from south, from east, from west,


s: Down with her! down -- down to the ground;


s: No more! When slaves thus insolent presume,


s: The king himself shall judge, and fix their doom.


s: Unthinking wretches! have not you, and all,


s: To yonder gloomy dungeon turn your eyes;


s: See where dethron'd your captive monarch lies,


s: Depriv'd of sight and rankling in his chain;


s: See where he mourns his friends and children slain.


s: Yet know, ye slaves, that still remain behind


s: More ponderous chains, and dungeons more confin'd.


s: YES, my companions, Heaven's decrees are past,


s: And our fix'd empire shall for ever last;


s: In vain the madd'ning prophet threatens woe,


s: Still shall our fame and growing power be spread,


s: And still our vengeance crush the traitor's head.


s: 'Tis thus that pride triumphant rears the head,


s: A little while, and all their power is fled;


s: But ha! what means yon sadly plaintive train,


s: That this way slowly bend along the plain?


s: And now, methinks, to yonder bank they bear


s: A palled corse, and rest the body there.


s: Alas! too well mine eyes indignant trace


s: Our monarch falls, and now our fears are o'er,


s: You vain, whom youth and pleasure guide,


s: Behold his wretched corse with sorrow worn,


s: His squalid limbs with pond'rous fetters torn;


s: Those eyeless orbs that shock with ghastly glare,


s: Those ill-becoming rags -- that matted hair!


s: And shall not Heaven for this its terrors show,


s: Grasp the red bolt, and lay the guilty low?


s: How long, how long, Almighty God of all,


s: Shall wrath vindictive threaten ere it fall!


s: Those streams which cheer the sore opprest,


s: But, whence that shout?  Good heavens! amazement all!


s: See yonder tower just nodding to the fall:


s: See where an army covers all the ground,


s: Saps the strong wall, and pours destruction round;


s: The ruin smokes, destruction pours along;


s: How low the great, how feeble are the strong!


s: The foe prevails, the lofty walls recline --


s: Serve them as they have serv'd the just,


s: All, all is lost.  The Syrian army fails,


s: Cyrus, the conqueror of the world, prevails,


s: The ruin smokes, the torrent pours along;


s: How low the proud, how feeble are the strong!


s: Save us, O Lord! to thee, though late, we pray,


s: And give repentance but an hour's delay.


s: Now, now's our time! ye wretches bold and blind,


s: Brave but to God, and cowards to mankind,


s: Too late you seek that power unsought before,


s: Your wealth, your pride, your kingdom, are no more.


s: Where toads shall pant, and vultures prey.


s: Such be her fate.  But listen! from afar


s: The clarion's note proclaims the finish'd war!


s: Give, give your songs of Sion to the wind,


s: To chain the strong, and set the captive free.


s: But chief to Thee, our God, defender, friend,


s: Let us, and all, begin and end, in Thee!


s: 'This 'is' a poem!  This 'is' a copy of verses!'


s: But, alas! Your good worships, how could they be wiser,


s: When both have been spoil'd in to-day's 'Advertiser'?


s: 'I hope, my good Doctor, you soon will be here,


s: And your spring-velvet coat very smart will appear,


s: To open our ball the first day of the year.'


s: 'And bring with you a wig, that is modish and gay,


s: To dance with the girls that are makers of hay.'


s: First let me suppose, what may shortly be true,


s: The company set, and the word to be, Loo;


s: All smirking, and pleasant, and big with adventure,


s: And ogling the stake which is fix'd in the centre.


s: Round and round go the cards, while I inwardly damn


s: While the harpies about me all pocket the pool.


s: I fret in my gizzard, yet, cautious and sly,


s: I wish all my friends may be bolder than I:


s: Yet still they sit snug, not a creature will aim


s: By losing their money to venture at fame.


s: 'Tis in vain that I flatter the brave and the bold:


s: All play their own way, and they think me an ass, --


s: 'What does Mrs. Bunbury?'  'I, Sir?  I pass.'


s: 'Pray what does Miss Horneck? Take courage, come do,' --


s: 'Who, I?  let me see, Sir, why I must pass too.'


s: Mr. Bunbury frets, and I fret like the devil,


s: To see them so cowardly, lucky, and civil.


s: Yet still I sit snug, and continue to sigh on,


s: Till made by my losses as bold as a lion,


s: I venture at all, -- while my avarice regards


s: The whole pool as my own -- 'Come, give me five cards.'


s: 'Well done!' cry the ladies; 'Ah, Doctor, that's good!


s: The pool's very rich -- ah! the Doctor is loo'd!'


s: Thus foil'd in my courage, on all sides perplex'd,


s: I ask for advice from the lady that's next:


s: 'Pray, Ma'am, be so good as to give your advice;


s: Don't you think the best way is to venture for 't twice?'


s: 'I advise,' cries the lady, 'to try it, I own. --


s: Ah! the Doctor is loo'd!  Come, Doctor, put down.'


s: Thus, playing, and playing, I still grow more eager,


s: And so bold, and so bold, I'm at last a bold beggar.


s: Now, ladies, I ask, if law-matters you're skill'd in,


s: Whether crimes such as yours should not come before Fielding?


s: For giving advice that is not worth a straw,


s: May well be call'd picking of pockets in law;


s: And picking of pockets, with which I now charge ye,


s: Is, by quinto Elizabeth, Death without Clergy.


s: What justice, when both to the Old Bailey brought!


s: By the gods, I'll enjoy it; though 'tis but in thought!


s: Both are plac'd at the bar, with all proper decorum,


s: With bunches of fennel, and nosegays before 'em;


s: Both cover their faces with mobs and all that;


s: But the judge bids them, angrily, take off their hat.


s: When uncover'd, a buzz of enquiry runs round, --


s: 'Pray what are their crimes?' -- 'They've been pilfering found.'


s: 'But, pray, whom have they pilfer'd?' -- 'A Doctor, I hear.'


s: 'What, yon solemn-faced, odd-looking man that stands near!'


s: 'The same.' -- 'What a pity! how does it surprise one!


s: Two handsomer culprits I never set eyes on!'


s: Then their friends all come round me with cringing and leering,


s: To melt me to pity, and soften my swearing.


s: First Sir Charles advances with phrases well strung,


s: 'Consider, dear Doctor, the girls are but young.'


s: 'The younger the worse,' I return him again,


s: 'It shows that their habits are all dyed in grain.'


s: 'But then they're so handsome, one's bosom it grieves.'


s: 'What signifies 'handsome', when people are thieves?'


s: 'But where is your justice? their cases are hard.'


s: 'What signifies 'justice'?  I want the 'reward'.


s: There's the parish of Edmonton offers forty pounds; there's the


s: parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, offers forty pounds; there's


s: the parish of Tyburn, from the Hog-in-the-Pound to St. Giles's


s: watchhouse, offers forty pounds, -- I shall have all that if I


s: 'But consider their case, -- it may yet be your own!


s: And see how they kneel!  Is your heart made of stone?'


s: This moves:-- so at last I agree to relent,


s: For ten pounds in hand, and ten pounds to be spent.


s: I challenge you all to answer this:  I tell you, you cannot. It


s: cuts deep; -- but now for the rest of the letter: and next --


s: but I want room -- so I believe I shall battle the rest out at


s: Pleased I recount; how, smit with glory's charms,


s: Two mighty Monarchs met in adverse arms,


s: Ye Serian Nymphs, what ne'er was sung before.


s: Where youth undaunted bids me force my way.


s: O'er rocks and cliffs while I the task pursue,


s: Guide me, ye Nymphs, with your unerring clue.


s: For you the rise of this diversion know,


s: This studious sport; from Scacchis was its name,


s: The pleasing record of your Sister's fame.


s: When Jove through Ethiopia's parch'd extent


s: To grace the nuptials of old Ocean went,


s: Each god was there; and mirth and joy around


s: To shores remote diffused their happy sound.


s: Then when their hunger and their thirst no more


s: Claim'd their attention, and the feast was o'er;


s: Ocean with pastime to divert the thought,


s: Sixty-four spaces fill the chequer'd square;


s: Eight in each rank eight equal limits share.


s: Alike their form, but different are their dyes,


s: They fade alternate, and alternate rise,


s: White after black; such various stains as those


s: The shelving backs of tortoises disclose.


s: Then to the gods that mute and wondering sate,


s: You see (says he) the field prepared for fate.


s: Here will the little armies please your sight,


s: With adverse colours hurrying to the fight:


s: On which so oft, with silent sweet surprise,


s: The Nymphs and Nereids used to feast their eyes,


s: And all the neighbours of the hoary deep,


s: When calm the sea, and winds were lull'd asleep


s: But see, the mimic heroes tread the board;


s: He said, and straightway from an urn he pour'd


s: The sculptured box, that neatly seem'd to ape


s: Equal the strength and number of each foe,


s: Sixteen appear'd like jet, sixteen like snow.


s: As their shape varies various is the name,


s: Different their posts, nor is their strength the same.


s: There might you see two Kings with equal pride


s: Gird on their arms, their Consorts by their side;


s: Here the Foot-warriors glowing after fame,


s: There prancing Knights and dexterous Archers came


s: And Elephants, that on their backs sustain


s: Vast towers of war, and fill and shake the plain.


s: And now both hosts, preparing for the storm


s: Of adverse battle, their encampments form.


s: In the fourth space, and on the farthest line,


s: The swarthy on white ground, on sable stands


s: The silver King; and then they send commands.


s: Nearest to these the Queens exert their might;


s: One the left side, and t'other guards the right:


s: Where each, by her respective armour known.


s: Chooses the colour that is like her own.


s: Then the young Archers, two that snowy-white


s: Bend the tough yew, and two as black as night;


s: (Greece call'd them Mars's favourites heretofore,


s: From their delight in war, and thirst of gore).


s: These on each side the Monarch and his Queen


s: Surround obedient; next to these are seen


s: The crested Knights in golden armour gay;


s: Their steeds by turns curvet, or snort or neigh.


s: Two mighty Elephants their castles bring,


s: Bulwarks immense! and then at last combine


s: Eight of the Foot to form the second line,


s: The vanguard to the King and Queen; from far


s: So moved the boxen hosts, each double-lined,


s: Their different colours floating in the wind:


s: With their white standards, o'er the Alpine snow


s: To meet in rigid fight on scorching sands


s: The sun-burnt Moors and Memnon's swarthy bands.


s: Then Father Ocean thus; you see them here,


s: Celestial powers, what troops, what camps appear.


s: Learn now the sev'ral orders of the fray,


s: For e'en these arms their stated laws obey.


s: To lead the fight, the Kings from all their bands


s: Choose whom they please to bear their great commands.


s: Instant a white one guards against the blow;


s: But only one at once can charge or shun the foe.


s: Their gen'ral purpose on one scheme is bent,


s: That there remains no place by subtle flight


s: From danger free; and that decides the fight.


s: Meanwhile, howe'er, the sooner to destroy


s: Th' imperial Prince, remorseless they employ


s: Their swords in blood; and whosoever dare


s: Oppose their vengeance, in the ruin share.


s: Fate thins their camp; the parti-coloured field


s: Widens apace, as they o'ercome or yield,


s: But the proud victor takes the captive's post;


s: There fronts the fury of th' avenging host


s: One single shock: and (should he ward the blow),


s: May then retire at pleasure from the foe.


s: The Foot alone (so their harsh laws ordain)


s: When they proceed can ne'er return again.


s: The terror of their arms: The Foot must move


s: Yet may these heroes, when they first prepare


s: Double their sally, and two steps proceed;


s: But when they wound, their swords they subtly guide


s: With aim oblique, and slanting pierce his side.


s: But the great Indian beasts, whose backs sustain


s: Vast turrets arm'd, when on the redd'ning plain


s: They join in all the terror of the fight,


s: Forward or backward, to the left or right,


s: Scour through the field, and threat the farthest line.


s: Yet must they ne'er obliquely aim their blows;


s: Whom Mars has favour'd most, who bend the stubborn bows.


s: These glancing sidewards in a straight career,


s: Yet each confin'd to their respective sphere,


s: Or white or black, can send th' unerring dart


s: Wing'd with swift death to pierce through ev'ry part.


s: The fiery steed, regardless of the reins,


s: Comes prancing on; but sullenly disdains


s: The path direct, and boldly wheeling round,


s: Leaps o'er a double space at ev'ry bound:


s: And shifts from white or black to diff'rent colour'd ground.


s: But the fierce Queen, whom dangers ne'er dismay,


s: The strength and terror of the bloody day,


s: In a straight line spreads her destruction wide,


s: To left or right, before, behind, aside.


s: Yet may she never with a circling course


s: Sweep to the battle like the fretful Horse;


s: But unconfin'd may at her pleasure stray,


s: If neither friend nor foe block up the way;


s: Those only dare who curb the snorting steed.


s: The warlike Monarchs in the scene of fate


s: Direct their motions, since for these appear


s: Zealous each hope, and anxious ev'ry fear.


s: While the King's safe, with resolution stern


s: They clasp their arms; but should a sudden turn


s: Make him a captive, instantly they yield,


s: Resolved to share his fortune in the field.


s: He moves on slow; with reverence profound


s: His faithful troops encompass him around,


s: And oft, to break some instant fatal scheme,


s: Rush to their fates, their sov'reign to redeem;


s: While he, unanxious where to wound the foe,


s: Need only shift and guard against a blow.


s: But none, however, can presume t' appear


s: Within his reach, but must his vengeance fear;


s: But when he changes from his first repose,


s: Moves but one step, most awfully sedate,


s: These are the sev'ral and establish'd laws:


s: Now see how each maintains his bloody cause.


s: Here paused the god, but (since whene'er they wage


s: War here on earth the gods themselves engage


s: And the most stubborn war is oft above),


s: Almighty Jove commands the circling train


s: Of gods from fav'ring either to abstain,


s: Then call'd he Phoebus from among the Powers


s: Fair Maia bore: youth wanton'd in their face;


s: Both in life's bloom, both shone with equal grace.


s: Hermes as yet had never wing'd his feet;


s: Had never driv'n his chariot through the air,


s: These Jove commission'd to attempt the fray,


s: Bid them agree which party each maintains,


s: And promised a reward that's worth their pains.


s: The greater took their seats; on either hand


s: Respectful the less gods in order stand,


s: But careful not to interrupt their play,


s: Then they examine, who shall first proceed


s: To try their courage, and their army lead.


s: Chance gave it for the White, that he should go


s: Awhile he ponder'd which of all his train


s: Should bear his first commission o'er the plain;


s: With him that stood before to guard the Queen.


s: He took a double step: with instant care


s: Does the black Monarch in his turn prepare


s: The adverse champion, and with stern command


s: Bid him repel the charge with equal hand.


s: There front to front, the midst of all the field,


s: With furious threats their shining arms they wield;


s: Yet vain the conflict, neither can prevail


s: While in one path each other they assail.


s: Their fellow soldiers, and with strong supply


s: Crowd to the battle, but no bloody stain


s: Tinctures their armour; sportive in the plain


s: Mars plays awhile, and in excursion slight


s: Harmless they sally forth, or wait the fight.


s: But now the swarthy Foot, that first appear'd


s: To front the foe, his pond'rous jav'lin rear'd


s: Leftward aslant, and a pale warrior slays,


s: Spurns him aside, and boldly takes his place.


s: Instant he fell, and triumph'd but to die.


s: At this the sable King with prudent care


s: Removed his station from the middle square,


s: And slow retiring to the farthest ground,


s: There safely lurk'd, with troops entrench'd around.


s: Then from each quarter to the war advance


s: The furious Knights, and poise the trembling lance:


s: By turns they rush, by turns the victors yield,


s: Heaps of dead Foot choke up the crimson'd field:


s: The clang of arms and iron hoofs resound.


s: But while young Phoebus pleased himself to view


s: His furious Knight destroy the vulgar crew,


s: Sly Hermes long'd t' attempt with secret aim


s: Through ranks of Foot, and midst the trembling throng


s: Sent his left Horse, that free without confine


s: Rov'd o'er the plain, upon some great design


s: Against the King himself.  At length he stood,


s: And having fix'd his station as he would,


s: Threaten'd at once with instant fate the King


s: And th' Indian beast that guarded the right wing.


s: The straiten'd Monarch, griev'd that he must leave


s: And view'd with pitying eyes his dang'rous state.


s: First in his thoughts however was his care


s: To save his King, whom to the neighbouring square


s: On the right hand, he snatch'd with trembling flight;


s: At this with fury springs the sable Knight,


s: Drew his keen sword, and rising to the blow,


s: Sent the great Indian brute to shades below.


s: Spreads such a terror through the bloody scene.


s: Yet shall you ne'er unpunish'd boast your prize,


s: The Delian god with stern resentment cries;


s: And wedg'd him round with Foot, and pour'd in fresh supplies.


s: Thus close besieg'd trembling he cast his eye


s: Around the plain, but saw no shelter nigh,


s: No way for flight; for here the Queen oppos'd,


s: The Foot in phalanx there the passage clos'd:


s: At length he fell; yet not unpleas'd with fate,


s: Since victim to a Queen's vindictive hate.


s: With grief and fury burns the whiten'd host,


s: One of their Tow'rs thus immaturely lost.


s: Lost his right horn, with double vengeance burn


s: His thoughts for war, with blood he's cover'd o'er,


s: So look'd the flaxen host, when angry fate


s: O'erturn'd the Indian bulwark of their state.


s: Fired at this great success, with double rage


s: For blood and havoc wild; and, while he leads


s: His troops thus careless, loses both his steeds:


s: For if some adverse warriors were o'erthrown,


s: He little thought what dangers threat his own.


s: March'd slowly cautious, and at distance spies


s: What moves must next succeed, what dangers next arise.


s: Often would he, the stately Queen to snare,


s: The slender Foot to front her arms prepare,


s: And to conceal his scheme he sighs and feigns


s: Such a wrong step would frustrate all his pains.


s: Just then an Archer, from the right-hand view,


s: At the pale Queen his arrow boldly drew,


s: Unseen by Phoebus, who, with studious thought,


s: From the left side a vulgar hero brought.


s: Viewing the sad destruction that was nigh,


s: Wink'd upon Phoebus (for the Goddess sat


s: Roused in an instant, young Apollo threw


s: His eyes around the field his troops to view:


s: Perceiv'd the danger, and with sudden fright


s: Withdrew the Foot that he had sent to fight,


s: And sav'd his trembling Queen by seasonable flight.


s: But Maia's son with shouts fill'd all the coast:


s: The Queen, he cried, the important Queen is lost.


s: What he had done, bespoke the heavenly train.


s: What mighty harm, in sportive mimic flight,


s: If you henceforward, Mercury, would guard


s: Against such practice, let us make the law:


s: And whosoe'er shall first to battle draw,


s: Or white, or black, remorseless let him go


s: He said, and this opinion pleased around:


s: Jove turn'd aside, and on his daughter frown'd,


s: Unmark'd by Hermes, who, with strange surprise,


s: Fretted and foam'd, and roll'd his ferret eyes,


s: And but with great reluctance could refrain


s: From dashing at a blow all off the plain.


s: Then he resolved to interweave deceits, --


s: To carry on the war by tricks and cheats.


s: Instant he call'd an Archer from the throng,


s: And bid him like the courser wheel along:


s: Bounding he springs, and threats the pallid Queen.


s: The fraud, however, was by Phoebus seen;


s: He smiled, and, turning to the Gods, he said:


s: Though, Hermes, you are perfect in your trade,


s: And you can trick and cheat to great surprise,


s: These little sleights no more shall blind my eyes;


s: Correct them if you please, the more you thus disguise.


s: The circle laugh'd aloud; and Maia's son


s: Recall'd his Archer, and with motion due,


s: But Phoebus watch'd him with a jealous eye,


s: Fearing some trick was ever lurking nigh,


s: For he would oft, with sudden sly design,


s: Send forth at once two combatants to join


s: His warring troops, against the law of arms,


s: Now the white Archer with his utmost force


s: Bent the tough bow against the sable Horse,


s: And drove him from the Queen, where he had stood


s: Hoping to glut his vengeance with her blood.


s: Then the right Elephant with martial pride


s: Roved here and there, and spread his terrors wide:


s: Glittering in arms from far a courser came,


s: Threaten'd at once the King and Royal Dame;


s: Thought himself safe when he the post had seized,


s: And with the future spoils his fancy pleased.


s: Fired at the danger a young Archer came,


s: Rush'd on the foe, and levell'd sure his aim;


s: (And though a Pawn his sword in vengeance draws,


s: Gladly he'd lose his life in glory's cause).


s: And the sharp steel his blood profusely drew;


s: He drops the reins, he totters to the ground,


s: And his life issued murm'ring through the wound.


s: Pierced by the Foot, this Archer bit the plain;


s: And with inflamed revenge, the battle burns again.


s: Towers, Archers, Knights, meet on the crimson ground,


s: And the field echoes to the martial sound.


s: Their thoughts are heated, and their courage fired,


s: Thick they rush on with double zeal inspired;


s: Generals and Foot, with different colour'd mien,


s: Confusedly warring in the camps are seen, --


s: Valour and fortune meet in one promiscuous scene.


s: Now these victorious, lord it o'er the field;


s: Now the foe rallies, the triumphant yield:


s: Just as the tide of battle ebbs or flows.


s: As when the conflict more tempestuous grows


s: Between the winds, with strong and boisterous sweep


s: They plough th' Ionian or Atlantic deep!


s: By turns prevail the mutual blustering roar,


s: And the big waves alternate lash the shore.


s: But in the midst of all the battle raged


s: The snowy Queen, with troops at once engaged;


s: She fell'd an Archer as she sought the plain, --


s: To right and left her fatal spears she sent,


s: Burst through the ranks, and triumph'd as she went;


s: Through arms and blood she seeks a glorious fate,


s: Pierces the farthest lines, and nobly great


s: Breaks the battalions, and cuts through the foe.


s: At length the sable King his fears betray'd,


s: With cheerful speed she flew to his relief,


s: Who first, great Queen, and who at last did bleed?


s: How many Whites lay gasping on the mead?


s: Half dead, and floating in a bloody tide,


s: Foot, Knights, and Archer lie on every side.


s: Who can recount the slaughter of the day?


s: How many leaders threw their lives away?


s: The chequer'd plain is fill'd with dying box,


s: Havoc ensues, and with tumultuous shocks


s: The different colour'd ranks in blood engage,


s: Resolved alike to mix in glorious strife,


s: Till to imperious fate they yield their life.


s: Meanwhile each Monarch, in a neighbouring cell,


s: Confined the warriors that in battle fell,


s: There watch'd the captives with a jealous eye,


s: Lest, slipping out again, to arms they fly.


s: But Thracian Mars, in stedfast friendship join'd


s: Observed each chance, how all their motions bend,


s: Resolved if possible to serve his friend.


s: He a Foot-soldier and a Knight purloin'd


s: Out from the prison that the dead confined;


s: And slyly push'd 'em forward on the plain;


s: Th' enliven'd combatants their arms regain,


s: Mix in the bloody scene, and boldly war again.


s: So the foul hag, in screaming wild alarms


s: O'er a dead carcase muttering her charms,


s: (And with her frequent and tremendous yell


s: Shoots in the corpse a new fictitious soul;


s: With instant glare the supple eyeballs roll,


s: Again it moves and speaks, and life informs the whole.


s: Vulcan alone discern'd the subtle cheat;


s: Call'd out to Phoebus.  Grief and rage assail


s: Phoebus by turns; detected Mars turns pale.


s: Then awful Jove with sullen eye reproved


s: Mars, and the captives order'd to be moved


s: To their dark caves; bid each fictitious spear


s: Be straight recall'd, and all be as they were.


s: And now both Monarchs with redoubled rage


s: Led on their Queens, the mutual war to wage.


s: O'er all the field their thirsty spears they send,


s: Then front to front their Monarchs they defend.


s: But lo! the female White rush'd in unseen,


s: And slew with fatal haste the swarthy Queen;


s: Yet soon, alas! resign'd her royal spoils,


s: Snatch'd by a shaft from her successful toils.


s: Struck at the sight, both hosts in wild surprise


s: Pour'd forth their tears, and fill'd the air with cries;


s: They wept and sigh'd, as pass'd the fun'ral train,


s: As if both armies had at once been slain.


s: And now each troop surrounds its mourning chief,


s: To guard his person, or assuage his grief.


s: One is their common fear; one stormy blast


s: Not all, however, of their youth are slain;


s: Some champions yet the vig'rous war maintain.


s: Three Foot, an Archer, and a stately Tower,


s: For Phoebus still exert their utmost power.


s: Except the Tower, who lately in his post


s: Unarm'd inglorious fell, in peace profound,


s: Pierced by an Archer with a distant wound;


s: But his right Horse retain'd its mettled pride, --


s: The rest were swept away by war's strong tide.


s: But fretful Hermes, with despairing moan,


s: Griev'd that so many champions were o'erthrown,


s: Yet reassumes the fight; and summons round


s: The little straggling army that he found, --


s: All that had 'scaped from fierce Apollo's rage, --


s: In future strife, by subtle wiles (if fate


s: Should give him leave) to save his sinking state.


s: The sable troops advance with prudence slow,


s: Bent on all hazards to distress the foe.


s: More cheerful Phoebus, with unequal pace,


s: Rallies his arms to lessen his disgrace.


s: But what strange havoc everywhere has been!


s: A straggling champion here and there is seen;


s: And many are the tents, yet few are left within.


s: Th' afflicted Kings bewail their consorts dead,


s: And loathe the thoughts of a deserted bed;


s: And though each monarch studies to improve


s: Their state requires a second nuptial tie.


s: Hence the pale ruler with a love-sick eye


s: Surveys th' attendants of his former wife,


s: These, when their martial mistress had been slain,


s: Weak and despairing tried their arms in vain;


s: Willing, howe'er, amidst the Black to go,


s: They thirst for speedy vengeance on the foe.


s: Then he resolves to see who merits best,


s: By strength and courage, the imperial vest;


s: Points out the foe, bids each with bold design


s: Pierce through the ranks, and reach the deepest line:


s: For none must hope with monarchs to repose


s: But who can first, through thick surrounding foes,


s: Through arms and wiles, with hazardous essay,


s: Safe to the farthest quarters force their way.


s: Fired at the thought, with sudden, joyful pace


s: They hurry on; but first of all the race


s: Runs the third right-hand warrior for the prize, --


s: The glitt'ring crown already charms her eyes.


s: Her dear associates cheerfully give o'er


s: The nuptial chase; and swift she flies before,


s: And Glory lent her wings, and the reward in store.


s: Nor would the sable King her hopes prevent,


s: Alternate, therefore, through the field they go.


s: His fourth left Pawn: and now th' advent'rous White


s: Had march'd through all, and gain'd the wish'd for site.


s: Then the pleased King gives orders to prepare


s: The crown, the sceptre, and the royal chair,


s: And owns her for his Queen: around exult


s: The snowy troops, and o'er the Black insult.


s: Hermes burst into tears, -- with fretful roar


s: Fill'd the wide air, and his gay vesture tore.


s: One single step; but oh! malignant chance!


s: Stood ready to destroy her when she came:


s: Threatens her entrance, and protects the goal.


s: Pleased with her pomp, spread death and terror wide;


s: Like lightning through the sable troops she flies,


s: Clashes her arms, and seems to threat the skies.


s: The sable troops are sunk in wild affright,


s: And wish th' earth op'ning snatch'd 'em from her sight.


s: In burst the Queen, with vast impetuous swing:


s: The trembling foes come swarming round the King,


s: Where in the midst he stood, and form a valiant ring.


s: So the poor cows, straggling o'er pasture land,


s: When they perceive the prowling wolf at hand,


s: They clash their horns, they low with dreadful sound,


s: But the bold Queen, victorious, from behind


s: Pierces the foe; yet chiefly she design'd


s: Against the King himself some fatal aim,


s: Now here she rush'd, now there; and had she been


s: But duly prudent, she had slipp'd between,


s: With course oblique, into the fourth white square,


s: And the long toil of war had ended there,


s: The King had fallen, and all his sable state;


s: And vanquish'd Hermes cursed his partial fate.


s: For thence with ease the championess might go,


s: Murder the King, and none could ward the blow.


s: With silence, Hermes, and with panting heart,


s: Perceived the danger, but with subtle art,


s: (Lest he should see the place) spurs on the foe,


s: Confounds his thoughts, and blames his being slow.


s: For shame! move on; would you for ever stay?


s: What sloth is this, what strange perverse delay? --


s: How could you e'er my little pausing blame? --


s: What! you would wait till night shall end the game?


s: Phoebus, thus nettled, with imprudence slew


s: A vulgar Pawn, but lost his nobler view.


s: Young Hermes leap'd, with sudden joy elate;


s: And then, to save the monarch from his fate,


s: Led on his martial Knight, who stepp'd between,


s: Pleased that his charge was to oppose the Queen --


s: Then, pondering how the Indian beast to slay,


s: That stopp'd the Foot from making farther way, --


s: From being made a Queen; with slanting aim


s: An archer struck him; down the monster came,


s: And dying shook the earth: while Phoebus tries


s: Without success the monarch to surprise.


s: The Foot, then uncontroll'd with instant pride,


s: Seized the last spot, and moved a royal bride.


s: And now with equal strength both war again,


s: And bring their second wives upon the plain;


s: Then, though with equal views each hop'd and fear'd,


s: As if he had the palm, young Hermes flies


s: Extols his own Black troops, with frequent spite


s: And with invective taunts disdains the White.


s: Whom Phoebus thus reproved with quick return --


s: Of this dispute, and do you triumph now?


s: Then your big words and vauntings I'll allow,


s: When you the battle shall completely gain;


s: At present I shall make your boasting vain.


s: He said, and forward led the daring Queen;


s: Rises tumultuous, swift the warriors fly


s: They front the storm of war: around 'em Fear,


s: All meet in arms, and man to man oppose,


s: Each from their camp attempts to drive their foes;


s: Each tries by turns to force the hostile lines;


s: Chance and impatience blast their best designs.


s: The sable Queen spread terror as she went


s: Through the mid ranks: with more reserved intent


s: The adverse dame declined the open fray,


s: Then took the royal guard, and bursting in,


s: With fatal menace close besieged the King.


s: Alarm'd at this, the swarthy Queen, in haste,


s: From all her havoc and destructive waste


s: Broke off, and her contempt of death to show,


s: Leap'd in between the Monarch and the foe,


s: To save the King and state from this impending blow.


s: But Phoebus met a worse misfortune here:


s: For Hermes now led forward, void of fear,


s: That onward chafed, and pranced, and pawed amain.


s: Nor ceased from his attempts until he stood


s: On the long-wished-for spot, from whence he could


s: Slay King or Queen.  O'erwhelm'd with sudden fears,


s: Apollo saw, and could not keep from tears.


s: His strength was wither'd, ev'ry hope was flown.


s: Hermes, exulting at this great surprise,


s: Shouted for joy, and fill'd the air with cries;


s: Instant he sent the Queen to shades below,


s: And of her spoils made a triumphant show.


s: Fell his brave Knight, beneath the Monarch's spear.


s: But still fought on with courage and with care.


s: And Mars's favourite with his iv'ry bow.


s: The thoughts of ruin made 'em dare their best


s: To save their King, so fatally distress'd.


s: But the sad hour required not such an aid;


s: And Hermes breathed revenge where'er he stray'd.


s: Fierce comes the sable Queen with fatal threat,


s: Surrounds the Monarch in his royal seat;


s: Rushed here and there, nor rested till she slew


s: The last remainder of the whiten'd crew.


s: Sole stood the King, the midst of all the plain,


s: Weak and defenceless, his companions slain.


s: Has chased the twinkling stars from all the sky,


s: Your star, fair Venus, still retains its light,


s: And, loveliest, goes the latest out of sight.


s: No safety's left, no gleams of hope remain;


s: Yet did he not as vanquish'd quit the plain,


s: But tried to shut himself between the foe, --


s: Unhurt through swords and spears he hoped to go,


s: Until no room was left to shun the fatal blow.


s: For if none threaten'd his immediate fate,


s: And his next move must ruin all his state,


s: All their past toil and labour is in vain,


s: Vain all the bloody carnage of the plain, --


s: Neither would triumph then, the laurel neither gain.


s: Therefore through each void space and desert tent,


s: By different moves his various course he bent:


s: The Black King watch'd him with observant eye,


s: Follow'd him close, but left him room to fly.


s: Then when he saw him take the farthest line,


s: He sent the Queen his motions to confine,


s: And guard the second rank, that he could go


s: No farther now than to that distant row.


s: The sable monarch then with cheerful mien


s: Approach'd, but always with one space between.


s: But as the King stood o'er against him there,


s: Helpless, forlorn, and sunk in his despair,


s: The martial Queen her lucky moment knew,


s: Seized on the farthest seat with fatal view,


s: Nor left th' unhappy King a place to flee unto.


s: At length in vengeance her keen sword she draws,


s: Slew him, and ended thus the bloody cause:


s: And all the gods around approved it with applause.


s: The victor could not from his insults keep,


s: But laugh'd and sneer'd to see Apollo weep.


s: Jove call'd him near, and gave him in his hand


s: The powerful, happy, and mysterious wand


s: By which the Shades are call'd to purer day,


s: When penal fire has purged their sins away;


s: By which the guilty are condemn'd to dwell


s: In the dark mansions of the deepest hell;


s: By which he gives us sleep, or sleep denies,


s: Soon after this, the heavenly victor brought


s: The game on earth, and first th' Italians taught.


s: For (as they say) fair Scacchis he espied


s: (Sacchis, the loveliest Seriad of the place)


s: And as she stray'd, took her to his embrace.


s: Then, to reward her for her virtue lost,


s: Gave her the men and chequer'd board, emboss'd


s: And taught her how the game was to be play'd.


s: Ev'n now 'tis honour'd with her happy name;


s: And Rome and all the world admire the game.


s: All which the Seriads told me heretofore,


s: When my boy-notes amused the Serian shore.


s: "He was born...at Pallas."  This is the usual


s: account. But it was maintained by the family of the poet's


s: mother, and has been contended (by Dr. Michael F. Cox in a


s: published in vol. 1, pt. 2, of the 'Journal' of the 'National


s: Literary Society of Ireland.' 1900) that his real birth-place


s: was the residence of Mrs. Goldsmith's parents, Smith-Hill House,


s: Elphin, Roscommon, to which she was in the habit of paying


s: frequent visits. Meanwhile, in 1897, a window was placed to


s: Goldsmith's memory in Forgney Church, Longford,--the church of


s: which, at the time of his birth, his father was curate.


s: "his academic career was not a success."  'Oliver


s: Goldsmith is recorded on two occasions as being remarkably


s: diligent at Morning Lecture; again, as cautioned for bad


s: answering at Morning and Greek Lectures; and finally, as put


s: down into the next class for neglect of his studies' (Dr.


s: Stubbs's 'History of the University of Dublin', 1889, p. 201 n.)


s: "a scratched signature upon a window-pane."  This,


s: which is now at Trinity College, Dublin, is here reproduced in


s: facsimile. When the garrets of No. 35, Parliament Square, were


s: pulled down in 1837, it was cut out of the window by the last


s: occupant of the rooms, who broke it in the process. (Dr. J. F.


s: Waller in Cassell's 'Works' of Goldsmith, [1864-5], pp. xiii-xiv


s: "a poor physician".  Where he obtained his


s: diploma is not known. It was certainly not at Padua


s: ('Athenaeum', July 21, 1894). At Leyden and Louvain Prior made


s: inquiries but, in each case, without success. The annals of the


s: University of Louvain were, however, destroyed in the


s: "declared it to be by Goldsmith".  Goldsmith's


s: authorship of this version has now been placed beyond a doubt by


s: the publication in facsimile of his signed receipt to Edward


s: Dilly for a third share of 'my translation,' such third share


s: amounting to 6 pounds 13s. 4d. The receipt, which belongs to Mr.


s: J. W. Ford of Enfield Old Park, is dated 'January 11th, 1758.'


s: ('Memoirs of a Protestant', etc., Dent's edition, 1895, i, pp.


s: tiny square occupying a site now absorbed by the Holborn Viaduct


s: and Railway Station. No. 12, where Goldsmith lived, was later


s: occupied by Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. as a printing office. An


s: engraving of the Court forms the frontispiece to the 'European


s: "or some of his imitators".  The proximate


s: cause of the 'Citizen of the World', as the present writer has


s: suggested elsewhere, 'may' have been Horace Walpole's 'Letter


s: from XoHo [Soho?], a Chinese Philosopher at London, to his


s: friend Lien Chi, at Peking'. This was noticed as 'in


s: Montesquieu's manner' in the May issue of the 'Monthly Review'


s: for 1757, to which Goldsmith was a contributor ('Eighteenth


s: Century Vignettes', first series, second edition, 1897, pp.


s: e.g.--The references to the musical glasses (ch. ix), which were


s: the rage in 1761-2; and to the 'Auditor' (ch. xix) established


s: by Arthur Murphy in June of the latter year. The sale of the


s: 'Vicar' is discussed at length in chapter vii of the editor's


s: 'Life of Oliver Goldsmith' ('Great Writers' series), 1888, pp.


s: "started with a loss".  This, which to some


s: critics has seemed unintelliglble, rests upon the following:


s: 'The first three editions,...resulted in a loss, and the fourth,


s: which was not issued until eight [four?] years after the first,


s: started with a balance against it of 2 pounds 16s. 6d., and it


s: was not until that fourth edition had been sold that the balance


s: came out on the right side' ('A Bookseller of the Last Century'


s: his statement upon Collins's 'Publishing book, account of books


s: "James's Powder".  This was a famous patent


s: panacea, invented by Johnson's Lichfield townsman, Dr. Robert


s: James of the 'Medicinal Dictionary'. It was sold by John


s: Newbery, and had an extraordinary vogue. The King dosed Princess


s: Elizabeth with it; Fielding, Gray, and Cowper all swore by it,


s: and Horace Walpole, who wished to try it upon Mme. du Deffand


s: 'in extremis', said he should use it if the house were on fire.


s: William Hawes, the Strand apothecary who attended Goldsmith,


s: wrote an interesting 'Account of the late Dr. Goldsmith's


s: Illness, so far as relates to the Exhibition of Dr. James's


s: Powders, etc.', 1774, which he dedicated to Reynolds and Burke.


s: To Hawes once belonged the poet's worn old wooden writing-desk,


s: now in the South Kensington Museum, where are also his favourite


s: chair and cane. Another desk-chair, which had descended from his


s: friend, Edmund Bott, was recently for sale at Sotheby's (July,


s: "with an income of forty pounds a year".  Cf. 'The Deserted


s: And passing rich with 'forty pounds a year'.


s: Cf. also Parson Adams in ch. iii of 'Joseph Andrews', who has


s: twenty-three; and Mr. Rivers, in the 'Spiritual Quixote',


s: life-time, and work for about fifteen-pence a day, or


s: twenty-five pounds a year' (bk. vi, ch. xvii). Dr. Primrose's


s: stipend is thirty-five in the first instance, fifteen in the


s: second ('Vicar of Wakefield', chapters ii and iii). But


s: Professor Hales ('Longer English Poems', 1885, p. 351) supplies


s: an exact parallel in the case of Churchill, who, he says, when


s: a curate at Rainham, 'prayed and starved on 'forty pounds a


s: year'.' The latter words are Churchill's own, and sound like a


s: quotation; but he was dead long before 'The Deserted Village'


s: appeared in 1770. There is an interesting paper in the


s: 'Gentleman's Magazine' for November, 1763, on the miseries and


s: But of all kinds of ambition", etc.  In the first edition of


s: ambition, as things are now circumstanced, perhaps that which


s: pursues poetical fame, is the wildest. What from the encreased


s: refinement of the times, from the diversity of judgments


s: produced by opposing systems of criticism, and from the more


s: prevalent divisions of opinion influenced by party, the


s: strongest and happiest efforts can expect to please but in a


s: very narrow circle. Though the poet were as sure of his aim as


s: the imperial archer of antiquity, who boasted that he never


s: missed the heart; yet would many of his shafts now fly at


s: random, for the heart is too often in the wrong place.' In the


s: second edition it was curtailed; in the sixth it took its final


s: "they engross all that favour once shown to her".  First


s: version--'They engross all favour to themselves.'


s: "the elder's birthright".  Cunningham here aptly compares


s: Dryden's epistle 'To Sir Godfrey Kneller', II. 89-92:--


s: Our arts are sisters, though not twins in birth;


s: For hymns were sung in Eden's happy earth:


s: But oh, the painter muse, though last in place,


s: Has seized the blessing first, like Jacob's race.


s: "Party"=faction.  Cf. lines 31-2 on Edmund Burke in


s: Who, born for the Universe, narrow'd his mind,


s: And to 'party' gave up what was meant for mankind.


s: "Such readers generally admire", etc.  'I suppose this paragraph


s: to be directed against Paul Whitehead, or Churchill,' writes


s: Mitford. It was clearly aimed at Churchill, since Prior ('Life',


s: 'St. James's Chronicle' for February 7-9, 1765, attributed to


s: Bonnell Thornton, which leaves little room for doubt upon the


s: question. 'The latter part of this paragraph,' says the writer,


s: referring to the passage now annotated, 'we cannot help


s: considering as a reflection on the memory of the late Mr.


s: Churchill, whose talents as a poet were so greatly and so


s: deservedly admired, that during his short reign, his merit in


s: great measure eclipsed that of others; and we think it no mean


s: acknowledgment of the excellencies of this poem ['The


s: Traveller'] to say that, like the stars, they appear the more


s: brilliant now that the sun of our poetry is gone down.'


s: Churchill died on the 4th of November, 1764, some weeks before


s: the publication of 'The Traveller'. His powers, it may be, were


s: misdirected and misapplied; but his rough vigour and his manly


s: verse deserved a better fate at Goldsmith's hands.


s: "tawdry" was added in the sixth edition of 1770.


s: "blank verse".  Cf. 'The Present State of Polite


s: grafting the spirit of ancient languages upon the English, has


s: proceeded of late several disagreeable instances of pedantry.


s: Among the number, I think we may reckon 'blank verse'. Nothing


s: but the greatest sublimity of subject can render such a measure


s: pleasing; however, we now see it used on the most trivial


s: occasions'--by which last remark Goldsmith probably, as


s: Cunningham thinks, intended to refer to the efforts of Akenside,


s: Dyer, and Armstrong. His views upon blank verse were shared by


s: Johnson and Gray. At the date of the present dedication, the


s: latest offender in this way had been Goldsmith's old colleague


s: on 'The Monthly Review', Dr. James Grainger, author of 'The


s: Sugar Cane', which was published in June, 1764. (Cf. also 'The


s: Bee' for 24th November, 1759, 'An account of the Augustan Age of


s: "and that this principle", etc.  In the first edition


s: this read--'and that this principle in each state, and in our


s: own in particular, may be carried to a mischievous excess.'


s: "Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow".  Mitford (Aldine


s: edition, 1831, p. 7) compares the following lines from Ovid:--


s: Solus, inops, exspes, leto poenaeque relictus.


s: Exsul, inops erres, alienaque limina lustres, etc.


s: "slow".  A well-known passage from Boswell must here be


s: reproduced:--'Chamier once asked him [Goldsmith], what he meant


s: by 'slow', the last word in the first line of 'The Traveller',


s: something without consideration, answered "yes." I [Johnson] was


s: locomotion; you mean, that sluggishness of mind which comes upon


s: a man in solitude." Chamier believed then that I had written the


s: line as much as if he had seen me write it.' [Birkbeck Hill's


s: that Goldsmith meant no more than he said.


s: "the rude Carinthian boor".  'Carinthia,' says Cunningham, 'was


s: visited by Goldsmith in 1755, and still (1853) retains its


s: "Campania".  'Intended,' says Bolton Corney, 'to denote


s: 'La campagna di Roma'. The portion of it which extends from Rome


s: "a lengthening chain".  Prior compares Letter iii of 'The


s: Citizen of the World', 1762, i. 5:--'The farther I travel I feel


s: the pain of separation with stronger force, those ties that bind


s: me to my native country, and you, are still unbroken. By every


s: remove, I only drag a greater length of chain.' But, as Mitford


s: points out, Cibber has a similar thought in his 'Comical


s: Lovers', 1707, Act v:--'When I am with Florimel, it [my heart]


s: is still your prisoner, 'it only draws a longer chain after


s: it'.' And earlier still in Dryden's 'All for Love', 1678, Act


s: My life on't, he still drags a chain along,


s: "with simple plenty crown'd".  In the first edition this read


s: "the luxury of doing good".  Prior compares Garth's 'Claremont',


s: Hard was their Lodging, homely was their Food,


s: "my prime of life".  He was seven-and-twenty when he


s: "That, like the circle bounding", etc.  Cf. 'Vicar of


s: the wretched, for a little while mocks the weary traveller with


s: the view, and like his horizon, still flies before him.'


s: "And find no spot of all the world my own".  Prior


s: compares his namesake's lines 'In the Beginning of [Jacques]


s: "above the storm's career".  Cf. 1. 190 of 'The Deserted


s: "should thankless pride repine?"  First edition,


s: "Say, should the philosophic mind", etc.  First edition:--


s: 'Twere affectation all, and school-taught pride,


s: To spurn the splendid things by heaven supply'd


s: "Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own".  In the first


s: Boldly asserts that country for his own.


s: "And yet, perhaps", etc.  In the first edition, for this and the


s: following five lines appeared these eight:--


s: And yet, perhaps, if states with states we scan,


s: Or estimate their bliss on Reason's plan,


s: Though patriots flatter, and though fools contend,


s: We still shall find uncertainty suspend;


s: Find that each good, by Art or Nature given,


s: To these or those, but makes the balance even:


s: Find that the bliss of all is much the same,


s: "On Idra's cliffs".  Bolton Corney conjectures that


s: Goldsmith meant 'Idria, a town in Carniola, noted for its


s: mines.' 'Goldsmith in his "History of Animated Nature" makes


s: mention of the mines, and spells the name in the same way as


s: "And though the rocky-crested summits frown".  In the


s: And though rough rocks or gloomy summits frown.


s: "winnow", i.e. 'waft,' 'disperse.'  John Evelyn refers to these


s: 'sea-born gales' in the 'Dedication' of his 'Fumifugium',


s: from the rivage of Genoa, and St. Pietro dell' Arena; the


s: blossomes of the rosemary from the Coasts of Spain, many leagues


s: off at sea; or the manifest, and odoriferous wafts which flow


s: from Fontenay and Vaugirard, even to Paris in the season of


s: roses, with the contrary effect of those less pleasing smells


s: from other accidents, will easily consent to what I suggest


s: "Till, more unsteady', etc.  In the first edition:--


s: But, more unsteady than the southern gale,


s: Soon Commerce turn'd on other shores her sail.


s: There is a certain resemblance between this passage and one of


s: the later paradoxes of Smollett's Lismahago;--'He affirmed, the


s: nature of commerce was such, that it could not be fixed or


s: perpetuated, but, having flowed to a certain height, would


s: immediately begin to ebb, and so continue till the channels


s: should be left almost dry; but there was no instance of the


s: tide's rising a second time to any considerable influx in the


s: "Its former strength was but plethoric ill".  Cf.  'The


s: resembled one of those bodies bloated with disease, whose bulk


s: is only a symptom of its wretchedness.' [Mitford.]


s: "Yet still the loss", etc.  In the first edition:--


s: Yet, though to fortune lost, here still abide


s: Some splendid arts, the wrecks of former pride.


s: "The paste-board triumph and the cavalcade".  'Happy


s: Country [he is speaking of Italy], where the pastoral age begins


s: to revive! Where the wits even of Rome are united into a rural


s: groupe of nymphs and swains, under the appellation of modern


s: Arcadians [i.e. the Bolognese Academy of the 'Arcadi']. Where in


s: the midst of porticos, processions, and cavalcades, abbes turn'd


s: into shepherds, and shepherdesses without sheep, indulge their


s: innocent 'divertimenti'.' ('Present State of Polite Learning',


s: studied in the plates of Jacques Callot.


s: "By sports like these", etc.  A pretty and well-known


s: story is told with regard to this couplet. Calling once on


s: Goldsmith, Reynolds, having vainly tried to attract attention,


s: entered unannounced. 'His friend was at his desk, but with hand


s: uplifted, and a look directed to another part of the room; where


s: a little dog sat with difficulty on his haunches, looking


s: imploringly at his teacher, whose rebuke for toppling over he


s: had evidently just received. Reynolds advanced, and looked past


s: Goldsmith's shoulder at the writing on his desk. It seemed to be


s: some portions of a poem; and looking more closely, he was able


s: to read a couplet which had been that instant written. The ink


s: By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd;


s: The sports of children satisfy the child.


s: "The sports of children".  This line, in the first edition, was


s: At sports like these, while foreign arms advance,


s: In passive ease they leave the world to chance.


s: "Each nobler aim", etc.  The first edition reads:--


s: When struggling Virtue sinks by long controul,


s: She leaves at last, or feebly mans the soul.


s: This was changed in the second, third, fourth, and fifth


s: When noble aims have suffer'd long controul,


s: They sink at last, or feebly man the soul.


s: "No product here", etc.  The Swiss mercenaries, here referred


s: to, were long famous in European warfare.


s: And fight e'er since for pay, like Swisses.


s: This fine use of 'breasts'--as Cunningham points out--is given


s: by Johnson as an example in his Dictionary.


s: "With patient angle, trolls the finny deep".  'Troll,' i.e. as


s: for pike. Goldsmith uses 'finny prey' in 'The Citizen of the


s: World', 1762, ii. 99:--'The best manner to draw up the 'finny


s: prey'.' Cf. also 'warbling grove,' 'Deserted Village', l. 361,


s: "the struggling savage", i.e. wolf or bear.  Mitford


s: compares the following:--'He is a beast of prey, and the laws


s: should make use of as many stratagems and as much force to drive


s: the 'reluctant savage' into the toils, as the Indians when they


s: hunt the hyena or the rhinoceros.' ('Citizen of the World',


s: But if the 'savage' turns his glaring eye,


s: They howl aloof, and round the forest fly.


s: "For every want", etc.  Mitford quotes a parallel


s: 'Every want thus becomes a means of pleasure, in the redressing.'


s: "Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low".


s: Probably Goldsmith only uses 'low' here in its primitive sense,


s: and not in that which, in his own day, gave so much umbrage to


s: so many eighteenth-century students of humanity in the rough.


s: Friends cry'd--"Look'e, Gentlemen, the Man is a Villain; but it


s: is Nature for all that." And all the young Critics of the Age,


s: the Clerks, Apprentices, etc., called it 'Low' and fell a


s: nothing comes out but the 'most lowest' stuff in nature'--says


s: Lady Blarney in ch. xi of the 'Vicar', whose author is eloquent


s: on this topic in 'The Present State of Polite Learning', 1759,


s: Graves ('Spiritual Quixote', 1772, bk. i, ch. vi) gives the


s: fashion the scientific appellation of 'tapino-phoby,' which he


s: defines as 'a dread of everything that is 'low', either in


s: writing or in conversation.' To Goldsmith, if we may trust


s: George Colman's 'Prologue' to Miss Lee's 'Chapter of Accidents',


s: When Fielding, Humour's fav'rite child, appear'd,


s: 'Low' was the word--a word each author fear'd!


s: Till chas'd at length, by pleasantry's bright ray,


s: Nature and mirth resum'd their legal sway;


s: And Goldsmith's genius bask'd in open day.


s: According to Borrow's 'Lavengro', ch. xli, Lord Chesterfield


s: considered that the speeches of Homer's heroes were frequently


s: "How often", etc.  This and the lines which immediately


s: follow are autobiographical. Cf. George Primrose's story in 'The


s: the harmless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the French


s: as were poor enough to be very merry; for I ever found them


s: sprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a


s: peasant's house towards night-fall, I played one of my most


s: merry tunes, and that procured me not only a lodging, but


s: "gestic lore", i.e. traditional gestures or motions.


s: Scott uses the word 'gestic' in 'Peveril of the Peak', ch. xxx,


s: where King Charles the Second witnesses the dancing of


s: Fenella:--'He bore time to her motions with the movement of his


s: foot--applauded with head and with hand--and seemed, like


s: herself, carried away by the enthusiasm of the 'gestic' art.'


s: "Thus idly busy rolls their world away".  Pope has 'Life's


s: The 'busy, idle' blockheads of the ball.


s: "And all are taught an avarice of praise".  Professor Hales


s: ('Longer English Poems') compares Horace of the Greeks:--


s: "copper lace".  'St Martin's lace,' for which, in Strype's day,


s: Blowbladder St. was famous. Cf. the actress's 'copper tail' in


s: "To men of other minds", etc.  Prior compares with the


s: description that follows a passage in vol. i. p. 276 of


s: 'Animated Nature', 1774:--'But we need scarce mention these,


s: when we find that the whole kingdom of Holland seems to be a


s: conquest upon the sea, and in a manner rescued from its bosom.


s: The surface of the earth, in this country, is below the level of


s: the bed of the sea; and I remember, upon approaching the coast,


s: to have looked down upon it from the sea, as into a valley.'


s: "Where the broad ocean leans against the land".  Cf.


s: "the tall rampire's", i.e. rampart's (Old French, 'rempart,


s: "bosom reign" in the first edition was 'breast obtain.'


s: "Even liberty itself is barter'd here".  'Slavery,' says


s: Mitford, 'was permitted in Holland; children were sold by their


s: "A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves".  Goldsmith uses this


s: "dishonourable graves".  'Julius Caesar', Act i. Sc. 2.


s: "Heavens!  how unlike", etc.  Prior compares a passage from a


s: manuscript 'Introduction to the History of the Seven Years'


s: War':--'How unlike the brave peasants their ancestors, who


s: spread terror into either India, and always declared themselves


s: the allies of those who drew the sword in defence of freedom*.'


s: of this 'History', hitherto supposed to have been written in


s: "famed Hydaspes", i.e. the 'fabulosus Hydaspes' of


s: Horace, Bk. i. Ode xxii, and the 'Medus Hydaspes' of Virgil,


s: 'Georg', iv. 211, of which so many stores were told. It is now


s: known as the Jhilum, one of the five rivers which give the


s: "Pride in their port", etc.  In the first edition these


s: "Here by the bonds of nature feebly held".  In the


s: See, though by circling deeps together held.


s: "Nature's ties" was 'social bonds' in the first edition.


s: "Where kings have toil'd, and poets wrote for fame".  In the


s: And monarchs toil, and poets pant for fame.


s: "Yet think not', etc.  'In the things I have hitherto


s: written I have neither allured the vanity of the great by


s: flattery, nor satisfied the malignity of the vulgar by scandal,


s: but I have endeavoured to get an honest reputation by liberal


s: "Ye powers of truth", etc.  The first version has:--


s: Above their pomps I hold my ragged pride.


s: Mr. Forster thinks ('Life', 1871, i. 375) that Goldsmith altered


s: this (i.e. 'ragged pride') because, like the omitted 'Haud


s: inexpertus loquor' of the 'Enquiry', it involved an undignified


s: "Contracting regal power to stretch their own".  'It is


s: the interest of the great, therefore, to diminish kingly power


s: as much as possible; because whatever they take from it is


s: naturally restored to themselves; and all they have to do in a


s: state, is to undermine the single tyrant, by which they resume


s: "When I behold", etc.  Prior compares a passage in


s: Letter xlix of 'The Citizen of the World', 1762, i. 218, where


s: the Roman senators are spoken of as still flattering the people


s: 'with a shew of freedom, while themselves only were free.'


s: "Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law".


s: Prior notes a corresponding utterance in 'The Vicar of


s: may be seen by turning our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice,


s: where the laws govern the poor, and the rich govern the law.'


s: "I fly from petty tyrants to the throne".  Cf. Dr.


s: Primrose, 'ut supra', p. 201:--'The generality of mankind also


s: are of my way of thinking, and have unanimously created one


s: king, whose election at once diminishes the number of tyrants,


s: and puts tyranny at the greatest distance from the greatest


s: Let not a Mob of Tyrants seize the helm,


s: Nor titled upstarts league to rob the realm...


s: Let us, some comfort in our griefs to bring,


s: Be slaves to one, and be that one a King.


s: Yes, my lov'd brother, cursed be that hour


s: When first ambition toil'd for foreign power,--


s: an entirely different couplet to that in the text, and certainly


s: more logical. (Dobell's 'Prospect of Society', 1902, pp. xi, 2,


s: and Notes, v, vi). Mr. Dobell plausibly suggests that this Tory


s: "Have we not seen", etc.  These lines contain the first


s: idea of the subsequent poem of 'The Deserted Village' ('q.v.').


s: "Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around".  The


s: Oswego is a river which runs between Lakes Oneida and Ontario.


s: In the 'Threnodia Augustalis', 1772, Goldsmith writes:--


s: Oswego's dreary shores shall be my grave.


s: The 'desarts of Oswego' were familiar to the eighteenth-century


s: reader in connexion with General Braddock's ill-fated expedition


s: of 1755, an account of which Goldsmith had just given in 'An


s: History of England, in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman to


s: "marks with murderous aim".  In the first edition


s: "pensive exile".  This, in the version mentioned in the


s: "To stop too fearful, and too faint to go".  This line,


s: upon Boswell's authority, is claimed for Johnson (Birkbeck


s: And faintly fainter, fainter seems to go.


s: "How small, of all," etc.  Johnson wrote these


s: concluding ten lines with the exception of the penultimate


s: couplet. They and line 420 were all--he told Boswell--of which


s: he could be sure (Birkbeck Hill's 'Boswell, ut supra'). Like


s: Goldsmith, he sometimes worked his prose ideas into his verse.


s: The first couplet is apparently a reminiscence of a passage in


s: his own 'Rasselas', 1759, ii. 112, where the astronomer speaks


s: of 'the task of a king...who has the care only of a few


s: millions, to whom he cannot do much good or harm.' (Grant's


s: 'Johnson', 1887, p. 89.) 'I would not give half a guinea to live


s: under one form of government rather than another,' he told that


s: 'vile Whig,' Sir Adam Fergusson, in 1772. 'It is of no moment to


s: the happiness of an individual' (Birkbeck Hill's 'Boswell',


s: "The lifted axe".  Mitford here recalls Blackmore's


s: Some the sharp axe, and some the painful wheel.


s: The 'lifted axe' he also traces to Young and Blackmore, with


s: both of whom Goldsmith seems to have been familiar; but it is


s: surely not necessary to assume that he borrowed from either in


s: "Luke's iron crown".  George and Luke Dosa, or Doscha,


s: headed a rebellion in Hungary in 1513. The former was proclaimed


s: king by the peasants; and, in consequence suffered, among other


s: things, the torture of the red-hot iron crown. Such a punishment


s: took place at Bordeaux when Montaigne was seventeen (Morley's


s: Florio's 'Montaigne', 1886, p. xvi). Much ink has been shed over


s: Goldsmith's lapse of 'Luke' for George. In the book which he


s: cited as his authority, the family name of the brothers was


s: given as Zeck,--hence Bolton Corney, in his edition of the


s: an alteration which has been adopted by other editors.  (See


s: "Damien's bed of steel".  Robert-Francois Damiens, 1714-57.


s: Goldsmith writes 'Damien's.' In the 'Gentlemen's Magazine' for


s: this poor half-witted wretch's torture and execution for


s: attempting to assassinate Louis XV, the name is thus spelled, as


s: also in other contemporary records and caricatures. The


s: following passage explains the 'bed of steel':--'Being conducted


s: to the Conciergerie, an 'iron bed', which likewise served for a


s: chair, was prepared for him, and to this he was fastened with


s: chains. The torture was again applied, and a physician ordered


s: to attend to see what degree of pain he could support,' etc.


s: Goldsmith's own explanation--according to Tom Davies, the


s: bookseller--was that he meant the rack. But Davies may have


s: misunderstood him, or Goldsmith himself may have forgotten the