Sing Heavenly Muse,
ings unattempted yet in Profe or Rhyme, Shilling, Breeches, and Chimera's dire.
Appy the Man, who void of Cares and
ken or in Leathern Purse retains lendid Shilling: he nor hears with pain. Oysters cry'd, nor fighs for chearful Ale; with his Friends, when nightly Mists arise "uniper's, or Magpye, or Town-Hall repairs: re mindful of the Nymph,whofe wanton Eye asfix'd his Soul, and kindled Am'rous Flames, or Phillis; he each Circling Glass
neth her Health, and Joy, and equal Love.
Mean while he fmoaks, and laughs at merry Tale,
Or Pun ambiguous, or Conundrum quaint.
But I whom griping Penury furrounds,
And Hunger, fure Attendant upon Want,
With scanty Offals, and small acid Tiff
(Wretched Repast) my meagre Corps sustain :
Then Solitary walk, or doze at home
In Garret vile, and with a warming puff
Regale chill'd Fingers, or from Tube as black
As Winter's Chimney, or well-polish'd Jett,
Exhale Mundungus, ill-perfuming Smoak.
Not blacker Tube, nor of a fhorter Size
Smoaks Cambre Britain (vers'd in Pedigree,
Sprung from Cadwalader and Arthur,ancientKings,
Full famous in Romantick tale) when he
O're many a craggy Hill, and fruitless Cliff,
Upon a Cargo of fam'd Ceftrian Cheese,
High over-fhadowing rides, with a design
Tovend his Wares, or at the Arvonian Mart,
Or Maridunum, or the ancient Town
Hight Morgannumia, or where Vaga's Stream
Encircles Ariconium, fruitful Soil,
Whence flow Nectareous Wines,that wellmay vie
With Maffic, Setian, or Renown'd Falern.
Thus while my joyless hours I lingring spend,
With Looks demure, and filent Pace, a Dun, i
Horrible Monster! hated by Gods and Men,
To my aerial Citadel afcends;
With Vocal Heel thrice thund'ring at my Gates,
With hideous Accent thrice he calls; I know
The Voice ill boding, and the folemn Sound;
What fhou'd I do, or whither turn? amaz'd,
Confounded, to the dark Recefs I fly
Of VVoodhole; streight my bristling hairs erect,
My Tongue forgets her Faculty of Speech,
So horrible he feems; his faded Brow
Entrench'd with many a Frown, and Conic Beard
And spreading Band admir'd by Modern Saint
Disastrous Acts forebode in his Right hand
Long Scrolls of Paper folemnly he waves.
With Characters and Figures dire inscribed, Grievous to mortal Eye, (ye Gods avert
Such plagues from righteous men) behind him Another Monster, not unlike himself,
Of Aspect fullen, by the Vulgar called
A Catchpole, whofe polluted hands the Gods
With Force incredible, and Magic Charms
Erft have indu'd, if he his ample Palm
Should haply on ill-fated Shoulder lay
Of Debtor, ftreight his Body to the touch
Obfequious (as Whilom Knights were wont)
To fome enchanted Castle is convey'd,
Where Gates impregnable,and coercive Charms
In durance vile detain him, till in form
Of Money, Pallas fet the Captive free.
Beware, ye Debtors, when ye walk, beware,
Be circumspect; oft with infiduous Ken,
This Caitiff eyes your steps aloof, and oft
Lies perdue in a Creek or gloomy Cave,
Prompt to enchant fome inadvertent wretch
With his unhallow'd touch. So (Poets fing)
Grimalkin to Domestick Vermin sworn
An everlasting Foc, with watchful eye
Lyes nightly brooding o're a chinky gap,
Portending her fell Claws, to thoughtless Mice
Sure Ruin So her difembowell'd web,
The Spider in a Hall or Kitchin spreads,
Obvious to vagrant Flies: fhe fecret stands
Within her woven Cell; the Humming Prey
Regardless of their Fate, rush on the toils
Inextricable: nor will ought avail
Their Arts nor Arms, nor Shapes of lovely Hue
The Wasp infidious, and the buzzing Drone,
And Butterfly proud of expanded wings
Distinct with Gold, entangled in her Snares,
Useless resistance make: with eager strides,
She tow'ring flies to her expected Spoils;
Then with envenom'd Jaws the vital Blood
Drinks of reluctant Foes, and to her Cave
Their bulky Carcaffes triumphant drags.
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