Imatges de pàgina
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"The lines seem to be a sort of prophecy, and written in verse, as old prophecies usually are, but in a very hobbling kind of measure.

Their

meaning is very dark, if it be any at all; of which the learned reader can judge better than I: however it be, several persons were of opinion, that they deserved to be published, both as they discover somewhat of the genius of a former age, and may be an amusement to the present."

WHEN a holy black Swede, the son of Bob, *
With a saint at his chin and seal at his fob,
Shall not see one ‡ New-year's-day in that year
Then let old England make good cheer:
Windsor and Bristow § then shall be
§
Joined together in the Low-countree. §
Then shall the tall black Daventry Bird ||
Speak against peace right many a word;
And some shall admire his conying wit,
For many good groats his tongue shall slit.
But, spight of the Harpy ¶ that crawls on all four,
There shall be peace, pardie, and war no more.
But England must cry alack and well-a-day,
If the stick be taken from the dead sea. ‡‡

* Dr John Robinson, bishop of Bristol, one of the plenipotentiaries at Utrecht.

+ He was dean of Windsor, and lord privy seal.

The New Style (which was not used in Great Britain and Ireland till 1752) was then observed in most parts of Europe. The bishop set out from England the latter end of December O. S.; and on his arrival at Utrecht, by the variation of the style, he found January somewhat advanced.

Alluding to the deanery and bishopric being possessed by the same person, then at Utrecht.

Earl of Nottingham.

Duke of Malborough.

The treasurer's wand, taken from Harley, whose second title was Lord Mortimer.

And, dear Englond, if ought I understond,
Beware of Carrots* from Northumberland.
Carrots soon Thynne † a deep root may get,
If so be they are in Somer set:

Their Conyngs mark thou; for I have been told,
They assassine when young, and poison when old.
Root out these Carrots, O thou, whose name
Is backwards and forwards always the same;
And keep close to thee always that name,
Which backwards and forwards || is almost the same.
And, Englond, wouldst thou be happy still,
Bury those Carrots under a Hill. ¶

The Duchess of Somerset.

+Thomas Thynne, of Longleate, Esq. married the above lady after the death of her first husband, Henry Cavendish, Earl of Ŏgle, only son to Henry, Duke of Newcastle, to whom she had been betrothed in her infancy. The marriage was never consummated; and Count Koningsmark having fallen in love with her while abroad, caused Thynne to be shot in his own carriage in Pallmall. To this horrid story, the following lines allude.

Count Koningsmark.

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CORINNA,* A BALLAD.

THIS day (the year I dare not tell)
Apollo play'd the midwife's part;
Into the world Corinna fell,

And he endow'd her with his art.

But Cupid with a Satyr comes;
Both softly to the cradle creep;
Both stroke her hands, and rub her gums,
While the poor child lay fast asleep.
Then Cupid thus: "This little maid
Of love shall always speak and write,"

"And I pronounce," the Satyr said,

"The world shall feel her scratch and bite."

Her talent she display'd betimes;

For in twice twelve revolving moons, She seem'd to laugh and squall in rhymes, And all her gestures were lampoons.

At six years old, the subtle jade

Stole to the pantry-door, and found The butler with my lady's maid :

And you may swear the tale went round.

She made a song, how little miss

Was kiss'd and slobber'd by a lad: And how, when master went to p―, Miss came, and peep'd at all he had.

This ballad refers to the history of Mrs Manley, a political writer, whom we have often noticed. It is difficult to say what could have tempted Swift to attack her so severely, at a time when they were both zealously engaged in the same political cause. But wits are not famous for discriminating between friends and enemies.

At twelve, a wit and a coquette;
Marries for love, half whore, half wife;
Cuckolds, elopes, and runs in debt;
Turns authoress, and is Curll's for life.

Her common-place-book all gallant is,
Of scandal now a cornucopia;
She pours it out in Atalantis,

Or memoirs of the New Utopia.

THE FABLE OF MIDAS. *

MIDAS, we are in story told,

Turn'd every thing he touch'd to gold:
He chipp'd his bread; the pieces round
Glitter'd like spangles on the ground:
A codling, ere it went his lip in,
Would straight become a golden pippin:
He call'd for drink; you saw him sup:
Potable gold in golden cup:

His empty paunch that he might fill,
He suck'd his victuals through a quill.
Untouch'd it pass'd between his grinders,
Or't had been happy for gold-finders:

This cutting satyr upon the Duke of Marlborough, was writ ten about the time when he was deprived of his employments. Swift thus mentions it in his journal: "To-day, I published 'The Fable of Midas,' a poem printed on a loose half sheet of paper. I know not how it will take; but it passed wonderfully at our society to-night; and Mr secretary read it before me the other night, to lord-treasurer, at Lord Masham's, where they equally approved of it. Tell me how it passes with you."-Journal to Stella, Feb. 14, 1711-12. Vol. III.

He cock'd his hat, you would have said
Mambrino's helm adorn'd his head;
Whene'er he chanced his hands to lay
On magazines of corn or hay,
Gold ready coin'd appear'd instead
Of paltry provender and bread;
Hence, by wise farmers we are told
Old hay is equal to old gold:
And hence a critic deep maintains,
We learn'd to weigh our gold by grains.
This fool had got a lucky hit;
And people fancy'd he had wit.
Two gods their skill in music try'd,
And both chose Midas to decide:
He against Phoebus' harp decreed,
And gave it for Pan's oaten reed:
The god of wit, to show his grudge,
Clapt asses' ears upon the judge;
A goodly pair, erect and wide,
Which he could neither gild nor hide.
And now the virtue of his hands
Was lost among Pactolus' sands,
Against whose torrent while he swims,
The golden scurf peels off his limbs:
Fame spreads the news, and people travel
From far to gather golden gravel;
Midas, exposed to all their jeers,
Had lost his art, and kept his ears.
This tale inclines the gentle reader

To think upon a certain leader;
To whom from Midas down, descends
That virtue in the fingers' ends.
What else by perquisites are meant,
By pensions, bribes, and three

per cent.?

* The reader will recollect, that the Duke of Marlborough was accused of having received large sums, as perquisites, from the contractors, who furnished bread, forage, &c. to the army.

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