LINES TO A TEAPOT.

LINES TO A TEAPOT . ON thy carved sides , where many a vivid dye In easy progress leads the wandering eye , A distant nation's manners we behold , To the quick fancy whimsically told . The small-eyed beauty with her Mandarin , Who o'er the rail of garden arbour lean , In listless ease ; and rocks of arid brown , On whose sharp crags , in gay profusion blown , The ample loose-leaved rose appears to grace The skilful culture of the wonderous place ; The little verdant plat , where with his mate The golden pheasant holds his gorgeous state , With gaily crested pate and twisted neck , Turned jantily his glossy wings to peck ; The smooth-streaked water of a paly gray , O'er which the checkered bridge lends ready way , While , by its margin moored , the little boat Doth with its oars and netted awning float : A scene in short all soft delights to take in , A paradise for grave Grandee of Pekin . With straight small spout , that from thy body fair , Diverges with a smart vivacious air , And round , arched handle with gold tracery bound , And dome-shaped lid with bud or button crowned , Thou standest complete , fair subject of my rhymes , A goodly vessel of the olden times . But far less pleasure yields this fair display Than that enjoyed upon thy natal day , When round the potter's wheel , their chins raising , An urchin group in silent wonder gazing , Stood and beheld , as , touched with magic skill , The whirling clay swift fashioned to his will , — Saw mazy motion stopped , and then the toy Complete before their eyes , and grinned for joy ; Clapping their naked sides with blythe halloo , And curtailed words of praise , like ting , tung , too ! The brown-skinned artist , with his unclothed waist And girded loins , who , slow and patient , traced , Beneath his humble shed , this fair array Of pictured forms upon thy surface gay , I will not stop in fancy's sight to place , But speed me on my way with quickened pace . Packed in a chest with others of thy kind , The sport of waves and every shifting wind , The Ocean thou hast crossed , and thou mayest claim The passing of the Line to swell thy fame , With as good observation of the thing As some of those who in a hammock swing . And now thou 'rt seen in Britain's polished land , Held up to public view in waving hand Of boastful auctioneer , whilst dames of pride In morning farthingals , scarce two yards wide , With collared lap-dogs snarling in their arms , Contend in rival keenness for thy charms . And certes well they might , for there they found thee With all thy train of vassal cups around thee , A prize which thoughts by day , and dreams by night , Could dwell on for a week with fresh delight . Our pleased imagination now pourtrays The glory of thy high official days , When thou on board of rich japan wert set , Round whose supporting table gaily met At close of eve , the young , the learned , the fair , And even philosophy and wit were there . Midst basons , cream-pots , cups and saucers small , Thou stood'st the ruling chieftain of them all ; And even the kettle of Potosi's ore , Whose ample cell supplied thy liquid store , Beneath whose base the sapphire flame was burning , Above whose lid the wreathy smoke was turning , Though richly chased and burnished it might be , Was yet , confessed , subordinate to thee . But O ! when beauty's hand thy weight sustained , The climax of thy glory was attained ! Back from her elevated elbow fell Its three-tired ruffle , and displayed the swell And gentle rounding of her lily arm , The eyes of wistful sage or beau to charm — A sight at other times but dimly seen Through veiling folds of point or colberteen . With pleasing toil , red glowed her dimpled cheek , Bright glanced her eyes beneath her forehead sleek , And as she poured the beverage , through the room Was spread its fleeting , delicate perfume . Then did bright wit and cheerful fancy play With all the passing topics of the day . So delicate , so varied and so free Was the heart's pastime , then inspired by thee , That goblet , bowl or flask could boast no power Of high excitement , in their reigning hour , Compared to thine ; — red wildfire of the fen , To summer moonshine of some fairy glen . But now the honours of thy course are past , For what of earthly happiness may last ! Although in modern drawing-room , a board May fragrant tea from menial hands afford , Which , poured in dull obscurity hath been , From pot of vulgar ware , in nook unseen , And pass in hasty rounds our eyes before , Thou in thy graceful state art seen no more . And what the changeful fleeting crowd , who sip The unhonoured beverage with contemptuous lip , Enjoy amidst the tangled , giddy maze , Their languid eye — their listless air betrays . What though at times we see a youthful fair By white clothed board her watery drug prepare , At further corner of a noisy room , Where only casual stragglers deign to come , Like tavern's busy bar-maid ; still I say , The honours of thy course are passed away . Again hath auctioneer thy value praised , Again have rival bidders on thee gazed , But not the gay , the young , the fair , I trow ! No ; sober connoisseurs , with wrinkled brow And spectacles on nose , thy parts inspect , And by grave rules approve thee or reject . For all the bliss which china charms afford , My lady now has ceded to her lord . And wisely too does she forego the prize , Since modern pin-money will scarce suffice For all the trimmings , flounces , beads and lace , The thousand needful things that needs must grace Her daily changed attire . — And now on shelf Of china closet placed , a cheerless elf , Like moody statesman in his rural den , From power dismissed — like prosperous citizen , From shop or change set free — untoward bliss ! Thou rest'st in most ignoble uselessness .