[Page][Page 2][Page 3][Page 8][Page 9][Page 10][Page 13][Page 21][Page 30][Page 34][Page 35][Page 38][Page 41]
THE GHOST.
1 WITH eager search to dart the soul,
2 Curiously vain, from Pole to Pole,
3 And from the Planets wand'ring spheres
4 T'extort the number of our years,
5 And whether all those years shall flow
6 Serenely smooth, and free from woe,
7 Or rude Misfortune shall deform
8 Our life, with one continual storm;
9 Or if the Scene shall motley be,
10 Alternate Joy and Misery,
11 Is a desire which, more or less,
12 All men must feel, tho' few confess.
13 HENCE ev'ry place and ev'ry age
14 Affords subsistence to the Sage,
15 Who free from this world and it's cares,
16 Holds an acquaintance with the Stars,
17 From whom he gains intelligence
18 Of things to come some ages hence,
19 Which unto friends at easy rates
20 He readily communicates.
21 AT its first rise, which all agree on,
22 This noble Science was CHALDEAN.
23 That antient people, as they fed
24 Their flocks upon the Mountain's head,
25 Gaz'd on the Stars, observ'd their motions,
26 And suck'd in Astrologic notions,
27 Which they so eagerly pursue,
28 As folks are apt whate'er is new,
29 That things below at random rove
30 Whilst they're consulting things above;
31 And when they now so poor were grown
32 That they'd no houses of their own,
33 They made bold with their friends the Stars,
34 And prudently made use of their's.
35 TO EGYPT from CHALDEE it travell'd,
36 And Fate at MEMPHIS was unravell'd,
37 Th' exotic Science soon struck root,
38 And flourish'd into high repute.
39 Each learned Priest, O strange to tell,
40 Could circles make, and cast a spell,
41 Could read and write, and taught the Nation
42 The holy art of Divination.
43 Nobles themselves, for at that time
44 Knowledge in Nobles was no crime,
45 Could talk as learned as the Priest,
46 And prophesie as much at least.
47 Hence all the fortune-telling Crew,
48 Whose crafty skill mars Nature's hue,
49 Who in vile tatters, with smirck'd face
50 Run up and down from place to place,
51 To gratify their friends' desires,
52 From BAMPFIELD CAREW, to MOLL SQUIRES,
53 Are rightly term'd EGYPTIANS all,
54 Whom we, mistaking, GYPSIES call.
55 THE GRECIAN Sages borrow'd this,
56 As they did other Sciences,
[Page 4]57 From fertile EGYPT, tho' the loan
58 They had not honesty to own.
59 DODONA's Oaks, inspir'd by JOVE,
60 A learned and prophetic Grove,
61 Turn'd vegetable Necromancers,
62 And to all comers gave their answers;
63 At DELPHOS, to APOLLO dear,
64 All men the voice of Fate might hear,
65 Each subtle Priest on three-legg'd stool,
66 To take in wise men, play'd the fool.
67 A Mystery, so made for gain,
68 E'en now in fashion must remain.
69 Enthusiasts never will let drop
70 What brings such business to their shop,
71 And that Great Saint, we WH—TF—LD call,
72 Keeps up the HUMBUG SPIRITUAL.
73 AMONG the ROMANS not a Bird
74 Without a Prophecy was heard;
75 Fortunes of Empires often hung
76 On the Magician Magpye's tongue,
77 And ev'ry Crow was to the State
78 A sure interpreter of Fate.
[Page 5]79 Prophets, embodied in a College,
80 (Time out of mind your seat of knowledge,
81 For Genius never fruit can bear
82 Unless it first is planted there,
83 And solid Learning never falls
84 Without the verge of College walls)
85 Infallible accounts would keep
86 When it was best to watch or sleep,
87 To eat or drink, to go or stay,
88 And when to fight or run away,
89 When matters were for action ripe
90 By looking at a double tripe;
91 When Emperors would live or die
92 They in an Ass's scull could spy,
93 When Gen'rals would their station keep
94 Or turn their backs, in hearts of sheep.
95 In matters, whether small or great,
96 In private families or state,
97 As amongst us, the holy Seer
98 Officiously would interfere,
99 With pious arts and rev'rend skill
100 Would bend Lay Bigots to his will,
101 Would help or injure foes or friends,
102 Just as it serv'd his private ends.
[Page 6]103 Whether in honest way of trade
104 Traps for Virginity were laid,
105 Or if, to make their party great,
106 Designs were form'd against the State,
107 Regardless of the Common Weal,
108 By Int'rest led which they call zeal,
109 Into the scale was always thrown,
110 The will of Heav'n to back their own.
111 ENGLAND, a happy land we know,
112 Where Follies naturally grow,
113 Where without Culture they arise,
114 And tow'r above the common size;
115 ENGLAND, a fortune-telling host,
116 As num'rous as the Stars could boast,
117 MATRONS, who toss the Cup, and see
118 The grounds of Fate in grounds of Tea,
119 Who vers'd in ev'ry modest lore,
120 Can a lost Maidenhead restore,
121 Or if their Pupils rather chuse it
122 Can shew the readiest way to lose it;
123 GYPSIES, who ev'ry ill can cure,
124 Except the ill of being poor,
[Page 7]125 Who charms 'gainst Love and Agues sell,
126 Who can in Henroost set a spell,
127 Prepar'd by arts, to them best known,
128 To catch all feet except their own,
129 Who as to Fortune can unlock it,
130 As easily as pick a pocket;
131 SCOTCHMEN, who in their Country's right
132 Possess the gift of second-sight,
133 Who (when their barren heaths they quit,
134 Sure argument of prudent wit,
135 Which reputation to maintain,
136 They never venture back again)
137 By lies prophetic heap up riches,
138 And boast the luxury of breeches.
139 AMONG the rest, in former years,
140 CAMPBELL, illustrious name, appears,
141 Great Heroe of futurity,
142 Who blind could ev'ry thing foresee,
143 Who dumb could ev'ry thing foretel,
144 Who, Fate with equity to sell,
145 Always dealt out the will of Heaven,
146 According to what price was given.
147 OF SCOTTISH race, in HIGHLANDS born,
148 Possess'd with native pride and scorn,
149 He hither came, by custom led,
150 To curse the hands which gave him bread.
151 With want of truth, and want of sense,
152 Amply made up by impudence,
153 (A succedaneum, which we find,
154 In common use with all mankind,
155 Caress'd and favour'd too by those,
156 Whose heart with Patriot feelings glows,
157 Who FOOLISHLY, where'er dispers'd,
158 Still place their native Country first;
159 For ENGLISHMEN alone have sense,
160 To give a stranger preference,
161 Whilst modest merit of their own,
162 Is left in poverty to groan)
163 CAMPBELL foretold, just what he wou'd,
164 And left the Stars to make it good,
165 On whom he had impress'd such awe,
166 His dictates current pass'd for LAW;
167 Submissive all his Empire own'd;
168 No Star durst smile, when CAMPBELL frown'd.
169 THIS Sage deceas'd, for all must die,
170 And CAMPBELL's no more safe than I,
171 No more than I can guard the heart,
172 When Death shall hurl the fatal dart;
173 Succeeded ripe in art and years,
174 Another fav'rite of the spheres,
175 Another and Another came,
176 Of equal skill, and equal fame;
177 As white each wand, as black each gown,
178 As long each beard, as wise each frown,
179 In ev'ry thing so like, you'd swear,
180 CAMPBELL himself was sitting there.
181 To all the happy Art was known,
182 To tell our fortunes, make their own.
183 SEATED in Garret, for you know,
184 The nearer to the Stars we go,
185 The greater we esteem his art,
186 Fools curious flock'd from ev'ry part.
187 The Rich, the Poor, the Maid, the Married,
188 And those who could not walk, were carried.
189 THE BUTLER, hanging down his head,
190 By Chamber-Maid, or Cook-Maid led,
191 Enquires, if from his friend the Moon,
192 He has advice of pilfer'd spoon.
193 THE COURT-BRED WOMAN OF CONDITION,
194 (Who, to approve her disposition,
195 As much superior, as her birth,
196 To those compos'd of common earth,
197 With double spirit must engage
198 In ev'ry folly of the age)
199 The honourable arts would buy,
200 To pack the Cards, and cog a Die.
201 THE PARSON too (for now and then,
202 PARSONS are just like other men,
203 And here and there a grave DIVINE
204 Has Passions such as yours and mine)
205 Burning with holy lust to know
206 When FATE Preferment will bestow,
207 'Fraid of detection, not of sin,
208 With circumspection sneaking in,
[Page 11]209 To Conj'rer, as he does to Whore,
210 Thro' some bye Alley, or Back-door,
211 With the same caution Orthodox,
212 Consults the Stars, and gets a Pox.
213 THE CITIZEN, in fraud grown old,
214 Who knows no Deity but Gold,
215 Worn out, and gasping now for breath,
216 A Med'cine wants to keep off Death;
217 Would know, if THAT he cannot have,
218 What Coins are current in the grave;
219 If, when the Stocks (which by his pow'r,
220 Would rise or fall in half an hour,
221 For, tho' unthought of and unseen,
222 He work'd the springs behind the screen)
223 By his directions came about,
224 And rose to Par, he should sell out;
225 Whether he safely might or no,
226 Replace it in the Funds below.
227 BY all address'd, believ'd, and paid,
228 Many pursu'd the thriving trade,
229 And great in reputation grown,
230 Successive held the MAGIC throne.
[Page 12]231 Favour'd by ev'ry darling passion,
232 The love of Novelty and Fashion,
233 Ambition, Av'rice, Lust, and Pride,
234 Riches pour'd in on ev'ry side.
235 But when the prudent Laws thought fit,
236 To curb this insolence of Wit;
237 When Senates wisely had Provided,
238 Decreed, Enacted, and Decided,
239 That no such vile and upstart elves,
240 Should have more knowledge than themselves,
241 When Fines and Penalties were laid
242 To stop the progress of the trade,
243 And Stars no longer could dispense
244 With honour farther influence,
245 And Wizards (which must be confest,
246 Was of more force than all the rest)
247 No certain way to tell had got,
248 Which were Informers, and which not,
249 Affrighted SAGES were perforce,
250 Oblig'd to steer some other course.
251 By various ways these Sons of Chance,
252 Their Fortunes labour'd to advance,
253 Well-knowing by unerring rules,
254 KNAVES starve not in the Land of Fools.
255 SOME with high Titles and Degrees,
256 Which wise Men borrow when they please,
257 Without or trouble or expence,
258 PHYSICIANS instantly commence,
259 And proudly boast an equal skill
260 With those who claim the right to kill.
261 OTHERS about the Countries roam,
262 (For not ONE thought of going home)
263 With pistol and adopted leg
264 Prepar'd at once to rob or beg.
265 SOME, the more subtle of their race,
266 (Who felt some touch of Coward Grace,
267 Who TYBURN to avoid had wit,
268 But never fear'd deserving it)
269 Came to their Brother SM-LL-T's aid,
270 And carried on the CRITIC trade.
271 ATTACH'D to Letters and the Muse
272 Some Verses wrote, and some wrote News.
273 Those each revolving Month are seen,
274 The Heroes of a Magazine;
[Page 14]275 These ev'ry morning great appear
276 In LEDGER, or in GAZETTEER;
277 Spreading the falshood of the day,
278 By turns for F-D-N and for S-Y;
279 Like SWISS, their force is always laid
280 On that side where they best are paid.
281 Hence mighty PRODIGIES arise,
282 And daily MONSTERS strike our eyes,
283 Wonders, to propagate the trade,
284 More strange than ever BAKER made,
285 Are hawk'd about from street to street,
286 And Fools believe, whilst Liars eat.
287 Now armies in the Air engage
288 To fright a superstitious age;
289 Now Comets thro' the Aether range
290 In Governments portending change;
291 Now Rivers to the Ocean fly,
292 So quick, they leave their channels dry;
293 Now monstrous Whales on LAMBETH shore,
294 Drink the THAMES dry, and thirst for more;
295 And ev'ry now and then appears
296 An IRISH Savage, numb'ring years
[Page 15]297 More than those happy Sages cou'd,
298 Who drew their breath before the flood.
299 Now, to the wonder of all people,
300 A Church is left without a Steeple;
301 A Steeple now is left in lurch,
302 And mourns departure of the Church,
303 Which borne on wings of mighty wind
304 Remov'd a furlong off we find.
305 Now, wrath on Cattle to discharge,
306 Hail stones as deadly fall and large
307 As those which were on EGYPT sent,
308 At once their crime and punishment,
309 Or those which, as the Prophet writes,
310 Fell on the necks of AMORITES,
311 When struck with wonder and amaze,
312 The Sun suspended stay'd to gaze,
313 And, from her duty longer kept,
314 In AJALON his Sister slept.
315 BUT if such things no more engage
316 The Taste of a politer age,
317 To help them out in time of need
318 Another TOFFS must Rabbits breed.
[Page 16]319 Each pregnant Female trembling hears,
320 And, overcome with spleen and fears,
321 Consults her faithful glass no more,
322 But madly bounding o'er the floor,
323 Feels hairs all o'er her body grow,
324 By FANCY turn'd into a Doe.
325 Now, to promote their private ends,
326 NATURE her usual course suspends,
327 And varies from the stated plan
328 Observ'd e'er since the World began.
329 Bodies, (which foolishly we thought,
330 By Custom's servile maxims taught,
331 Needed a regular supply,
332 And without nourishment must die);
333 With craving appetites, and sense
334 Of Hunger easily dispense,
335 And, pliant to their wond'rous skill,
336 Are taught, like watches, to stand still
337 Uninjur'd, for a month or more;
338 Then go on as they did before.
339 The Novel takes, the Tale succeeds,
340 Amply supplies its author's needs,
[Page 17]341 And BETTY CANNING is at least,
342 With GASCOYNE's help, a six months feast.
343 WHILST, in contempt of all our pains,
344 The Tyrant SUPERSTITION reigns
345 Imperious in the heart of Man,
346 And warps his thoughts from Nature's plan;
347 Whilst fond CREDULITY, who ne'er
348 The weight of wholesome doubts could bear,
349 To Reason and Herself unjust,
350 Takes all things blindly up on trust;
351 Whilst CURIOSITY, whose rage
352 No Mercy shews to Sex or Age,
353 Must be indulg'd at the expence
354 Of Judgment, Truth, and Common Sense;
355 Impostures cannot but prevail,
356 And when old Miracles grow stale,
357 JUGGLERS will still the art pursue,
358 And entertain the World with New.
359 FOR THEM, obedient to their will,
360 And trembling at their mighty skill,
361 Sad SPIRITS, summon'd from the tomb,
362 Glide ghastly glaring thro' the gloom.
[Page 18]363 In all the usual Pomp of storms,
364 In horrid customary forms,
365 A Wolf, a Bear, a Horse, an Ape,
366 As Fear and Fancy give them shape,
367 Tormented with despair and pain,
368 They roar, they yell, and clank the chain.
369 FOLLY and GUILT (for GUILT, howe'er
370 The face of Courage it may wear,
371 Is still a Coward at the heart)
372 At fear-created phantoms start.
373 The PRIEST, that very word implies
374 That he's both innocent and wise,
375 Yet fears to travel in the dark,
376 Unless escorted by his CLERK.
377 BUT let not ev'ry Bungler deem
378 Too lightly of so deep a scheme.
379 For reputation of the Art,
380 Each GHOST must act a proper part,
381 Observe Decorum's needful grace,
382 And keep the laws of Time and Place,
383 Must change with happy variation
384 His manners with his situation.
[Page 19]385 What in the Country might pass down,
386 Would be impertinent in Town.
387 No SPIRIT of discretion HERE
388 Can think of breeding awe and fear,
389 'Twill serve the purpose more by half
390 To make the Congregation laugh.
391 We want no ensigns of surprize,
392 Locks stiff with gore, and sawcer eyes,
393 Give us an entertaining Sprite,
394 Gentle, Familiar, and Polite,
395 One who appears in such a form
396 As might an holy Hermit warm,
397 Or who on former schemes refines,
398 And only talks by sounds and signs,
399 Who will not to the eye appear
400 But pays her visit to the ear,
401 And knocks so gently, 'twould not fright
402 A Lady in the darkest Night.
403 Such is Our FANNY, whose good will,
404 Which cannot in the Grave lie still,
405 Brings her on Earth to entertain
406 Her Friends and Lovers in COCK-LANE.
END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
[Page]THE GHOST. BOOK II.
1 A SACRED standard Rule we find
2 By Poets held time out of mind,
3 To offer at APOLLO's shrine,
4 And call on One, or All the NINE.
5 THIS Custom, thro' a Bigot zeal,
6 Which MODERNS of fine Taste must feel,
7 For those who wrote in days of yore,
8 Adopted stands, like many more,
9 Tho' ev'ry Cause, which then conspir'd
10 To make it practis'd and admir'd,
11 Yielding to Time's destructive course,
12 For ages past hath lost its force.
13 WITH antient Bards an INVOCATION
14 Was a true act of Adoration,
15 Of Worship an essential part,
16 And not a formal piece of Art,
17 Of paultry reading a Parade,
18 A dull Solemnity in trade,
19 A pious Fever taught to burn
20 An hour or two, to serve a turn.
21 THEY talk'd not of CASTALIAN SPRINGS,
22 By way of saying pretty things,
23 As we dress out our flimsy Rhimes;
24 'Twas the RELIGION of the Times,
25 And they believ'd that holy stream
26 With greater force made FANCY teem,
27 Reckon'd by all a true specific,
28 To make the barren brain prolific.
29 Thus ROMISH CHURCH (a scheme which bears
30 Not half so much excuse as theirs)
31 Since FAITH implicitly hath taught her,
32 Reveres the force of Holy Water.
33 THE PAGAN SYSTEM, whether true
34 Or false, its strength, like Buildings, drew
[Page 22]35 From many parts dispos'd to bear
36 In one great Whole, their proper share.
37 Each GOD of eminent degree,
38 To some vast Beam compar'd might be;
39 Each GODLING was a Peg, or rather
40 A Cramp, to keep the Beams together.
41 And Man as safely might pretend
42 From JOVE the thunder-bolt to rend,
43 As with an impious pride aspire
44 To rob APOLLO of his Lyre.
45 WITH settled faith and pious awe,
46 Establish'd by the voice of Law,
47 Then POETS to the MUSES came
48 And from their Altars caught the flame.
49 GENIUS, with PHOEBUS for his guide,
50 The MUSE ascending by his side,
51 With tow'ring pinions dar'd to soar,
52 Where Eye could scarcely strain before.
53 BUT why should WE, who cannot feel
54 These glowings of a Pagan zeal,
55 That wild enthusiastic force,
56 By which above her common course,
[Page 23]57 NATURE in Exstasy up-borne,
58 Look'd down on earthly things with scorn;
59 Who have no more regard, 'tis known,
60 For their Religion than our own,
61 And feel not half so fierce a flame
62 At CLIO's as at FISHER's name;
63 Who know these boasted sacred streams
64 Were mere romantic idle dreams,
65 That THAMES has waters clear as those
66 Which on the top of PINDUS rose,
67 And that the FANCY to refine,
68 Water's not half so good as Wine;
69 Who know, if Profit strikes our eye,
70 Should we drink HELICON quite dry,
71 Th' whole fountain would not thither lead
72 So soon as one poor jug from TWEED,
73 Who, if to raise poetic fire
74 The Pow'r of Beauty we require,
75 In any public place can view
76 More than the GRECIANS ever knew;
77 If Wit into the scale is thrown,
78 Can boast a LENOX of our own,
79 Why should we servile customs chuse,
80 And court an antiquated Muse?
[Page 24]81 No matter why — to ask a Reason
82 In PEDANT BIGOTRY is Treason.
83 IN the broad, beaten, turnpike-road
84 Of hackney'd Panegyric Ode,
85 No Modern Poet dares to ride
86 Without APOLLO by his side,
87 Nor in a Sonnet take the air,
88 Unless his Lady Muse be there.
89 SHE, from some Amaranthine grove,
90 Where little Loves and Graces rove,
91 The Laurel to my Lord must bear,
92 Or Garlands make for Whores to wear;
93 SHE with soft Elegeiac verse
94 Must grace some mighty Villain's hearse,
95 Or for some Infant, doom'd by Fate
96 To wallow in a large estate,
97 With Rhimes the Cradle must adorn,
98 To tell the World a Fool is born.
99 SINCE then our CRITIC LORDS expect,
100 No hardy Poet should reject
101 Establish'd maxims, or presume
102 To place much better in their room,
[Page 25]103 By Nature fearful, I submit,
104 And in this dearth of Sense and Wit,
105 With nothing done, and little said,
106 (By wild excursive FANCY led,
107 Into a second Book thus far,
108 Like some unwary Traveller,
109 Whom varied scenes of wood and lawn,
110 With treacherous delight have drawn;
111 Deluded from his purpos'd way,
112 Whom ev'ry step leads more astray;
113 Who gazing round can no where spy,
114 Or house, or friendly cottage nigh,
115 And resolution seems to lack
116 To venture forward or go back)
117 Invoke some GODDESS to descend
118 And help me to my journey's end.
119 Tho' conscious —— all the while
120 Hears the petition with a smile,
121 Before the glass her charms unfolds,
122 And in herself MY Muse beholds.
123 TRUTH, GODDESS of celestial birth,
124 But little lov'd, or known on earth,
[Page 26]125 Whose pow'r but seldom rules the heart,
126 Whose name, with hypocritic art,
127 An errant stalking horse is made,
128 A snug pretence to drive a trade,
129 An instrument convenient grown
130 To plant, more firmly, FALSHOOD's throne,
131 As Rebels varnish o'er their cause
132 With specious colouring of Laws,
133 And pious Traitors draw the knife
134 In the KING's Name against his life,
135 Whether (from Cities far away,
136 Where Fraud and Falshood scorn thy sway)
137 The faithful Nymph's and Shepherd's pride,
138 With LOVE and VIRTUE by thy side,
139 Your hours in harmless joys are spent
140 Amongst the Children of CONTENT;
141 Or, fond of gaiety and sport,
142 You tread the round of ENGLAND's COURT,
143 Howe'er my LORD may frowning go,
144 And treat the Stranger as a Foe,
145 Sure to be found a welcome guest
146 In GEORGE's and in CHARLOTTE's breast;
147 If, in the giddy hours of Youth,
148 My constant Soul adher'd to TRUTH;
[Page 27]149 If, from the Time I first wrote Man,
150 I still pursued thy sacred plan,
151 Tempted by Interest in vain
152 To wear mean Falshood's golden chain;
153 If, for a season drawn away,
154 Starting from Virtue's path astray,
155 All low disguise I scorn'd to try,
156 And dar'd to sin, but not to lie;
157 Hither, O hither, condescend,
158 ETERNAL TRUTH, thy steps to bend,
159 And favour Him, who ev'ry hour
160 Confesses and obeys thy pow'r!
161 BUT come not with that easy mien
162 By which you won the lively DEAN,
163 Nor yet assume that Strumpet air
164 Which RABELAIS taught Thee first to wear,
165 Nor yet that arch ambiguous face
166 Which with CERVANTES gave thee grace,
167 But come in sacred vesture clad,
168 Solemnly dull, and truly sad!
169 FAR from thy seemly Matron train
170 Be Idiot MIRTH, and LAUGHTER vain!
[Page 28]171 For WIT and HUMOUR, which pretend
172 At once to please us and amend,
173 They are not for my present turn,
174 Let them remain in France with STERNE.
175 OF Noblest City Parents born,
176 Whom Wealth and Dignities adorn,
177 Who still one constant tenor keep,
178 Not quite awake, nor quite asleep;
179 With THEE let formal DULNESS come,
180 And deep ATTENTION, ever dumb,
181 Who on her lips her fingers lays,
182 Whilst every circumstance she weighs,
183 Whose down-cast Eye is often found
184 Bent without motion to the ground,
185 Or to some outward thing confin'd
186 Remits no image to the mind,
187 No pregnant mark of meaning bears,
188 But stupid without Vision stares;
189 Thy steps let GRAVITY attend,
190 Wisdom's and Truth's unerring friend.
191 For One may see with half an eye,
192 That GRAVITY can never lie;
[Page 29]193 And his arch'd brow, pull'd o'er his eyes,
194 With solemn proof proclaims him Wise.
195 FREE from all waggeries and sports,
196 The produce of luxurious Courts,
197 Where Sloth and Lust enervate Youth,
198 Come Thou, a down-right City TRUTH;
199 The CITY, which we ever find
200 A sober pattern for Mankind,
201 Where Man in EQUILIBRIO hung,
202 Is seldom Old, and never Young,
203 And from the Cradle to the Grave
204 Not Virtue's friend, nor Vice's slave;
205 As Dancers on the Wire we spy,
206 Hanging between the Earth and Sky.
207 SHE comes — I see her from afar
208 Bending her course to Temple-Bar:
209 All sage and silent is her train,
210 Deportment grave, and garments plain,
211 Such as may suit a Parson's wear,
212 And fit the Head-piece of a Mayor.
213 BY TRUTH inspir'd, our BACON'S force
214 Open'd the way to Learning's source;
215 BOYLE thro' the works of NATURE ran;
216 And NEWTON, something more than man,
217 Div'd into Nature's hidden springs,
218 Laid bare the principles of things,
219 Above the earth our spirits bore,
220 And gave us Worlds unknown before.
221 By TRUTH inspir'd, when Lauder's spight
222 O'er MILTON cast the Veil of Night,
223 DOUGLAS arose, and thro' the maze
224 Of intricate and winding ways,
225 Came where the subtle Traitor lay,
226 And dragg'd him trembling to the day;
227 Whilst HE (O shame to noblest parts,
228 Dishonour to the Lib'ral Arts,
229 To traffic in so vile a scheme!)
230 Whilst HE, our Letter'd POLYPHEME,
231 Who had Confed'rate forces join'd,
232 Like a base Coward, skulk'd behind.
233 By TRUTH inspir'd, our Critics go
234 To track FINGAL in Highland snow,
[Page 31]235 To form their own and others Creed
236 From Manuscripts they cannot read.
237 By TRUTH inspir'd, we numbers see
238 Of each Profession and Degree,
239 Gentle and Simple, Lord and Cit,
240 Wit without wealth, wealth without wit;
241 When PUNCH and SHERIDAN have done,
242 To FANNY's Ghostly Lectures run;
243 By TRUTH and FANNY now inspir'd,
244 I feel my glowing bosom fir'd;
245 Desire beats high in ev'ry vein
246 To sing the SPIRIT of COCK-LANE;
247 To tell (just as the measure flows
248 In halting rhime, half verse, half prose)
249 With more than mortal arts endued,
250 How She united force withstood,
251 And proudly gave a brave defiance
252 To Wit and Dulness in Alliance.
253 THIS APPARITION (with relation
254 To antient modes of Derivation,
255 This we may properly so call,
256 Although it ne'er appears at all,
[Page 32]257 As, by the way of Inuendo,
258 Lucus is made à non lucendo)
259 Superior to the vulgar mode,
260 Nobly disdains that servile road,
261 Which Coward Ghosts, as it appears,
262 Have walk'd in full five thousand years,
263 And for restraint too mighty grown,
264 Strikes out a method of her own.
265 OTHERS, may meanly start away,
266 Aw'd by the Herald of the Day,
267 With faculties too weak to bear
268 The freshness of the Morning air,
269 May vanish with the melting gloom,
270 And glide in silence to the tomb;
271 She dares the Sun's most piercing light,
272 And knocks by Day as well as Night;
273 Others, with mean and partial view,
274 Their visits pay to one or two,
275 She, great in Reputation grown,
276 Keeps the best Company in Town.
277 Our active enterprising Ghost,
278 As large and splendid Routs can boast
[Page 33]279 As those, which rais'd by PRIDE's command,
280 Block up the passage thro' the Strand.
281 GREAT adepts in the fighting trade,
282 Who serv'd their time on the Parade;
283 She Saints, who true to pleasure's plan,
284 Talk about God, and lust for man;
285 Wits, who believe nor God, nor Ghost,
286 And Fools, who worship ev'ry post;
287 Cowards, whose lips with war are hung;
288 Men truly brave, who hold their tongue;
289 Courtiers, who laugh they know not why,
290 And Cits, who for the same cause cry;
291 The canting Tabernacle Brother,
292 (For one Rogue still suspects another)
293 Ladies, who to a Spirit fly,
294 Rather than with their Husbands lie;
295 Lords, who as chastly pass their lives
296 With other Women as their Wives;
297 Proud of their intellects and cloaths,
298 Physicians, Lawyers, Parsons, Beaux,
299 And, truant from their desks and shops,
300 Spruce Temple Clerks, and 'Prentice Fops,
301 To FANNY come, with the same view
302 To find her false, or find her true.
303 HARK! something creeps about the house!
304 Is IT a Spirit, or a Mouse?
305 HARK! something scratches round the room!
306 A Cat, a Rat, a stubb'd Birch-broom.
307 HARK! on the wainscote now IT knocks!
308 If Thou'rt a Ghost, cried ORTHODOX,
309 With that affected solemn air
310 Which HYPOCRITES delight to wear,
311 And all those forms of CONSEQUENCE
312 Which FOOLS adopt instead of Sense,
313 If Thou'rt a Ghost, who from the tomb
314 Stalk'st sadly silent thro' this gloom,
315 In breach of NATURE's stated laws,
316 For good, or bad, or for no cause,
317 Give now NINE knocks; like PRIESTS of old,
318 NINE we a sacred Number hold.
319 'PSHA, cried PROFOUND, (a man of parts
320 Deep read in all the curious Arts,
321 Who to their hidden springs had trac'd
322 The force of NUMBERS, rightly plac'd)
323 As to the NUMBER you are right,
324 As to the form mistaken quite.
325 What's NINE? — Your ADEPTS all agree,
326 The VIRTUE lies in Three times Three.
327 HE said, no need to say it twice,
328 For THRICE She knock'd, and THRICE, and THRICE.
329 THE Croud, confounded and amaz'd,
330 In silence at each other gaz'd.
331 From CAELIA's hand the Snuff-box fell,
332 TINSEL, who ogled with the Belle,
333 To pick it up attempts in vain,
334 He stoops, but cannot rise again.
335 Immane POMPOSO was not heard
336 T' import one crabbed foreign word.
337 Fear seizes Heroes, Fools, and Wits,
338 And PLAUSIBLE his pray'rs forgets.
339 AT length, as People just awake,
340 Into wild dissonance they break;
341 All talk'd at once, but not a word
342 Was understood, or plainly heard.
343 Such is the noise of chatt'ring Geese
344 Slow sailing on the Summer breeze;
345 Such is the language DISCORD speaks
346 In Welch women o'er beds of Leeks;
[Page 36]347 Such the confus'd and horrid sounds
348 Of Irish in Potatoe grounds.
349 BUT tir'd, for even Woman's tongue
350 Is not on Iron hinges hung,
351 FEAR and CONFUSION sound retreat,
352 REASON and ORDER take their seat.
353 The fact confirm'd beyond all doubt,
354 They now would find the causes out.
355 For this a sacred rule we find
356 Among the nicest of Mankind,
357 Which never might exception brook
358 From HOBBES e'en down to BOLINGBROKE,
359 To doubt of facts, however true,
360 Unless they know the causes too.
361 TRIFLE, of whom 'twas hard to tell
362 When he intended ill or well,
363 Who, to prevent all farther pother,
364 Probably meant nor one nor to'ther,
365 Who to be silent always loth,
366 Would speak on either side or both,
367 Who, led away by love of Fame,
368 If any new Idea came,
[Page 37]369 Whate'er it made for, always said it,
370 Not with an eye to Truth, but Credit.
371 For ORATORS profest, 'tis known,
372 Talk not for our sake, but their own;
373 Who always shew'd his talents best
374 When serious things were turn'd to jest,
375 And, under much impertinence,
376 Possess'd no common share of sense;
377 Who could deceive the flying hours,
378 To chat on Butterflies and Flow'rs;
379 Could talk of Powder, Patches, Paint,
380 With the same zeal as of a Saint;
381 Could prove a Sibil brighter far,
382 Than Venus, or the Morning Star;
383 Whilst something still so gay, so new,
384 The smile of approbation drew,
385 That Females ey'd the charming man,
386 And their hearts flutter'd with their Fan;
387 TRIFLE, who would by no means miss
388 An opportunity like this,
389 Proceeding on his usual plan,
390 Smil'd, strok'd his Chin, and thus began.
391 WITH Sheers, or Scissars, Sword, or Knife,
392 When the Fates cut the thread of life,
393 (For, if we to the Grave are sent,
394 No matter with what instrument)
395 The Body in some lonely spot,
396 Or Dung-hill vile, is laid to rot,
397 Or sleeps among more holy dead,
398 With Pray'rs irreverently read;
399 The Soul is sent, where Fate ordains,
400 To reap rewards, or suffer pains.
401 THE VIRTUOUS to those mansions go,
402 Where Pleasures unembitter'd flow,
403 Where, leading up a jocund band,
404 VIGOUR and YOUTH dance hand in hand,
405 Whilst ZEPHYR with harmonious gales
406 PIPES softest Music thro' the vales,
407 And SPRING and FLORA, gaily crown'd,
408 With Velvet Carpets spread the ground;
409 With livelier blush where Roses bloom,
410 And every shrub expires perfume,
411 Where chrystal streams maeandring glide,
412 Where warbling flows the amber tide,
[Page 39]413 Where other Suns dart brighter beams,
414 And LIGHT thro' purer aether streams.
415 FAR other seats, far diff'rent state
416 The Sons of Wickedness await.
417 JUSTICE (not that old Hag I mean,
418 Who's nightly in the Garden seen,
419 Who lets no spark of Mercy rise
420 For Crimes, by which men lose their eyes;
421 Nor HER, who with an equal hand,
422 Weighs Tea and Sugar in the STRAND;
423 Nor HER, who by the World deem'd wise,
424 Deaf to the Widow's piercing cries,
425 Steel'd 'gainst the starving Orphan's tears,
426 On Pawns her base Tribunal rears;
427 But HER, who after Death presides,
428 Whom sacred TRUTH unerring guides,
429 Who, free from partial influence,
430 Nor sinks, nor raises Evidence,
431 Before whom nothing's in the dark,
432 Who takes no bribe, and keeps no Clerk)
433 JUSTICE with equal scale below,
434 In due proportion weighs out woe,
[Page 40]435 And always with such lucky aim
436 Knows punishments so fit to frame,
437 That she augments their grief and pain,
438 Leaving no Reason to complain.
439 SLOVENS and Beaux are join'd together,
440 Coquettes and Prudes, like April weather,
441 Wit's forc'd to Chum with Common Sense,
442 And Lust is yok'd to Impotence.
443 PROFESSORS (Justice so decreed)
444 Unpaid must constant Lectures read;
445 On Earth it often doth befal,
446 They're paid, and never read at all.
447 Parsons must practice what they teach,
448 And B—ps are compell'd to preach.
449 SHE, who on earth was nice and prim,
450 Of delicacy full, and whim,
451 Whose tender Nature could not bear
452 The rudeness of the churlish air,
453 Is doom'd, to mortify her pride,
454 The change of weather to abide,
455 And sells, whilst tears with liquor mix,
456 Burnt Brandy on the Shore of STYX.
457 AVARO, by long use grown bold
458 In ev'ry ill which brings him gold,
459 Who his REDEEMER would pull down,
460 And sell his GOD for Half a Crown,
461 Who, if some Block-head should be willing
462 To lend him on his Soul a Shilling,
463 A well-made bargain would esteem it,
464 And have more sense than to redeem it,
465 JUSTICE shall in those shades confine,
466 To drudge for PLUTUS in the Mine,
467 All the Day long to toil and roar,
468 And cursing work the stubborn ore,
469 For Coxcombs here who have no brains,
470 Without a Sixpence for his pains.
471 Thence, with each due return of Night,
472 COMPELL'D the tall, thin, half-starv'd SPRITE,
473 Shall earth re-visit, and survey
474 The place where once his treasure lay,
475 Shall view the stall, where holy PRIDE,
476 With letter'd IGNORANCE allied,
477 Once hail'd him mighty and ador'd,
478 Descended to another Lord.
479 Then shall He screaming pierce the air,
480 Hang his lank jaws, and scowl despair;
[Page 42]481 Then shall He ban at Heav'n's decrees,
482 And howling sink to Hell for ease.
483 THOSE, who on Earth thro' life have past
484 With equal pace from first to last,
485 Nor vex'd with passions, nor with spleen,
486 Insipid, easy, and serene,
487 Whose heads were made too weak to bear
488 The weight of business, or of care,
489 Who without Merit, without Crime,
490 Contriv'd to while away their time,
491 Nor Good, nor Bad, nor Fools, nor Wits,
492 Mild JUSTICE with a smile permits,
493 Still to pursue their darling plan,
494 And find amusement how they can.
495 THE BEAU, in gaudiest plumage drest,
496 With lucky Fancy, o'er the rest
497 Of AIR a curious mantle throws,
498 And chats among his Brother BEAUX;
499 Or, if the weather's fine and clear,
500 No sign of rain or tempest near,
501 Encourag'd by the cloudless day,
502 Like gilded Butterflies at play,
[Page 43]503 So lively All, so gay, so brisk,
504 In AIR They flutter, float, and frisk.
505 THE BELLE (what mortal doth not know,
506 BELLES after death admire a BEAU?)
507 With happy grace renews her art,
508 To trap the Coxcomb's wand'ring heart.
509 And after death, as whilst they live,
510 A heart is all which BEAUX can give.
511 IN some still solemn sacred shade,
512 Behold a group of AUTHORS laid.
513 News-paper WITS, and SONNETEERS,
514 Gentlemen BARDS, and Rhiming PEERS,
515 BIOGRAPHERS, whose wond'rous worth,
516 Is scarce remember'd now on earth,
517 Whom FIELDING's humour led astray,
518 And plaintive FOPS, debauch'd by GRAY,
519 All sit together in a ring,
520 And laugh, and prattle, write and sing.
521 ON his own works, with laurel crown'd,
522 Neatly and elegantly bound,
[Page 44]523 (For this is one of many rules,
524 With writing Lords and laureat Fools,
525 And which for ever must succeed
526 With other Lords who cannot read,
527 However destitute of wit,
528 To make their works for BOOKCASE fit)
529 Acknowledg'd Master of those seats,
530 CIBBER his Birth-Day Odes repeats.
531 WITH Triumph now possess that seat,
532 With Triumph now thy Odes repeat,
533 Unrivall'd Vigils proudly keep,
534 Whilst ev'ry hearer's lull'd to sleep,
535 But know, Illustrious BARD, when Fate,
536 Which still pursues thy name with hate,
537 The Regal Laurel blasts, which now
538 Blooms on the placid WHITEHEAD's brow,
539 Low must descend thy Pride and Fame,
540 And CIBBER's be the second Name.
541 HERE TRIFLE cough'd (for Coughing still
542 Bears witness to the Speaker's skill,
543 A necessary piece of art,
544 Of Rhet'ric an essential part,
[Page 45]545 All Adepts in the Speaking trade
546 Keep a Cough by them ready made,
547 Which they successfully dispense
548 When at a loss for words or sense)
549 Here TRIFLE cough'd, here paus'd — but while
550 He strove to recollect his smile,
551 That happy engine of his art,
552 Which triumph'd o'er the female heart,
553 CREDULITY, the Child of FOLLY,
554 Begot on Cloyster'd MELANCHOLLY,
555 Who heard with grief the florid Fool
556 Turn sacred things to ridicule,
557 And saw him, led by WHIM away,
558 Still farther from the subject stray,
559 Just in the happy nick, aloud
560 In shape of M—E address'd the Crowd.
561 WERE we with Patience here to sit,
562 Dupes to th' impertinence of Wit,
563 Till TRIFLE his harangue should end,
564 A Greenland Night we might attend,
565 Whilst He, with fluency of speech,
566 Would various mighty nothings teach,
[Page 46]567 (Here TRIFLE, sternly looking down,
568 Gravely endeavour'd at a Frown,
569 But NATURE unawares stept in,
570 And, mocking, turn'd it to a Grin)
571 And when, in FANCY's Chariot hurl'd,
572 We had been carried round the world,
573 Involv'd in error still and doubt,
574 He'd leave us where we first set out.
575 Thus Soldiers (in whose exercise
576 Material use with Grandeur vies)
577 Lift up their legs with mighty pain,
578 Only to set them down again.
579 BELIEVE ye not (yes, all I see
580 In sound belief concur with me)
581 That PROVIDENCE for worthy ends,
582 To us unknown, this SPIRIT sends?
583 Tho' speechless lay the trembling tongue,
584 Your Faith was on your Features hung,
585 Your Faith I in your eyes could see
586 When all were pale and star'd like me.
587 But scruples to prevent, and root
588 Out ev'ry shadow of dispute,
[Page 47]589 POMPOSO, PLAUSIBLE, and I,
590 With FANNY have agreed, to try
591 A deep concerted scheme. This night,
592 To fix, or to destroy HER quite.
593 If it be True, before we've done
594 We'll make it glaring as the Sun;
595 If it be false, admit no doubt,
596 E're Morning's dawn we'll find it out.
597 Into the vaulted womb of Death,
598 Where FANNY now, depriv'd of breath,
599 Lies fest'ring, whilst her troubled Sprite
600 Adds horror to the gloom of night,
601 Will We descend, and bring from thence
602 Proofs of such force to Common Sense,
603 Vain Triflers shall no more deceive,
604 And ATHEISTS tremble, and believe.
605 HE said, and ceas'd; the Chamber rung
606 With due applause from ev'ry tongue.
607 The mingled sound (now let me see,
608 Something by way of Simile)
609 Was it more like Strymonian Cranes,
610 Or Winds, low murm'ring, when it rains,
[Page 48]611 Or drowsy hum of clust'ring Bees,
612 Or the hoarse roar of angry Seas,
613 Or (still to heighten and explain,
614 For else our Simile is vain)
615 Shall we declare it like all four,
616 A Scream, a Murmur, Hum, and Roar?
617 LET FANCY now in awful state
618 Present this great TRIUMVIRATE,
619 (A method which receiv'd we find
620 In other cases by mankind)
621 Elected with a joint consent
622 All Fools in Town to represent.
623 THE Clock strikes Twelve — M—E starts and swears,
624 In Oaths we know as well as Pray'rs
625 RELIGION lies, and a Church Brother
626 May use at will or one or t'other;
627 PLAUSIBLE, from his Cassock drew,
628 A holy Manual, seeming new,
629 A Book it was of private Pray'r,
630 But not a pin the worse for wear,
631 For, as we by the bye may say,
632 None but small Saints in private pray.
[Page 49]633 RELIGION, fairest Maid on earth,
634 As meek as good, who drew her birth
635 From that blest union, when in heaven
636 PLEASURE was Bride to VIRTUE given,
637 RELIGION, ever pleas'd to pray,
638 Possess'd the precious gift one day;
639 HYPOCRISY, of CUNNING born,
640 Crept in and stole it e'er the morn.
641 WH—TF—D, that greatest of all Saints,
642 Who always prays, and never faints,
643 Whom SHE to her own Brothers bore,
644 RAPINE and LUST, on SEVERN's shore,
645 Receiv'd it from the squinting Dame;
646 From Him to PLAUSIBLE it came,
647 Who, with unusual care opprest,
648 Now trembling pull'd it from his breast.
649 Doubts in his boding heart arise,
650 And fancied Spectres blast his eyes.
651 DEVOTION springs from abject fear,
652 And stamps his Pray'rs for once sincere.
653 POMPOSO (insolent and loud,
654 Vain idol of a scribbling croud,
[Page 50]655 Whose very name inspires an awe,
656 Whose ev'ry word is Sense and Law,
657 For what his Greatness hath decreed,
658 Like Laws of PERSLAN and of MEDE,
659 Sacred thro' all the realm of Wit,
660 Must never of Repeal admit;
661 Who, cursing flatt'ry, is the tool
662 Of ev'ry fawning flatt'ring fool;
663 Who Wit with jealous eye surveys,
664 And sickens at another's praise;
665 Who, proudly seiz'd of Learning's throne,
666 Now damns all Learning but his own;
667 Who scorns those common wares to trade in,
668 Reas'ning, Convincing, and Persuading,
669 But makes each Sentence current pass
670 With Puppy, Coxcomb, Scoundrel, Ass,
671 For 'tis with him a certain rule,
672 The Folly's prov'd, when He calls Fool;
673 Who, to increase his native strength,
674 Draws words, six syllables in length,
675 With which, assisted with a frown,
676 By way of Club, he knocks us down;
677 Who 'bove the Vulgar dares to rise,
678 And sense of Decency defies,
[Page 51]679 For this same Decency is made
680 Only for Bunglers in the trade;
681 And, like the Cobweb Laws, is still
682 Broke thro' by Great ones when they will) —
683 POMPOSO, with strong sense supplied,
684 Supported, and confirm'd by Pride,
685 His Comrades' terrors to beguile,
686 Grin'd horribly a ghastly smile:
687 Features so horrid, were it light,
688 Would put the Devil himself to flight.
689 SUCH were the Three in Name and Worth,
690 Whom ZEAL and JUGDMENT singled forth
691 To try the Sprite on REASON's plan,
692 Whether it was of God or Man.
693 DARK was the Night; it was that Hour,
694 When TERROR reigns in fullest Pow'r,
695 When, as the Learn'd of old have said,
696 The yawning Grave gives up her dead,
697 When MURDER, RAPINE by her side,
698 Stalks o'er the earth with Giant stride;
699 Our QUIXOTES (for that Knight of old
700 Was not in Truth by half so bold,
[Page 52]701 Tho' REASON at the same time cries
702 Our QUIXOTES are not half so wise,
703 Since they with other follies boast
704 An Expedition 'gainst a Ghost)
705 Thro' the dull deep surrounding gloom
706 In close array tow'rds FANNY's tomb
707 Adventur'd forth — CAUTION before
708 With heedful step the lanthorn bore,
709 Pointing at Graves, and in the Rear,
710 Trembling, and talking loud, went FEAR.
711 The Church-yard teem'd — th' unsettled ground,
712 As in an Ague, shook around;
713 While in some dreary vault confin'd,
714 Or riding on the hollow Wind,
715 HORROR, which turns the heart to stone,
716 In dreadful sounds was heard to groan.
717 All staring, wild, and out of breath,
718 At length they reach the place of death.
719 A VAULT it was, long time applied
720 To hold the last remains of Pride:
721 No Beggar there, of humble race,
722 And humble fortunes, finds a place;
[Page 53]723 To rest in Pomp as well as Ease
724 The only way's to pay the Fees.
725 FOOLS, ROGUES, and WHORES, if Rich and Great,
726 Proud e'en in death, HERE rot in State.
727 No Thieves disrobe the well-drest Dead,
728 No Plumbers steal the sacred lead,
729 Quiet and safe the Bodies lie,
730 No SEXTONS sell, no SURGEONS buy.
731 THRICE each the pond'rous key apply'd,
732 And Thrice to turn it vainly try'd,
733 Till taught by Prudence to unite,
734 And straining with collected might,
735 The stubborn wards resist no more,
736 But open flies the growling door.
737 THREE paces back They fell amaz'd,
738 Like Statues stood, like Madmen gaz'd.
739 The frighted blood forsakes the face,
740 And seeks the heart with quicker pace;
741 The throbbing heart its fears declares,
742 And upright stand the bristled hairs;
743 The head in wild distraction swims;
744 Cold sweats bedew the trembling limbs;
[Page 54]745 NATURE, whilst Fears her bosom chill,
746 Suspends her Pow'rs, and LIFE stands still.
747 THUS had they stood till now, but SHAME
748 (An useful, tho' neglected Dame,
749 By Heav'n design'd the Friend of Man,
750 Tho' we degrade Her all we can,
751 And strive, as our first proof of Wit,
752 Her Name and Nature to forget)
753 Came to their aid in happy hour,
754 And with a wand of mighty pow'r
755 Struck on their hearts; vain Fears subside,
756 And baffled leave the field to PRIDE.
757 SHALL THEY, (forbid it Fame) shall THEY
758 The dictates of vile Fear obey?
759 Shall They, the Idols of the Town,
760 To Bugbears Fancy-form'd bow down?
761 Shall They, who greatest zeal exprest,
762 And undertook for all the rest,
763 Whose matchless Courage all admire,
764 Inglorious from the task retire?
765 How would the Wicked Ones rejoice,
766 And Infidels exalt their voice,
[Page 55]767 If M—E and PLAUSIBLE were found,
768 By shadows aw'd, to quit their ground?
769 How would Fools laugh, should It appear
770 POMPOSO was the slave of Fear?
771 "Perish the thought! tho' to our eyes
772 "In all its terrors Hell should rise,
773 "Tho' thousand Ghosts in dread array,
774 "With glaring eye-balls cross our way,
775 "Tho' CAUTION trembling stands aloof,
776 "Still will we on, and dare the proof. "
777 They said, and without farther halt,
778 Dauntless march'd onward to the VAULT.
779 WHAT mortal men, whoe'er drew breath,
780 Shall break into the House of DEATH
781 With foot unhallow'd, and from thence
782 The Myst'ries of that State dispense,
783 Unless they with due rites prepare
784 Their weaker sense, such sights to bear,
785 And gain permission from the State,
786 On Earth their journal to relate?
787 POETS themselves, without a crime,
788 Cannot attempt it e'en in Rhime,
[Page 56]789 But always on such grand occasion,
790 Prepare a solemn Invocation,
791 A Posy for grim PLUTO weave,
792 And in smooth numbers ask his leave.
793 But why this Caution? why prepare
794 Rites needless now, for thrice in air
795 The SPIRIT of the NIGHT hath sneez'd,
796 And thrice hath clap'd his wings well-pleas'd.
797 DESCEND then TRUTH, and guard my side,
798 My Muse, my Patroness, and Guide!
799 Let Others at Invention aim,
800 And seek by falsities for fame;
801 Our Story wants not at this time,
802 Flounces and Furbelows in Rhime:
803 Relate plain Facts; be brief and bold;
804 And let the POETS, fam'd of old,
805 Seek, whilst our artless tale we tell,
806 In vain to find a PARALLEL:
807 SILENT ALL THREE WENT IN, ABOUT
808 ALL THREE TURN'D SILENT, AND CAME OUT.
END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
[Page]About this text
Author: Charles Churchill
Themes:
supernatural
Genres:
satire
Text view / Document view
Contents
- THE GHOST . (book)
- THE GHOST . BOOK II . (book)
Source edition
Churchill, Charles, 1731-1764. The ghost: By the author. London: printed for the author, and sold by William Flexney, 1762. [4],56p. ; 4⁰. (ESTC T226; OTA K019945.000)
Editorial principles
The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.