[Page 141][Page 143][Page 144]
[Illustration]
FABLE [42] XLII.
The Jugglers.
1 A Juggler long through all the town
2 Had rais'd his fortune and renown;
3 You'd think (so far his art transcends)
4 The devil at his finger's ends.
5 Vice heard his fame, she read his bill;
6 Convinc'd of his inferior skill,
[Page 142]7 She sought his booth, and from the croud
8 Defy'd the man of art aloud.
9 Is this then he so fam'd for slight,
10 Can this slow bungler cheat your sight,
11 Dares he with me dispute the prize?
12 I leave it to impartial eyes.
13 Provok'd, the Juggler cry'd, 'tis done.
14 In science I submit to none.
15 Thus said. The cups and balls he play'd;
16 By turns, this here, that there, convey'd:
17 The cards, obedient to his words,
18 Are by a fillip turn'd to birds;
19 His little boxes change the grain,
20 Trick after trick deludes the train.
21 He shakes his bag, he shows all fair,
22 His fingers spread, and nothing there,
23 Then bids it rain with showers of gold,
24 And now his iv'ry eggs are told,
25 But when from thence the hen he draws,
26 Amaz'd spectators humm applause.
27 Vice now stept forth and took the place,
28 With all the forms of his grimace.
29 This magick looking-glass, she cries,
30 (There, hand it round) will charm your eyes:
31 Each eager eye the sight desir'd,
32 And ev'ry man himself admir'd.
33 Next, to a senator addressing;
34 See this Bank-note; observe the blessing:
35 Breathe on the bill. Heigh, pass! 'Tis gone.
36 Upon his lips a padlock shone.
37 A second puff the magick broke,
38 The padlock vanish'd, and he spoke.
39 Twelve bottles rang'd upon the board,
40 All full, with heady liquor stor'd,
41 By clean conveyance disappear,
42 And now two bloody swords are there.
43 A purse she to a thief expos'd;
44 At once his ready fingers clos'd:
45 He opes his fist, the treasure's fled,
46 He sees a halter in its stead.
47 She bids Ambition hold a wand,
48 He grasps a hatchet in his hand.
49 A box of charity she shows:
50 Blow here; and a church-warden blows,
51 'Tis vanish'd with conveyance neat,
52 And on the table smoaks a treat.
53 She shakes the dice, the board she knocks,
54 And from all pockets fills her box.
55 She next a meagre rake addrest;
56 This picture see; her shape, her breast!
57 What youth, and what inviting eyes!
58 Hold her, and have her. With surprise,
59 His hand expos'd a box of pills;
60 And a loud laugh proclaim'd his ills.
61 A counter, in a miser's hand,
62 Grew twenty guineas at command;
63 She bids his heir the summ retain,
64 And 'tis a counter now again.
65 A guinea with her touch you see
66 Take ev'ry shape but Charity;
[Page 145]67 And not one thing, you saw, or drew,
68 But chang'd from what was first in view.
69 The Juggler now, in grief of heart,
70 With this submission own'd her art.
71 Can I such matchless slight withstand?
72 How practice hath improv'd your hand!
73 But now and then I cheat the throng;
74 You ev'ry day, and all day long.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 141-145. [14],173,[1]p.: ill.; 4°. (ESTC T13818)
Editorial principles
Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. 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.
Other works by John Gay
- [FABLE ] INTRODUCTION TO THE FABLES. The Shepherd and the Philosopher. ()
- FABLE [01] I. The Lyon, the Tyger, and the Traveller. ()
- FABLE [02] II. The Spaniel and the Cameleon. ()
- FABLE [03] III. The Mother, the Nurse, and the Fairy. ()
- FABLE [04] IV. The Eagle, and the Assembly of Animals. ()
- FABLE [05] V. The Wild Boar and the Ram. ()
- FABLE [06] VI. The Miser and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [07] VII. The Lyon, the Fox, and the Geese. ()
- FABLE [08] VIII. The Lady and the Wasp. ()
- FABLE [09] IX. The Bull and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [10] X. The Elephant and the Bookseller. ()
- FABLE [11] XI. The Peacock, the Turkey, and Goose. ()
- FABLE [12] XII. Cupid, Hymen, and Plutus. ()
- FABLE [13] XIII. The tame Stag. ()
- FABLE [14] XIV. The Monkey who had seen the World. ()
- FABLE [15] XV. The Philosopher and the Pheasants. ()
- FABLE [16] XVI. The Pin and the Needle. ()
- FABLE [17] XVII. The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf. ()
- FABLE [18] XVIII. The Painter who pleased No body and Every body. ()
- FABLE [19] XIX. The Lyon and the Cub. ()
- FABLE [20] XX. The Old Hen and the Cock. ()
- FABLE [21] XXI. The Rat-catcher and Cats. ()
- FABLE [22] XXII. The Goat without a beard. ()
- FABLE [23] XXIII. The Old Woman and her Cats. ()
- FABLE [24] XXIV. The Butterfly and the Snail. ()
- FABLE [25] XXV. The Scold and the Parrot. ()
- FABLE [26] XXVI. The Cur and the Mastiff. ()
- FABLE [27] XXVII. The Sick Man and the Angel. ()
- FABLE [28] XXVIII. The Persian, the Sun and the Cloud. ()
- FABLE [29] XXIX. The Fox at the point of death. ()
- FABLE [30] XXX. The Setting-dog and the Partridge. ()
- FABLE [31] XXXI. The Universal Apparition. ()
- FABLE [32] XXXII. The two Owls and the Sparrow. ()
- FABLE [33] XXXIII. The Courtier and Proteus. ()
- FABLE [34] XXXIV. The Mastiffs. ()
- FABLE [35] XXXV. The Barley-mow and the Dung-hill. ()
- FABLE [36] XXXVI. Pythagoras and the Countryman. ()
- FABLE [37] XXXVII. The Farmer's Wife and the Raven. ()
- FABLE [38] XXXVIII. The Turkey and the Ant. ()
- FABLE [39] XXXIX. The Father and Jupiter. ()
- FABLE [40] XL. The two Monkeys. ()
- FABLE [41] XLI. The Owl and the Farmer. ()
- FABLE [43] XLIII. The Council of Horses. ()
- FABLE [44] XLIV. The Hound and the Huntsman. ()
- FABLE [45] XLV. The Poet and the Rose. ()
- FABLE [46] XLVI. The Cur, the Horse, and the Shepherd's Dog. ()
- FABLE [47] XLVII. The Court of Death. ()
- FABLE [48] XLVIII. The Gardener and the Hog. ()
- FABLE [49] XLIX. The Man and the Flea. ()
- FABLE [50] L. The Hare and many Friends. ()