[Page 159][Page 160]
[Illustration]
FABLE [47] XLVII.
The Court of Death.
1 Death, on a solemn night of state,
2 In all his pomp of terrors sate:
3 Th' attendants of his gloomy reign,
4 Diseases dire, a ghastly train,
5 Croud the vast court. With hollow tone
6 A voice thus thunder'd from the throne.
7 This night our minister we name,
8 Let ev'ry servant speak his claim;
9 Merit shall bear this eban wand.
10 All, at the word, stretch'd forth their hand.
11 Feaver, with burning heat possest,
12 Advanc'd, and for the wand addrest.
13 I to the weekly bills appeal,
14 Let those express my fervent zeal,
15 On ev'ry slight occasion near,
16 With violence I persevere.
17 Next Gout appears with limping pace,
18 Pleads how he shifts from place to place,
19 From head to foot how swift he flies,
20 And ev'ry joint and sinew plys,
21 Still working when he seems supprest,
22 A most tenacious stubborn guest.
23 A haggard spectre from the crew
24 Crawls forth, and thus asserts his due.
25 'Tis I who taint the sweetest joy,
26 And in the shape of love destroy:
[Page 161]27 My shanks, sunk eyes, and noseless face
28 Prove my pretension to the place.
29 Stone urg'd his ever-growing force.
30 And, next, Consumption's meagre corse,
31 With feeble voice, that scarce was heard,
32 Broke with short coughs, his suit prefer'd.
33 Let none object my lingring way,
34 I gain, like Fabius, by delay,
35 Fatigue and weaken ev'ry foe
36 By long attack, secure though slow.
37 Plague represents his rapid power,
38 Who thinn'd a nation in an hour.
39 All spoke their claim, and hop'd the wand.
40 Now expectation hush'd the band,
41 When thus the monarch from the throne.
42 Merit was ever modest known.
43 What, no physician speak his right!
44 None here! But fees their toils requite.
45 Let then Intemp'rance take the wand,
46 Who fills with gold their zealous hand.
[Page 162]47 You, Feaver, Gout, and all the rest,
48 (Whom wary men, as foes, detest,)
49 Forgo your claim; no more pretend:
50 Intemp'rance is esteem'd a friend,
51 He shares their mirth, their social joys,
52 And, as a courted guest, destroys;
53 The charge on him must justly fall,
54 Who finds employment for you all.
Source edition
Gay, John, 1685-1732. FABLES. By Mr. GAY. London: Printed for J. Tonson and J. Watts, MDCCXXVII., 1727, pp. 159-162. [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 [42] XLII. The Jugglers. ()
- 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 [48] XLVIII. The Gardener and the Hog. ()
- FABLE [49] XLIX. The Man and the Flea. ()
- FABLE [50] L. The Hare and many Friends. ()