The Poems and Miscellaneous Compositions of Paul Whitehead With Explanatory Notes on his Writings, and His life written by Captain Edward Thompson. With a Head of the Author, From a Painting by Mr. Gainsborough |
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| I. | BOOK I. |
| II. |
| III. |
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 | The Poems and Miscellaneous Compositions of Paul Whitehead |  |
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BOOK I.
THE ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.
THE Invocation, the Proposition, the Night before the Battle described; the Morning opens, and discovers the Multitude hasting to the place of Action; their various Professions, Dignities, &c. illustrated; the Spectators being seated, the youthful Combatants are first introduced; their manner of Fighting displayed; to these succeed the Champions of a higher degree; their superior Abilities marked, some of the most eminent particularly celebrated; mean while, the principal Heroes are represented sitting, and ruminating on the approaching Combat, when the Herald summons them to the Lists.
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Sing, sing, O Muse, the dire contested Fray,
And bloody honours of that dreadful day,
When Phaëton's bold Son (tremendous name)
Dar'd Neptune's Offspring to the Lists of Fame,
What Fury fraught Thee with Ambition's fire,
Ambition, equal foe to Son and Sire?
One, hapless fell by Jove's æthereal arms,
And One, the Triton's mighty pow'r disarms.
And bloody honours of that dreadful day,
When Phaëton's bold Son (tremendous name)
Dar'd Neptune's Offspring to the Lists of Fame,
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Ambition, equal foe to Son and Sire?
One, hapless fell by Jove's æthereal arms,
And One, the Triton's mighty pow'r disarms.
Now all lay hush'd within the folds of night,
And saw in painted dreams th' important fight;
While hopes and fears alternate turn the scales,
And now this Hero, and now that prevails;
Blows and imaginary blood survey,
Then waking, watch the slow approach of day;
When, lo! Aurora in her saffron vest
Darts a glad ray, and gilds the ruddy East.
And saw in painted dreams th' important fight;
While hopes and fears alternate turn the scales,
And now this Hero, and now that prevails;
Blows and imaginary blood survey,
Then waking, watch the slow approach of day;
When, lo! Aurora in her saffron vest
Darts a glad ray, and gilds the ruddy East.
65
Forth issuing now all ardent seek the place
Sacred to Fame, and the Athletic race.
As from their Hive the clust'ring Squadrons pour
O'er fragrant meads, to sip the vernal flow'r;
So from each Inn the legal Swarms impel,
Of banded Seers, and Pupils of the Quill.
Senates and Shambles pour forth all their store,
Mindful of mutton, and of laws no more;
E'en money-bills, uncourtly, now must wait,
And the fat lamb has one more day to bleat.
The Highway Knight now draws his pistol's load,
Rests his saint steed, and this day franks the road.
Bailiffs, in crouds, neglect the dormant writ,
And give another Sunday to the Wit:
He too would hie, but, ah! his fortunes frown;
Alas! the fatal passport's—Half-a-crown.
Shoals press on shoals, from palace and from cell;
Lords yield the Court, and Butchers Clerkenwell.
St. Giles's natives, never known to fail,
All who have haply 'scap'd th' obdurate jail;
There many a martial Son of Tott'nham lies,
Bound in Deveilian bands, a sacrifice
To angry Justice, nor must view the prize.
Sacred to Fame, and the Athletic race.
As from their Hive the clust'ring Squadrons pour
O'er fragrant meads, to sip the vernal flow'r;
So from each Inn the legal Swarms impel,
Of banded Seers, and Pupils of the Quill.
Senates and Shambles pour forth all their store,
Mindful of mutton, and of laws no more;
66
And the fat lamb has one more day to bleat.
The Highway Knight now draws his pistol's load,
Rests his saint steed, and this day franks the road.
Bailiffs, in crouds, neglect the dormant writ,
And give another Sunday to the Wit:
He too would hie, but, ah! his fortunes frown;
Alas! the fatal passport's—Half-a-crown.
Shoals press on shoals, from palace and from cell;
Lords yield the Court, and Butchers Clerkenwell.
67
All who have haply 'scap'd th' obdurate jail;
There many a martial Son of Tott'nham lies,
Bound in Deveilian bands, a sacrifice
To angry Justice, nor must view the prize.
Assembled myriads croud the circling seats,
High for the Combat every bosom beats,
Each bosom partial for its Hero bold,
Partial thro' Friendship—or depending Gold.
High for the Combat every bosom beats,
Each bosom partial for its Hero bold,
Partial thro' Friendship—or depending Gold.
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But first, the infant Progeny of Mars
Join in the lists, and wage their pigmy wars;
Train'd to the manual fight, and bruiseful toil,
The stop defensive, and gymnastic foil,
With nimble fists their early prowess show,
And mark the future Hero in each blow.
Join in the lists, and wage their pigmy wars;
Train'd to the manual fight, and bruiseful toil,
The stop defensive, and gymnastic foil,
With nimble fists their early prowess show,
And mark the future Hero in each blow.
To these, the hardy iron race succeed,
All Sons of Hockley and fierce Brick-street breed:
Mature in valour, and inur'd to blood,
Dauntless each foe in form terrific stood;
Their callous bodies, frequent in the fray,
Mock'd the fell stroke, nor to its force gave way.
'Mongst these Gloverius, not the last in fame,
And he whose Clog delights the beauteous Dame;
Nor least thy praise, whose artificial Light,
In Dian's absence, gilds the clouds of night.
All Sons of Hockley and fierce Brick-street breed:
Mature in valour, and inur'd to blood,
Dauntless each foe in form terrific stood;
Their callous bodies, frequent in the fray,
Mock'd the fell stroke, nor to its force gave way.
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And he whose Clog delights the beauteous Dame;
Nor least thy praise, whose artificial Light,
In Dian's absence, gilds the clouds of night.
While these the Combat's direful arts display,
And share the bloody fortunes of the day,
Each Hero sat, revolving in his soul
The various means that might his foe controul;
Conquest and Glory each proud bosom warms,
When, lo! the Herald summons them to arms.
And share the bloody fortunes of the day,
Each Hero sat, revolving in his soul
The various means that might his foe controul;
Conquest and Glory each proud bosom warms,
When, lo! the Herald summons them to arms.
| The Poems and Miscellaneous Compositions of Paul Whitehead | |