The Age Reviewed A Satire: In two parts: Second edition, revised and corrected [by Robert Montgomery] |
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| II. |
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Delightful period!—dare we mock the truth,
When age puts on the wantonness of youth?
When titled bawds are shrined in every Square,
And act their Bacchanalian revels there;
Or waltz and wriggle with lascivious sport,
The pamper'd idols of the ball and court;
When female love is barter'd like her bed,
And griping beldames force the maid to wed,
And matrons wallow in eternal vice,
And palsied swindlers snivel o'er their dice;
While B---y blinds, and L---x leads the vogue,
And jails become a solace for the rogue —
Each week with murders, and each day with crimes,
Sure easy spirits may applaud the times!!
Could half the nation's criminals contain;—
No spies were paid; no special juries known;
Blessed age!—but, ah! how different from our own.”
Johnson.
When age puts on the wantonness of youth?
When titled bawds are shrined in every Square,
And act their Bacchanalian revels there;
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The pamper'd idols of the ball and court;
When female love is barter'd like her bed,
And griping beldames force the maid to wed,
And matrons wallow in eternal vice,
And palsied swindlers snivel o'er their dice;
While B---y blinds, and L---x leads the vogue,
And jails become a solace for the rogue —
Each week with murders, and each day with crimes,
Sure easy spirits may applaud the times!!
“Difficile est, Satiram non scribere.—Nam quis iniquæ
Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus, ut teneat se?
------ Dicas hic forsitan, unde
Ingenium par materiæ? ------”.
Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus, ut teneat se?
------ Dicas hic forsitan, unde
Ingenium par materiæ? ------”.
Juv. I.
It is an ascertained fact, that many commit larceny to re-enter the prison where they were formerly so kindly treated! Few of our prisons now require a Howard. Notwithstanding,
“A single jail in Alfred's golden reign,Could half the nation's criminals contain;—
No spies were paid; no special juries known;
Blessed age!—but, ah! how different from our own.”
Johnson.
“Ah! how different from our own.” What would the worthy Doctor think of the present times, were he alive to witness their depravity?
| The Age Reviewed | |