Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?
Here's a Statesman, reckoned nice,
Cramm'd with independence; see,
He should bring a liberal price;
Come—what shall his figure be?
Pay alone that one will buy;
He has twice been sold before;
Power—a Garter—this goes high;
Come—for this you must bid more.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's a Soldier; that one, hark,
He is but mere common clay;
You can have him for a mark,
Cheap, for just twelve pence a day.

298

This one's quite another kind;
Sirs, for him play other cards;
For him orders you must find,
Or a fresh step in the Guards.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's a Lawyer—wants a soul,
Sold some years since for a fee;
For another—there, the whole,
All that's left, sir, yours shall be;
Let's be plain, though, shunning strife,
He's your own but while he's breath,
Not an instant after life,
Satan has him, slap, at death.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's a Poet; well, this time
You shall purchase for a whim;
Say, “he's Homer;” hear his rhyme;
That, you'll find, makes sure of him;
That's another of the tribe,
Queer the lot are, friends, I own,
At his rivals sneer and gibe;
There—he's yours for that alone.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Aldermen—coarse, dull, and fat—
Turtle, who'll for these afford?
Sir, a knighthood buys you that;
This, the notice of a lord;
Jews? O take them, life and soul,
For a bargain—large or small.
Tradesmen—you may have the whole,
Orders—cash, sir, buys them all.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

299

Who's for Women? on my life,
I can suit all; only try;
This, sir, if you want a wife,
Thirty thousand pounds will buy;
This, a title; but here, sir,
If for less you must be blest,
Any home will purchase her;
Prices differ for the rest.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's a Curate, lean and poor,
Him a living, friends, will buy;
Vicars can't be bought—you're sure?
They're too holy? only try;
Now who offers for this Saint?
What? a Deanery? not amiss;
And for this now? there, don't faint;
Yes, a Mitre buys you this.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's an Actor—yours for noise;
Only clap; he's yours, kind sir.
A Danseuse—a bouquet choice,
Diamonds—dress, make sure of her.
And this Merchant?—early news,
For a sly stroke upon 'Change,
Some good hint—the thing to use,
One that will the Funds derange.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

Here's a Bigot; who ensures
Him the highest seat in heaven?
Here's a Courtier; sir, he's yours
For that Garter to be given.
This Composer? you make oath
He's a Mozart? he's your own.

300

Painter? Sculptor? praise buys both,
Like your Poet—praise alone.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

What, sirs, you're for higher game?
King or Emperor? don't be nice;
They've their figure; conquests—fame—
Higher taxes—that's their price;
This one of the Bomba kind,
Mind! or, sir, he'll go off, bang!
Take him! do! if you've a mind
For some patriots, just to hang.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?

There, I'm nearly rid of all;
Come, who has the rest? they'll go
All for something; great and small,
King and cobbler—high and low;
Wisdom—ignorance—virtue—vice—
Patriot—tyrant—knave and tool—
Come—who buys? all have their price—
Parson—tradesman—genius—fool.
Images! Images! sirs, I cry;
Images! Images! come, who'll buy?