The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse :: :: University of Virginia Library

To cloke this commerce, and the crime conceal
Cunning contriv'd to spread her specious veil,
By vending legal goods, for virtuous gold,
That needed not in secresy be sold—
Where every purchaser, if not too proud,
Could buy such bargains, in a common crowd,
As might securely curious gazers greet
On all the public pegs in Monmouth Street;
Or deck the pavement at the daily Fair,
Where Israel's tribes, in dirty troops, repair,
And every danger, every fear, defy,
Midst Tyrants of the Customs, skulking by.

There might be bought, expos'd for paltry gain,
The quondam trappings of the queenly Train;
There Beaux and Belles might make each beauty shine,
By decking backs, heads, limbs, for little coin,
And, thus bedizon'd with each royal Thing,
All fancy Self, Prince—Princess—Queen—or King!

There, thrown in splendid heaps—not hung on pegs,
The Hose which whilom press'd lov'd Princes' legs—
There, gayly flashing gold, or silver, flame,
What once fond hugg'd most sacred Monarch's Frame;
Each varied sort of silk, or velvet, Vest,
By clothing kingly body doubly blest!
Which, long reflecting Sovereign's solar light,
Had dazzled, while they drew, each servile sight!
Dear Linen, rich with aromatic dews,
Which pores of Potentates, alone diffuse;
And nameless robes, tho' bald, both sweet and fair,
Each cringing Courtier would, as nosegays, wear!
There, plac'd, with secret rapture, rich, were seen
Habiliments, once clasping Britain's Queen!
With curious darns, by regal fingers drawn,
Which rais'd their worth, to purchase, or, to pawn—
The flounces furnish'd with sweet-scented dust,
And precious metals, richer for the rust;
Which promptly might, at much remoter time,
Give greater brightness to each shred sublime!
There, too, each graceful garment might be found,
Whose envied foldings, erst, so fondly wound
Round lovely female Frames, of royal Race,
Not giving beauty, or bestowing grace,
But boasting fairer fame, and choicer charms,
From heavenly faces—necks and breasts—and arms,
With other sweet, and pure, celestial, parts,
Which win all clownish eyes, and courtly hearts!
And tho' some little tarnish might be trac'd,
Around the borders, or below the waist,
Yet all angelic Princesses transpire
Could only help to claim their value high'r—
And tho' some keen, discriminating, Eye,
Might here, and there, Economy descry,
The needle's labours, or proud pencil's touch,
No Lady deem'd one stroke, or stitch, too much—
While wrought by royal industry, and skill,
The Vesture's value was increasing, still,
In wonderous ratio! tho' the wardrobe, all,
Were one close patch-work, or one painted scrawl;
There Clothes were on shelf, or floor, or bench,
In which fierce York and Clarence scar'd the French;
Or other Princes shone, with warlike show,
Whose skill and courage frighted every Foe!

These once ordain'd, in happier days, to shine
On Prince, or Princess; Queen, or King divine!
And, like their Wearers, more than mortal view'd,
By Courtiers, they; both by the Multitude.
Now, like neglected Greatness, in disgrace,
Deeply degraded from the first embrace;
Which, when it can support mock Pomp no more,
Is turn'd, contemptuous, from the Palace door,
For ever banished from the smile of Kings,
And rank'd, as refuse, with inferior Things!

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With grosser garbs, as they that wore them, must,
Like meaner Mortals all be lodg'd in dust,
So were these royal reliques doom'd to dwell,
In the cramp'd sections of a Smuggler's cell—
By filth emboss'd, and fleecy cobwebs bound,
Where various vermin hunt in hourly round—
Mix'd with foul frippery, ev'n of Sisters frail,
Like selfish Courtiers, all expos'd to sale;
So to abide, no longer blythe and gay,
Till some new buyer bring them back to Day.

Such situation still may be compar'd
To that shrew'd office, which, before, they shar'd;
To hide beneath their dazzling gold's disguise,
Slight peccadillos, such as courtly Lies,
Avarice, and Lust; Hypocrisy, and Pride;
And some few foibles, of like sort, beside—
Thus, now, they serve, as coverings, to conceal
All kinds of Knavery, under virtuous veil,
While, in antique, but courtly, pomp display'd,
They cover Villainy with shining shade,
Exhibited abroad, in brilliant heap,
All puff'd to chafferers, now, as choice and cheap;
To jilt the judgment by their gaudy glare,
And offering specious proofs of traffic, fair,
As legal curtains cloking lawless ware.

	CHAPTER 12th. The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse