Poems on Several Occasions In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell |
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INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MUSE. |
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MUSE.
If I, of Caledonian Race,
May hope to share of Cragg's Grace,
'Tis fit he first shou'd know my Case.
May hope to share of Cragg's Grace,
'Tis fit he first shou'd know my Case.
Then, Muse, address the Squire in Rhime,
But waste not his important Time,
With long and tedious Narration,
And tasteless, formal Supplication;
For certes He has more to do,
Than hearken to a Brat like you.
But waste not his important Time,
With long and tedious Narration,
And tasteless, formal Supplication;
For certes He has more to do,
Than hearken to a Brat like you.
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When by some artful Means or other,
You gain Admittance, make a Pother
To shew your Breeding; for, by Thee,
A Judgment will be made of Me.
Now, shou'd you with Behaviour akward
Appear, 'twou'd turn his Blessing backward:
Whereas you'll win him, by Decorum
Observ'd, when first you come before him.
So, having made a handsome Leg,
Tell him from whom you came to beg,
How I was bred an honest Whig,
And, in Rebellion Time, look'd big.
No Volunteer, in all our Party,
Was known more orthodox and hearty.
You may indeed confess my Bravery
Is small—but then so is my Knavery;
And, in the Cause, a faithful Creature,
His Honour knows is a great Matter!
You gain Admittance, make a Pother
To shew your Breeding; for, by Thee,
A Judgment will be made of Me.
Now, shou'd you with Behaviour akward
Appear, 'twou'd turn his Blessing backward:
Whereas you'll win him, by Decorum
Observ'd, when first you come before him.
So, having made a handsome Leg,
Tell him from whom you came to beg,
How I was bred an honest Whig,
And, in Rebellion Time, look'd big.
No Volunteer, in all our Party,
Was known more orthodox and hearty.
You may indeed confess my Bravery
Is small—but then so is my Knavery;
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His Honour knows is a great Matter!
When this is represented clearly,
Proceed to tell, however queerly;
How old a Dab I am at Wit,
And for a World of Uses fit!
—And here 'tis proper to enlarge,
And what your Conscience bids, discharge:
For You my Praise can better speak,
Than I, whom Modesty pulls back.
Proceed to tell, however queerly;
How old a Dab I am at Wit,
And for a World of Uses fit!
—And here 'tis proper to enlarge,
And what your Conscience bids, discharge:
For You my Praise can better speak,
Than I, whom Modesty pulls back.
Next, faithful Muse, you may go on,
To shew that I shall be undone,
Unless he put me in a Place,
Or by a Pension cure my Case.
Suggest, that half a Score of Fellows,
(Whose Frauds, 'tis said, deserve the Gallows)
Are instantly to be turn'd out,
That others may get in, no Doubt.
Now, since I'm honest and in Need,
And eke can fairly write and read,
He may do worse than send me North,
To inspect Tobacco, and so forth.
To shew that I shall be undone,
Unless he put me in a Place,
Or by a Pension cure my Case.
Suggest, that half a Score of Fellows,
(Whose Frauds, 'tis said, deserve the Gallows)
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That others may get in, no Doubt.
Now, since I'm honest and in Need,
And eke can fairly write and read,
He may do worse than send me North,
To inspect Tobacco, and so forth.
But, after all, if Craggs shou'd say,
“Muse, tell thy Master he must stay;
“Besides, thou art a chatt'ring Elf;
“I want to talk with Mitchell's self—
E'en take your Leave with due Decorum,
As when you first appear'd before him.
Suffice it, that He heard You out—
A Sign he'll serve me, without Doubt!
Be it thy Task to sing his Praise,
And mine to mind whate'er he says.
“Muse, tell thy Master he must stay;
“Besides, thou art a chatt'ring Elf;
“I want to talk with Mitchell's self—
E'en take your Leave with due Decorum,
As when you first appear'd before him.
Suffice it, that He heard You out—
A Sign he'll serve me, without Doubt!
Be it thy Task to sing his Praise,
And mine to mind whate'er he says.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |