The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
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 | The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
THE VIRTUOSO's PRAYER.
‘O thou whose wisdom plann'd the skies,
And form'd the wings of butterflies,
Attend my humble pray'r!
Like Egypt, as in days of yore,
Let earth with flies be cover'd o'er,
And darken'd all the air.
And form'd the wings of butterflies,
Attend my humble pray'r!
Like Egypt, as in days of yore,
Let earth with flies be cover'd o'er,
And darken'd all the air.
This, Lord, wou'd be the best of news—
Then might thy servant pick and choose
From such a glorious heap:
Forth to the world I'd boldly rush,
Put all Museums to the blush,
And hold them all dog cheap.
Then might thy servant pick and choose
From such a glorious heap:
Forth to the world I'd boldly rush,
Put all Museums to the blush,
And hold them all dog cheap.
476
Pharaoh had not one grain of taste—
The flies on him were thrown to waste,
Nay, met with strong objection;
But had thy servant, Lord, been there,
I should have made, or much I err,
A wonderful collection!
The flies on him were thrown to waste,
Nay, met with strong objection;
But had thy servant, Lord, been there,
I should have made, or much I err,
A wonderful collection!
O Lord! if not my mem'ry fails,
Thou once didst rain on people quails—
Again the world surprise;
And 'stead of such a trifling bird,
Rain on thy servant Joseph, Lord,
Show'rs of rare butterflies!
Thou once didst rain on people quails—
Again the world surprise;
And 'stead of such a trifling bird,
Rain on thy servant Joseph, Lord,
Show'rs of rare butterflies!
Since monsters are my great delight,
With monsters charm thy servant's sight,
Turn feathers into hair:
Make legs where legs were never seen,
And eyes, no bigger than a pin,
As broad as saucers stare.
With monsters charm thy servant's sight,
Turn feathers into hair:
Make legs where legs were never seen,
And eyes, no bigger than a pin,
As broad as saucers stare.
The reptiles that are born with claws,
O! let thy power supply with paws,
Adorn'd with human nails;
In value more to make them rise,
Transplant from all their heads, their eyes,
And place them in their tails.
O! let thy power supply with paws,
Adorn'd with human nails;
In value more to make them rise,
Transplant from all their heads, their eyes,
And place them in their tails.
And if thou wisely wouldst contrive
To make me butterflies alive,
To fly without a head;
To skim the hedges and the fields,
Nay, eat the meat thy bouuty yields,
Such wonders were indeed!
To make me butterflies alive,
To fly without a head;
To skim the hedges and the fields,
Nay, eat the meat thy bouuty yields,
Such wonders were indeed!
Blagden should puff them at our meeting;
Members would press around me greeting;
The Journals swell with thanks;
And more to magnify their fame,
Those headless flies should have a name
My name—Sir Joseph Banks!’
Members would press around me greeting;
The Journals swell with thanks;
And more to magnify their fame,
Those headless flies should have a name
My name—Sir Joseph Banks!’
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |