Maggots or, Poems on Several Subjects, Never before Handled. By a Schollar [i.e. Samuel Wesley] |
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| 2. | The Second Dialogue, Between the Herring, and Whale. |
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 | Maggots |  |
The Second Dialogue, Between the Herring, and Whale.
First and formost, (and before I tell you by what Art I make these Gentlemen speak) 'tis the part of an Honest man to acknowledge, and repay what he has borrow'd. This Line is but little alter'd from that in Rehearsal.
“I am the bold Thunder—the brisk Lightning I.In the next place—By what Art Magick can I perswade Fishes to speak, who are mute to a Proverb, and no more enclin'd to prating than Fryer Bacon's Brazen-Head? Why, first take notice that's a Vulgar Errour, and a scandal on the free Citizens of the Ocean: they are silent indeed when dragg'd into our Element, nor should we much, I believe, be more enclin'd to Oratory, if Head and Ears covered in theirs. Again, 'tis plain they have a voice, prov'd from the Whale, who is his Battle with the Sword-fish and Thrasher, describ'd below, roars with such an audible voice, he may be heard three Leagues off. If all this ben't enough, I'me sure they may as well pretend to speech as Lucians Bed, and Lamp; by which Figure I shall introduce Chamberpot and Frying-pan, two or three pages hence.
I am the bold Whale.
(Herring:)
—And the brisk Herring I.
Whale.
Thro' the Ocean I roll.
(Herring.)
O're the Shallows I fly.
Whale.
Per fidem be gone from my presence! How dare
The ridiculous Mouse with the Mountain compare?
Herring.
Take my Honour, take my Life! to my Post I'll abide,
Now I find such Authority plain o'my side,
Tho' you swell, yet, unless the Rehearsal do's lie,
There's ten times more Beauty and Shape in a Fly.
Whale.
Tho' with ease I could breath thee to nothing again,
Or spout thee a Mile, to thy Enemies, Men;
Once upon a time Phæbus having nothing else to do (perhaps when Jupiter gave him a Holiday) descended to some Wake or other, and undertook the Fidler for a Wager; but being like to be baffled, he had no remedy but to call his Godship in, and fright the Poor fellow so (whose name I should have told ye was Marsyas) that he made him leapt out of his Skin.
And even descend to dispute for my own;
A couple we'll chuse, who the Umpires shall be,
The Dolphin is mine.
(Herring)
—The Shrimp my Referee.
Whale.
How should the Whale know that piece of Philosophy? Why might not Aristotle teach him when he leapt into the Water, as wisely as Empedocles into Fire? But 'tis contrary to his Hypothesis, who denied a beginning of the World, and consequently the Chaos, &c. Why, then Arion when cap'ring on the Dolphins back, instructed that Dolphin, that Dolphin his Son, and so down to the Whale.—and there's the short and the long on't.
But kind Mother Nature call'd me out of the deep;
What a Gulph did I leave i'the space whence I came?
What a Cantlet of Chaos was spent i'my frame!
When Nature the Whale into Being did bring,
She smil'd, and she cry'd—He is made for a King.
Herring.
Tho' a World of dull Bullion your essence do's hold,
Scarce an Atom of Soul was cast into the Mould,
Room enough, and to spare lavish Nature allows,
But provides not a Tenant to suit with the House:
As for me, tho' she veils me with Flesh, and with Skin,
Yet my Form's little else but pure Spirit within:
And in vain you your Bulk for your Monarchy bring,
For if the Ocean were Goth-land who but I should be King.
Not alone on my Bulk I intend to rely;
My Strength, and my Courage with my Magnitude vye:
My side is too thick for a Spear or a Dart;
Huge Rafters of Ribs barricado my Heart.
Even Neptune himself is afraid when I roar,
And his quiv'ring Court dive away to the Shore.
With a courage undaunted I'll a Navy assail,
And disorder whole Squadrons by a brush with my Tail.
Herring.
Your strength and your Valour must needs be Divine,
When you're caught, like a Gudgeon with a Hook, and a Line:
When spite of Dame Luna, at Ebb 'twill be flood,
And you make a Spring-tide all around with your Blood.
Whale.
The Laws of hard Nature forbid to withstand,
That Forreigner Man, the fierce Tyrant o'th' Land:
'Tis the Sea is my Kingdom, and the Waters must own,
At home I have ever been Monarch alone.
Herring.
The Story is thus. The Thrasher and Sword-fish are two Fish, the Whales implacable Enemyes. The Sword-fish having a sharp bone in his Head, gets under his soft Belly, and makes him rise to the Top of the Water; where the Thresher with his Wash-beetle Tayl, beats him down again, and between them both they Thump him so unconscionably, that he crys murder so loud you may hear him three Leagues off.
To leave off their Sport, and allow you some ease:
While one Reyns you in, 'tother makes you Curvet;
Then Neptune indeed may shake when you roar,
Tho' you're Nine-mile at Sea, they can hear you ashore.
Dolphin.
All to Arms! all to Arms! while we scolding sit here,
Look! look where the Enemyes fleet do's appear:
The Fishermans Navy with sail, and with Oar,
That has often among us made Havock before.
Shrimp, Herring.
I boyl—and I broyl till my Jerkin do's crack.
Whale.
And I feel barbed Irons like a Grove on my back:
'Tis in vain with such Odds for the Combat to stay,
All shift for your selves, and I'll lead you the way.
| Maggots | |