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] |  |
ODE I.
Peter complimenteth Kien Long on his poetical Talent, and condemneth the Want of literary Taste in western Kings.
Dear Emp'ror, prince of poets, noble bard,
Thy brother Peter sendeth thee a card,
To say thou art an honour to the times—
Yes, Peter telleth thee, that for a king,
Indeed a most extraordinary thing,
Thou really makest very charming rhimes.
Thy brother Peter sendeth thee a card,
To say thou art an honour to the times—
Yes, Peter telleth thee, that for a king,
Indeed a most extraordinary thing,
Thou really makest very charming rhimes.
Witness thy Moukden
, which we all admire;
Witness thy pretty little Ode to Tea,
Compos'd when sipping by thy Tartar fire;
Witness thy many a madrigal and glee.
Witness thy pretty little Ode to Tea,
Compos'd when sipping by thy Tartar fire;
Witness thy many a madrigal and glee.
Believe me, venerable, good Kien Long,
Vast is my pleasure that the Muse's song
Divinely soundeth through thy Tartar groves;
Still greater, that the first of eastern kings
Should praise in rhime the Tartar vales and springs,
And pay a tuneful tribute to the Loves.
Vast is my pleasure that the Muse's song
Divinely soundeth through thy Tartar groves;
Still greater, that the first of eastern kings
Should praise in rhime the Tartar vales and springs,
And pay a tuneful tribute to the Loves.
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Yet how it hurts my classic soul, to find
Some western kings to poetry unkind!
What though they want the skill to make a riddle,
Charade, or rebus, or conundrum;—still
Those kings might show towards them some good will,
And nobly patronize Apollo's fiddle.
Some western kings to poetry unkind!
What though they want the skill to make a riddle,
Charade, or rebus, or conundrum;—still
Those kings might show towards them some good will,
And nobly patronize Apollo's fiddle.
But no—the note is, ‘How go sheep a score?
What, what's the price of bullock? how sells lamb?
I want a boar, a boar, I want a boar;
I want a bull, a bull, I want a ram.’
Whereas it should be this—‘I want a bard,
To cover him with honour and reward.’
What, what's the price of bullock? how sells lamb?
I want a boar, a boar, I want a boar;
I want a bull, a bull, I want a ram.’
Whereas it should be this—‘I want a bard,
To cover him with honour and reward.’
Kings deem, ah me! a grunting herd of swine
Companions sweeter than the tuneful Nine;
Preferring to Fame's dome, a hog-sty's mire;
The roar of oxen to Apollo's lyre.
Companions sweeter than the tuneful Nine;
Preferring to Fame's dome, a hog-sty's mire;
The roar of oxen to Apollo's lyre.
‘Lord! is it possible?’ I hear thee groan—
Kien Long, 'tis true as thou art on thy throne:
For souls like thine, 'tis natural to doubt it—
Macartney can inform thee all about it.
Kien Long, 'tis true as thou art on thy throne:
For souls like thine, 'tis natural to doubt it—
Macartney can inform thee all about it.
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |