The Works of Soame Jenyns ... In Four Volumes. Including Several Pieces Never Before Published. To Which are Prefixed, Short Sketches of the History of the Author's Family, and also of his Life; By Charles Nalson Cole |
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BELPHEGOR, A FABLE.
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 | The Works of Soame Jenyns |  |
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BELPHEGOR, A FABLE.
FROM MACHIAVEL.
------ Fugit indignata sub umbras.
Virg.
Virg.
Th' infernal monarch once, as stories tell,
Review'd his subjects from all parts of hell;
Around his throne unnumber'd millions wait,
He scarce believ'd his empire was so great;
Still as each pass'd, he ask'd with friendly care
What crime had caus'd their fall, and brought them there:
Scarce one he question'd, but reply'd the same,
And on the marriage noose lay'd all the blame;
Thence ev'ry fatal error of their lives
They all deduce, and all accuse their wives.
Review'd his subjects from all parts of hell;
Around his throne unnumber'd millions wait,
He scarce believ'd his empire was so great;
Still as each pass'd, he ask'd with friendly care
What crime had caus'd their fall, and brought them there:
Scarce one he question'd, but reply'd the same,
And on the marriage noose lay'd all the blame;
Thence ev'ry fatal error of their lives
They all deduce, and all accuse their wives.
Then to his peers, and potentates around,
Thus Satan spoke; hell trembled with the sound.
Thus Satan spoke; hell trembled with the sound.
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My friends, what vast advantages wou'd flow
To these our realms? cou'd we but fully know
The form and nature of these marriage chains,
That send such crouds to our infernal plains;
Let some bold patriot then, who dares to show
His gen'rous love to this our state below,
For his dear country's good the task essay,
And animate awhile some human clay;
Ten years in marriage bonds he shall remain,
Enjoy its pleasures, and endure its pain,
Then to his friends return'd, with truth relate
The nature of the matrimonial state.
To these our realms? cou'd we but fully know
The form and nature of these marriage chains,
That send such crouds to our infernal plains;
Let some bold patriot then, who dares to show
His gen'rous love to this our state below,
For his dear country's good the task essay,
And animate awhile some human clay;
Ten years in marriage bonds he shall remain,
Enjoy its pleasures, and endure its pain,
Then to his friends return'd, with truth relate
The nature of the matrimonial state.
He spoke; the list'ning crowds his scheme approv'd:
But who so much his prince, or country lov'd,
As thus, with fearless heart, to undertake
This hymeneal trial, for their sake?
But who so much his prince, or country lov'd,
As thus, with fearless heart, to undertake
This hymeneal trial, for their sake?
At length with one consent they all propose,
That fortune shall by lot the task impose;
The dreaded chance on bold Belphegor fell,
Sighing h'obey'd, and took his leave of hell.
That fortune shall by lot the task impose;
The dreaded chance on bold Belphegor fell,
Sighing h'obey'd, and took his leave of hell.
First in fair Florence he was pleas'd to fix,
Bought a large house, fine plate, a coach and six;
Dress'd rich and gay, play'd high, drank hard, and whor'd,
And liv'd in short in all things like a lord:
His feasts were plenteous, and his wines were strong,
So poets, priests, and pimps his table throng,
Bring dedications, sermons, whores, and plays,
The dev'l was ne'er so flatter'd in his days:
The ladies too were kind, each tender dame
Sigh'd, when she mention'd Roderigo's name;
For so he's call'd: rich, young, and debonnair,
He reigns sole monarch of the longing fair;
No daughter, sure, of Eve cou'd e'er escape
The dev'l, when cloath'd in such a tempting shape.
Bought a large house, fine plate, a coach and six;
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And liv'd in short in all things like a lord:
His feasts were plenteous, and his wines were strong,
So poets, priests, and pimps his table throng,
Bring dedications, sermons, whores, and plays,
The dev'l was ne'er so flatter'd in his days:
The ladies too were kind, each tender dame
Sigh'd, when she mention'd Roderigo's name;
For so he's call'd: rich, young, and debonnair,
He reigns sole monarch of the longing fair;
No daughter, sure, of Eve cou'd e'er escape
The dev'l, when cloath'd in such a tempting shape.
One nymph at length, superior to the rest,
Gay, beautiful, and young, inspir'd his breast;
Soft looks and sighs his passion soon betray'd,
Awhile he woos, then weds the lovely maid.
I shall not now, to grace my tale, relate
What feasts, what balls, what dresses, pomp and state,
Adorn'd their nuptial day, lest it shou'd seem
As tedious to the reader, as to him,
Who big with expectation of delight,
Impatient waited for the happy night;
The happy night is come, his longing arms
Press close the yielding maid in all her charms,
The yielding maid, who now no longer coy
With equal ardour loves, and gives a loose to joy:
Dissolv'd in bliss more exquisite than all
He e'er had felt in Heav'n, before his fall,
With rapture clinging to his lovely bride,
In murmurs to himself Belphegor cry'd,
Are these the marriage chains? are these my fears?
Oh had my ten, but been ten thousand years!
Gay, beautiful, and young, inspir'd his breast;
Soft looks and sighs his passion soon betray'd,
Awhile he woos, then weds the lovely maid.
I shall not now, to grace my tale, relate
What feasts, what balls, what dresses, pomp and state,
Adorn'd their nuptial day, lest it shou'd seem
As tedious to the reader, as to him,
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Impatient waited for the happy night;
The happy night is come, his longing arms
Press close the yielding maid in all her charms,
The yielding maid, who now no longer coy
With equal ardour loves, and gives a loose to joy:
Dissolv'd in bliss more exquisite than all
He e'er had felt in Heav'n, before his fall,
With rapture clinging to his lovely bride,
In murmurs to himself Belphegor cry'd,
Are these the marriage chains? are these my fears?
Oh had my ten, but been ten thousand years!
But ah these happy moments last not long!
For in one month his wife has found her tongue,
All thoughts of love and tenderness are lost,
Their only aim is, who shall squander most;
She dreams of nothing now but being sine,
Whilst he is ever guzzling nasty wine;
She longs for jewels, equipage, and plate,
And he, sad man! stays out so very late!
Hence ev'ry day domestic wars are bred,
A truce is hardly kept, while they're abed;
They wrangle all day long, and then at night,
Like wooing cats, at once they love and fight.
For in one month his wife has found her tongue,
All thoughts of love and tenderness are lost,
Their only aim is, who shall squander most;
She dreams of nothing now but being sine,
Whilst he is ever guzzling nasty wine;
She longs for jewels, equipage, and plate,
And he, sad man! stays out so very late!
Hence ev'ry day domestic wars are bred,
A truce is hardly kept, while they're abed;
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Like wooing cats, at once they love and fight.
His riches too are with his quiet flown,
And they once spent, all friends on course are gone;
The sum design'd his whole ten years to last,
Is all consum'd before the first is past:
Where shall be hide? ah whither must he fly?
Legions of duns abroad in ambush lie,
For fear of them, no more he dares to roam,
And the worst dun of all, his wife's at home.
And they once spent, all friends on course are gone;
The sum design'd his whole ten years to last,
Is all consum'd before the first is past:
Where shall be hide? ah whither must he fly?
Legions of duns abroad in ambush lie,
For fear of them, no more he dares to roam,
And the worst dun of all, his wife's at home.
Quite tir'd at length, with such a wretched life,
He flies one night at once from debts, and wife;
But ere the morning dawn his flight is known;
And crowds pursue him close from town to town:
He quits the public road, and wand'ring strays
Thro' unfrequented woods, and pathless ways;
At last with joy a little farm he sees,
Where liv'd a good old man, in health and ease;
Matthew his name: to him Belphegor goes,
And begs protection from pursuing foes,
With tears relates his melancholy case,
Tells him from whence he came, and who he was,
And vows to pay for his reception well,
When next he shou'd receive his rents from hell:
The farmer hears his tale with pitying ear,
And bids him live in peace, and safety there;
Awhile he did; no duns, no noise, or strife,
Disturb'd him there;—for Matt had ne'er a wife.
But ere few weeks in this retreat are past
Matt too himself becomes a dun at last;
Demands his promis'd pay with heat and rage,
Till thus Belphegor's words his wrath asswage.
He flies one night at once from debts, and wife;
But ere the morning dawn his flight is known;
And crowds pursue him close from town to town:
He quits the public road, and wand'ring strays
Thro' unfrequented woods, and pathless ways;
At last with joy a little farm he sees,
Where liv'd a good old man, in health and ease;
Matthew his name: to him Belphegor goes,
And begs protection from pursuing foes,
With tears relates his melancholy case,
Tells him from whence he came, and who he was,
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When next he shou'd receive his rents from hell:
The farmer hears his tale with pitying ear,
And bids him live in peace, and safety there;
Awhile he did; no duns, no noise, or strife,
Disturb'd him there;—for Matt had ne'er a wife.
But ere few weeks in this retreat are past
Matt too himself becomes a dun at last;
Demands his promis'd pay with heat and rage,
Till thus Belphegor's words his wrath asswage.
My friend, we dev'ls, like English peers, he cry'd,
Tho' free from law, are yet by honour ty'd;
Tho' tradesmen's cheating bills I scorn to view,
I pay all debts that are by honour due;
And therefore have contriv'd long since a way,
Beyond all hopes thy kindness to repay;
We subtile spirits can, you know, with ease
Possess whatever human breasts we please,
With sudden frenzy can o'ercast the mind,
Let passions loose, and captive reason bind:
Thus I three mortal bosoms will infest,
And force them to apply to you for rest;
Vast sums for cure they willingly shall pay,
Thrice, and but thrice, your pow'r I will obey.
Tho' free from law, are yet by honour ty'd;
Tho' tradesmen's cheating bills I scorn to view,
I pay all debts that are by honour due;
And therefore have contriv'd long since a way,
Beyond all hopes thy kindness to repay;
We subtile spirits can, you know, with ease
Possess whatever human breasts we please,
With sudden frenzy can o'ercast the mind,
Let passions loose, and captive reason bind:
Thus I three mortal bosoms will infest,
And force them to apply to you for rest;
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Thrice, and but thrice, your pow'r I will obey.
He spoke, then fled unseen, like rushing wind,
And breathless left his mortal frame behind:
The corps is quickly known, and news is spread
That Roderigo's in the desert dead;
His wife in fashionable grief appears,
Sighs for one day, then mourns two tedious years.
And breathless left his mortal frame behind:
The corps is quickly known, and news is spread
That Roderigo's in the desert dead;
His wife in fashionable grief appears,
Sighs for one day, then mourns two tedious years.
A beauteous maid, who then in Florence dwelt,
In a short time unusual symptoms felt;
Physicians came, prescrib'd, then took their fees,
But none could find the cause of her disease;
Her parents thought 'twas love disturb'd her rest,
But all the learn'd agreed she was possest;
In vain the doctors all their art apply'd,
In vain the priests their holy trump'ry try'd;
No pray'rs nor med'cines cou'd the dæmon tame,
Till Matthew heard the news, and hast'ning came:
He asks five hundred pounds; the money's pay'd;
He forms the magic spell, then cures the maid:
Hence chas'd, the dev'l to two rich houses flies,
And makes their heirs successively his prize,
Who both by Matthew's skill reliev'd from pains,
Reward his wond'rous art with wond'rous gains.
In a short time unusual symptoms felt;
Physicians came, prescrib'd, then took their fees,
But none could find the cause of her disease;
Her parents thought 'twas love disturb'd her rest,
But all the learn'd agreed she was possest;
In vain the doctors all their art apply'd,
In vain the priests their holy trump'ry try'd;
No pray'rs nor med'cines cou'd the dæmon tame,
Till Matthew heard the news, and hast'ning came:
He asks five hundred pounds; the money's pay'd;
He forms the magic spell, then cures the maid:
Hence chas'd, the dev'l to two rich houses flies,
And makes their heirs successively his prize,
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Reward his wond'rous art with wond'rous gains.
And now Belphegor, having thrice obey'd,
With reason thinks his host is fully pay'd;
Next free to range, to Gallia's king he flies,
As dev'ls ambitious ever love to rise;
Black hideous scenes distract his royal mind,
From all he seeks relief, but none can find,
And vows vast treasures shall his art repay,
Whoe'er can chase the strange disease away:
At length, instructed by the voice of fame,
To Matthew sends; poor Matt reluctant came;
He knew his pow'r expir'd, refus'd to try,
But all excuses fail'd, he must, or die;
At last despairing he the task essay'd,
Approach'd the monarch's ear, and whisp'ring said.
With reason thinks his host is fully pay'd;
Next free to range, to Gallia's king he flies,
As dev'ls ambitious ever love to rise;
Black hideous scenes distract his royal mind,
From all he seeks relief, but none can find,
And vows vast treasures shall his art repay,
Whoe'er can chase the strange disease away:
At length, instructed by the voice of fame,
To Matthew sends; poor Matt reluctant came;
He knew his pow'r expir'd, refus'd to try,
But all excuses fail'd, he must, or die;
At last despairing he the task essay'd,
Approach'd the monarch's ear, and whisp'ring said.
Since force, not choice, has brought thy servant here,
Once more, Belphegor, my petition hear,
This once at my request, thy post resign,
And save my life, as once I rescu'd thine.
Once more, Belphegor, my petition hear,
This once at my request, thy post resign,
And save my life, as once I rescu'd thine.
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Cruel Belphegor, deaf to his request,
Disdain'd his pray'rs, and made his woes a jest;
With tears and sighs he beg'd, and beg'd again,
Still the ungrateful fiend but mock'd his pain;
Then turning round he told th' expecting court,
This dev'l was of a most malignant sort;
And that he could but make one tryal more,
And if that fail'd, he then must give him o'er:
Then placing num'rous drums, and trumpets round,
Instructed when he mov'd his hand to sound,
He whisper'd in his patient's ear again,
Belphegor answer'd, all his arts were vain:
He gives the sign, they sound; th' outrageous din
Startles the king, and frights the dev'l within;
He asks what 'tis, and vows that in his life
He ne'er had heard the like—except his wife;
By Heav'n's, 'tis she, Matt cries, you'd best be gone,
She comes once more to seize you for her own;
Belphegor frighted, not one word replies,
But to th' infernal shades for refuge flies;
There paints a dreadful sketch of marry'd lives,
And feelingly confirms the charge on wives:
Matthew o'erpay'd with honours, fame, and fees,
Returns to blest obscurity, and ease,
With joy triumphant Io Pæan sings,
And vows to deal no more with dev'ls or kings.
Disdain'd his pray'rs, and made his woes a jest;
With tears and sighs he beg'd, and beg'd again,
Still the ungrateful fiend but mock'd his pain;
Then turning round he told th' expecting court,
This dev'l was of a most malignant sort;
And that he could but make one tryal more,
And if that fail'd, he then must give him o'er:
Then placing num'rous drums, and trumpets round,
Instructed when he mov'd his hand to sound,
He whisper'd in his patient's ear again,
Belphegor answer'd, all his arts were vain:
He gives the sign, they sound; th' outrageous din
Startles the king, and frights the dev'l within;
He asks what 'tis, and vows that in his life
He ne'er had heard the like—except his wife;
By Heav'n's, 'tis she, Matt cries, you'd best be gone,
She comes once more to seize you for her own;
Belphegor frighted, not one word replies,
But to th' infernal shades for refuge flies;
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And feelingly confirms the charge on wives:
Matthew o'erpay'd with honours, fame, and fees,
Returns to blest obscurity, and ease,
With joy triumphant Io Pæan sings,
And vows to deal no more with dev'ls or kings.
| The Works of Soame Jenyns | |