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 |
I. |
II. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||
ODE X.
The lofty Peter beginning with an original Simile—Displayeth a deep Knowledge of Homer and modern Duchesses—Concludeth with a Prophecy about his Sovereign.
Painters who figure in the Exhibition,
Are pretty nearly in the same condition
With cocks on Shrove-tide, which the season gathers;
Flung at by ev'ry lubber, ev'ry brat,
Possessing sense to throw a bat,
To break their bones, and knock about their feathers.
Are pretty nearly in the same condition
With cocks on Shrove-tide, which the season gathers;
Flung at by ev'ry lubber, ev'ry brat,
Possessing sense to throw a bat,
To break their bones, and knock about their feathers.
This little difference, however, lies
Between the painter and the fowl, I find:—
The artist for the post of danger tries—
The fowl is fasten'd much against his mind;
Who damns his sentence, would annul it,—
Sue out his habeas corpus, and instead
Of being beat with bats about the head,
Make handsome love to a smart pullet.
Between the painter and the fowl, I find:—
The artist for the post of danger tries—
The fowl is fasten'd much against his mind;
Who damns his sentence, would annul it,—
Sue out his habeas corpus, and instead
Of being beat with bats about the head,
Make handsome love to a smart pullet.
And yet the painter like a booby groans,
Who courts the very bats which break his bones.
But who from scandal is exempt?
Who does not meet at times contempt?
Who courts the very bats which break his bones.
But who from scandal is exempt?
Who does not meet at times contempt?
Great Jove, the god of gods, in figures rich,
Oft call'd his bosom queen a saucy bitch;
Achilles call'd great Agamemnon hog,
An impudent, deceitful, dirty dog!
Oft call'd his bosom queen a saucy bitch;
Achilles call'd great Agamemnon hog,
An impudent, deceitful, dirty dog!
75
Behold our lofty duchesses pull caps,
And give each other's reputations raps,
As freely as the drabs of Drury's school;
And who, pray, knows that George our gracious King,
(Said by his courtiers to know every thing)
May not, by future times, be call'd a fool!
And give each other's reputations raps,
As freely as the drabs of Drury's school;
And who, pray, knows that George our gracious King,
(Said by his courtiers to know every thing)
May not, by future times, be call'd a fool!
The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||