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 TRAVELLER AND JUPITER. |
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 | The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
THE TRAVELLER AND JUPITER.
What wicked thousands sooner would affront
(Such is of sin the wonderful increase)
The Heav'n's Eternal Ruler—fie upon't—
Than one poor brainless justice of the peace,
(Such is of sin the wonderful increase)
The Heav'n's Eternal Ruler—fie upon't—
Than one poor brainless justice of the peace,
Or country 'squire, who nothing knows but doxies,
Hares, acts of parliament, hounds, horses, foxes?
Nay, further—which should scarcely be repeated—
(And, oh! that groundless were the poet's fears!)
God by his own sad servants is worse treated,
Worse than our country gentlemen by theirs.
Hares, acts of parliament, hounds, horses, foxes?
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(And, oh! that groundless were the poet's fears!)
God by his own sad servants is worse treated,
Worse than our country gentlemen by theirs.
Ask of the bishops else, whose humble souls
Sweet Mercy melts, and Charity controls.
Sweet Mercy melts, and Charity controls.
To cheat the Dev'l, at times, I've no objection;
Not Heav'n! 'tis such a villanous reflection!
Not Heav'n! 'tis such a villanous reflection!
A certain traveller, in ancient days,
When gods and goddesses were thick as hops,
Wishing, as he was beating the highways,
For somewhat dainty to amuse his chops;
When gods and goddesses were thick as hops,
Wishing, as he was beating the highways,
For somewhat dainty to amuse his chops;
Knelt down to Jupiter, and thus began:
‘O Jupiter, as I'm an honest man,
I'll keep my word, if thou wilt grant my pray'r;
Amidst my travels, let me something find—
Little or much, good, bad of any kind,
I vow to thee, thy godship half shall share.’
‘O Jupiter, as I'm an honest man,
I'll keep my word, if thou wilt grant my pray'r;
Amidst my travels, let me something find—
Little or much, good, bad of any kind,
I vow to thee, thy godship half shall share.’
Then with grave sanctity he thump'd his craw;
Much as to say, ‘Great Jove, my word's a law.’
Much as to say, ‘Great Jove, my word's a law.’
He had not walk'd a mile, before he found
A handsome bag of filberts on the ground;
At sight of which, his lips with rapture smacking,
Plump down he squats, and falls at once to cracking.
A handsome bag of filberts on the ground;
At sight of which, his lips with rapture smacking,
Plump down he squats, and falls at once to cracking.
To cut my story short, he crack'd and eat,
From ev'ry nut, each atom of the meat;
When gravely gathering up the shells, he cries,
‘Jove, sacred have I kept my word—for, see,
The better half indeed I leave to thee,
The shells, O mighty ruler of the skies.
From ev'ry nut, each atom of the meat;
When gravely gathering up the shells, he cries,
‘Jove, sacred have I kept my word—for, see,
The better half indeed I leave to thee,
The shells, O mighty ruler of the skies.
‘There are they all, great Jove—survey 'em:
Shouldst thou suspect my honour—weigh 'em!’
Shouldst thou suspect my honour—weigh 'em!’
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |