 | The Revels of the Gods |  |
144
An ELEGY ON WHITE-HALL.
Weep all ye Mortals who have Tears to spare
You that have none, continue as you are,
But, if you can't your usual Temper keep,
You, if you please, may Laugh at those that Weep.
But Reader, thou may'st justly ask me why,
Or wherefore, I should have you Laugh and Cry:
I'll tell thee then, if know the Truth you must,
Alas! Alas! White-Hall's Consum'd to Dust;
In Earthly things, Ah! Who would put their Trust?
You that have none, continue as you are,
But, if you can't your usual Temper keep,
You, if you please, may Laugh at those that Weep.
But Reader, thou may'st justly ask me why,
Or wherefore, I should have you Laugh and Cry:
I'll tell thee then, if know the Truth you must,
Alas! Alas! White-Hall's Consum'd to Dust;
In Earthly things, Ah! Who would put their Trust?
Tho' I confess, if I may be so bold,
To tell to you, what I have oft been told,
'Twas but a wicked Structure whilst it stood,
I always thought 'twould never come to Good.
To tell to you, what I have oft been told,
'Twas but a wicked Structure whilst it stood,
I always thought 'twould never come to Good.
Most, I believe, will my Opinion hold,
Like some good Wives, 'twas Ugly, aud 'twas Old.
Some think it was a Palace of Renown,
But I must say (with Rev'rence to the Crown)
It ne'er look'd truly Noble till 'twas down.
As scatter'd Ruins most delightful be,
In whose Disorder we most Beauty see,
Than can be found in Regularitie.
Like some good Wives, 'twas Ugly, aud 'twas Old.
Some think it was a Palace of Renown,
But I must say (with Rev'rence to the Crown)
It ne'er look'd truly Noble till 'twas down.
As scatter'd Ruins most delightful be,
In whose Disorder we most Beauty see,
Than can be found in Regularitie.
145
Before 'twas Burnt, it unregarded stood,
A Shapeless, Homely Pile of Brick and Wood:
But when the Fatal Flames had bore it down.
'Twas Gaz'd, at and Admir'd by all the Town.
A Shapeless, Homely Pile of Brick and Wood:
But when the Fatal Flames had bore it down.
'Twas Gaz'd, at and Admir'd by all the Town.
Alas 'tis gone! And all that does remain,
Is to Rebuild it finer up again;
Which Politicians say will be the Sequel,
So Laugh, or Cry, to me the matter's Equal.
Is to Rebuild it finer up again;
Which Politicians say will be the Sequel,
So Laugh, or Cry, to me the matter's Equal.
| The Revels of the Gods | |