The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge Including several pieces never before published: with an account of his life and character, by his son, George Owen Cambridge |
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The WORLD.
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The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge | ||
378
The WORLD.
379
[Ye sages say, who know mankind]
Ye sages say, who know mankind,
Whence, to their real profit blind,
All leave those fields which might produce
Fit game for pastime or for use?
Whence, to their real profit blind,
All leave those fields which might produce
Fit game for pastime or for use?
382
The table now remov'd, again
Began Damœtas to complain;
‘I knew Eugenius in his prime,
‘The best companion of his time;
‘But since he's got to yonder board,
‘You never hear him speak a word,
‘But tiresome schemes of navigation,
‘The built of vessels and their station—
‘Such stuff as spoils all conversation.’
Began Damœtas to complain;
‘I knew Eugenius in his prime,
‘The best companion of his time;
‘But since he's got to yonder board,
‘You never hear him speak a word,
‘But tiresome schemes of navigation,
‘The built of vessels and their station—
‘Such stuff as spoils all conversation.’
‘Good Atticus, repeat the verses,
‘You lately said were made by Thyrsis.’
John at that instant introduces
This very servant of the muses;
Damœtas starts, and in confusion,
Cursing the d---d ill-tim'd intrusion,
Whispers the servant in his ear,
‘John, be so good to call a chair;’
And flies the spot, alarm'd with dread,
Left Thyrsis should begin to read.
‘You lately said were made by Thyrsis.’
John at that instant introduces
This very servant of the muses;
Damœtas starts, and in confusion,
Cursing the d---d ill-tim'd intrusion,
Whispers the servant in his ear,
‘John, be so good to call a chair;’
And flies the spot, alarm'd with dread,
Left Thyrsis should begin to read.
And yet, for all he holds this rule,
Damœtas is in fact no fool:
For he would hardly chuse a groom
To make his chairs or hang his room;
Nor with th' upholsterer discourse
About the glanders in his horse;
Nor send to buy his wife a tête
To Puddle-Dock or Billingsgate;
Nor if in labour, spleen, or trance,
Fetch her Sir Thomas for Sir Hans;
Nor bid his coachman drive o' nights
To parish-church instead of White's;
Nor make his party or his bets
With those who never pay their debts;
Nor at dessert of wax and china
Neglect the eatables, if any,
To smell the chaplet in the middle,
Or taste the Chelsea-china fiddle.
Damœtas is in fact no fool:
For he would hardly chuse a groom
To make his chairs or hang his room;
Nor with th' upholsterer discourse
About the glanders in his horse;
Nor send to buy his wife a tête
To Puddle-Dock or Billingsgate;
383
Fetch her Sir Thomas for Sir Hans;
Nor bid his coachman drive o' nights
To parish-church instead of White's;
Nor make his party or his bets
With those who never pay their debts;
Nor at dessert of wax and china
Neglect the eatables, if any,
To smell the chaplet in the middle,
Or taste the Chelsea-china fiddle.
The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge | ||