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 Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
355
ELEGY TO MR. ROWLANDSON.
The Poet wishes for the Pencil of Rowlandson to make an Exhibition of the Rivingtons' Reviewing Parsons.
Ah! Rowlandson, in vain are all my toils;
The muse's ordeal the vile priests despise;
In vain she roasts them, carbonades, and broils;
The spit and gridiron the dark band defies.
The muse's ordeal the vile priests despise;
In vain she roasts them, carbonades, and broils;
The spit and gridiron the dark band defies.
O did I boast thy pencil's happy pow'r!
Parnassus should the black impostors show;
High on a pill'ry should the culprits tow'r—
And make wry faces to the mob below.
Parnassus should the black impostors show;
High on a pill'ry should the culprits tow'r—
And make wry faces to the mob below.
There, while their ears sore writhe beneath the nail,
And each poor piteous priest for mercy begs,
With tune Apollo should those ears regale—
And all the Muses send them rotten eggs.
And each poor piteous priest for mercy begs,
With tune Apollo should those ears regale—
And all the Muses send them rotten eggs.
While, sad below Hypocrisy should mourn
The British Critic, dropping from her hand
Its leaden leaves, by taste and genius torn,
Old Aristarchus should survey the band.
The British Critic, dropping from her hand
Its leaden leaves, by taste and genius torn,
Old Aristarchus should survey the band.
Smiles on his cheek, and pleasure in his eye,
To see the imprison'd heads with horror stare,
‘Lo!’ (pointing with contempt) the sage will cry,
‘The foes of learning who have stol'n my chair.’
To see the imprison'd heads with horror stare,
‘Lo!’ (pointing with contempt) the sage will cry,
‘The foes of learning who have stol'n my chair.’
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |