Alexander Pope: Minor poems Edited by Norman Ault: Completed by John Butt |
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THE COURT BALLAD.
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Alexander Pope: Minor poems | ||
180
THE COURT BALLAD.
To one fair Lady out of court
And two fair Ladies in
Who think the Turk and Pope a sport
And Wit and Love no Sin,
Come these soft lines, with nothing Stiff in
To B---n L---ll and G---n
With a fa.
And two fair Ladies in
Who think the Turk and Pope a sport
And Wit and Love no Sin,
Come these soft lines, with nothing Stiff in
To B---n L---ll and G---n
With a fa.
181
What passes in the dark third row
And what behind the Scene,
Couches and crippled Chairs I know,
And Garrets hung with green;
I know the Swing of sinful Hack,
Where many a Damsel cries oh lack.
With a fa.
And what behind the Scene,
Couches and crippled Chairs I know,
And Garrets hung with green;
I know the Swing of sinful Hack,
Where many a Damsel cries oh lack.
With a fa.
Then why to court should I repair
Where's such ado with Townsend.
To hear each mortal stamp and swear
And ev'ry speech in Z---nds end,
To hear 'em rail at honest Sunderland
And rashly blame the realm of Blunderland.
With a fa.
Where's such ado with Townsend.
To hear each mortal stamp and swear
And ev'ry speech in Z---nds end,
To hear 'em rail at honest Sunderland
And rashly blame the realm of Blunderland.
With a fa.
Alas, like Shutz I cannot pun
Like C---n court the Germans
Tell P---g how slim she's grown
Like M---s run to sermons,
To court ambitious men may roam,
But I and M---o' stay at home.
With a fa.
Like C---n court the Germans
Tell P---g how slim she's grown
Like M---s run to sermons,
To court ambitious men may roam,
But I and M---o' stay at home.
With a fa.
182
In truth by what I can discern,
Of Courtiers from you Three,
Some Wit you have and more may learn,
From Court than Gay or me,
Perhaps in time you'll leave High Diet,
And Sup with us on Mirth or Quiet,
With a fa.
Of Courtiers from you Three,
Some Wit you have and more may learn,
From Court than Gay or me,
Perhaps in time you'll leave High Diet,
And Sup with us on Mirth or Quiet,
With a fa.
In Leister fields, in house full nigh,
With door all painted green,
Where Ribbans wave upon the tye,
(A Milliner's I ween)
There may you meet us, three to three,
For Gay can well make two of me.
With a fa.
With door all painted green,
Where Ribbans wave upon the tye,
(A Milliner's I ween)
There may you meet us, three to three,
For Gay can well make two of me.
With a fa.
But shou'd you catch the Prudish itch,
And each become a coward,
Bring sometimes with you Lady R---
And sometimes Mistress H---d,
For Virgins, to keep chaste, must go
Abroad with such as are not so.
With a fa.
And each become a coward,
Bring sometimes with you Lady R---
And sometimes Mistress H---d,
For Virgins, to keep chaste, must go
Abroad with such as are not so.
With a fa.
183
And thus fair Maids, my ballad ends,
God send the K. safe landing,
And make all honest ladies friends,
To Armies that are Standing.
Preserve the Limits of these nations,
And take off Ladies Limitations.
With a fa.
God send the K. safe landing,
And make all honest ladies friends,
To Armies that are Standing.
Preserve the Limits of these nations,
And take off Ladies Limitations.
With a fa.
Alexander Pope: Minor poems | ||