The Priest Dissected A Poem, Addressed to the Rev. Mr. ---, Author of Regulus, Toby, Caesar, And other Satirical Pieces in the Public Papers. By the author of the New Bath Guide [i.e.Christopher Anstey]. Canto I. The Second Edition |
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 | The Priest Dissected |  |
Yet once (he tells me) with delight he view'd
Each Roman genius in my verse renew'd;
And still shall view, if ought of pedant lore
His classic palate can regale once more;
Yes—oft' I'll wander o'er the Latian plain
To charm his ears, (if yet his ears remain)
Who long has reign'd so bold an enterpriser,
In Evening Post, and Public Advertiser,
Manners and men condemns unknown, unheard,
And books of which he never read one word:
A robber worse than Polypheme, or Cacus,
Who to the dungeon of the press can take us,
There on our mangled reputations dine,
As late, sweet reader, he regal'd on mine;
Yet wonder not; since him alike to feed
Peers, privy-counsellors and judges bleed,
Sheriffs and members, while elections last,
And aldermen afford a rich repast;
On
Galen's sons he battens at his ease,
And roasted Scotchmen never fail to please;
More savage now all pity can discard,
And, worst of Cannibals, devours a bard.
Each Roman genius in my verse renew'd;
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His classic palate can regale once more;
Yes—oft' I'll wander o'er the Latian plain
To charm his ears, (if yet his ears remain)
Who long has reign'd so bold an enterpriser,
In Evening Post, and Public Advertiser,
Manners and men condemns unknown, unheard,
And books of which he never read one word:
A robber worse than Polypheme, or Cacus,
Who to the dungeon of the press can take us,
There on our mangled reputations dine,
As late, sweet reader, he regal'd on mine;
Yet wonder not; since him alike to feed
Peers, privy-counsellors and judges bleed,
Sheriffs and members, while elections last,
And aldermen afford a rich repast;
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And roasted Scotchmen never fail to please;
More savage now all pity can discard,
And, worst of Cannibals, devours a bard.
Yet, O! fair sun, thou golden lamp of day,
Who from such banquets turn'st thine eyes away,
O! may this son of Pelops ne'er digest
The horrors of that dire inhuman feast;
Inspire one spark celestial to my strains,
To sweat him first, then flay him for his pains!
And be it known to all that medling scum
Of scribbling priests to whom these presents come,
Such as with wrath and Slander dare to swerve
From the mild precepts of the God they serve,
Those base dispensers both of verse and prose,
That I by kind Thalia's grace propose,
With just reply this subject to correct,
Then duly flay'd, to open and dissect,
That all may know, by viewing the deceas'd,
The parts component of a worthless priest—
Who from such banquets turn'st thine eyes away,
O! may this son of Pelops ne'er digest
The horrors of that dire inhuman feast;
Inspire one spark celestial to my strains,
To sweat him first, then flay him for his pains!
And be it known to all that medling scum
Of scribbling priests to whom these presents come,
Such as with wrath and Slander dare to swerve
From the mild precepts of the God they serve,
Those base dispensers both of verse and prose,
That I by kind Thalia's grace propose,
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Then duly flay'd, to open and dissect,
That all may know, by viewing the deceas'd,
The parts component of a worthless priest—
Then when the muse shall analyze his clay,
Th' untutor'd child, and hoary eld shall say,
“ Is this the Guide, to whom our souls are given,
“Shall scoundrel link-boys light the way to heaven:—
“Disgrace to those whom Providence design'd,
“With virtuous lives to teach and bless mankind?”
Th' untutor'd child, and hoary eld shall say,
“ Is this the Guide, to whom our souls are given,
“Shall scoundrel link-boys light the way to heaven:—
“Disgrace to those whom Providence design'd,
“With virtuous lives to teach and bless mankind?”
| The Priest Dissected | |