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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| IV. | ELEGY IV. |
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 | The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
464
ELEGY IV.
The Poet lamenteth the Omission of certain interesting Exhibitions that might have afforded Pleasure in Pastry to the Multitude.
What
pity that no wash-tub did appear,
To show Trafalgar's Battle, and the Nile's;
With pretty little paper ships of war,
To launch the thunder of the Queen of Isles!
To show Trafalgar's Battle, and the Nile's;
With pretty little paper ships of war,
To launch the thunder of the Queen of Isles!
What pity there was not a baker's tray,
With troops of gingerbread upon the plain;
Horse, Foot, engag'd, and spreading dire dismay,
And cutting, thick as Hops, the French in twain!
With troops of gingerbread upon the plain;
Horse, Foot, engag'd, and spreading dire dismay,
And cutting, thick as Hops, the French in twain!
Sure, gingerbread might well portray a scene,
A Duke's full levee after scenes of woe;
A Duke in converse with his gallant men,
And smiling upon Greenwood, Cox, and Co.
A Duke's full levee after scenes of woe;
A Duke in converse with his gallant men,
And smiling upon Greenwood, Cox, and Co.
What pity, gingerbread did not display
Our British hero from his chariot flung;
Hurl'd from the regions of celestial day,
A second Phaeton, to mud and dung:—
Our British hero from his chariot flung;
Hurl'd from the regions of celestial day,
A second Phaeton, to mud and dung:—
Now nobly scrambling on his legs again,
'Midst gazing armies, and a mighty shout;
The reins resuming with a just disdain,
And scornful kicking dull Sir David out!
'Midst gazing armies, and a mighty shout;
The reins resuming with a just disdain,
And scornful kicking dull Sir David out!
465
How far superior to a China view;
Where neither genius, taste, nor fancy, dwells:
Monkeys and mandarins, a motley crew,
Bridges, pagodas, swings, and tinkling bells!
Where neither genius, taste, nor fancy, dwells:
Monkeys and mandarins, a motley crew,
Bridges, pagodas, swings, and tinkling bells!
Yet let us not of such a scene despair:
Some pastry-cook the miracle may bake;
The Royal Duke, Sir David, and the Car,
All nicely mounted on a nice twelfth cake.
Some pastry-cook the miracle may bake;
The Royal Duke, Sir David, and the Car,
All nicely mounted on a nice twelfth cake.
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |