 | The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 |  |
89
Ode III
To a Select Body of Great Men
Jonathan approacheth the holy of holies:—is frightened out of his senses, and knocked down;—endeavors to deprecate the wrath of offended dignity.
------“Horrisono stridentes cardono facrae Panduntur portaie.”
My Lords! your Poet Laureate, humbly knocks;
And begs permission to approach your door;
Nay! good my Lords! don't set me in the stocks!
I vow to God, that I'll do so no more.
And begs permission to approach your door;
Nay! good my Lords! don't set me in the stocks!
I vow to God, that I'll do so no more.
Good Mister Sargeant! spare me this one time!
Lord, Sir! you need not thus have knocked me down!
Wretch that I am!—I'll freely own my crime
Deserves I should be whipped through all the town.
Lord, Sir! you need not thus have knocked me down!
Wretch that I am!—I'll freely own my crime
Deserves I should be whipped through all the town.
I never said, in secret you debate,
Like Turkish divan, or Venetian peers;
Hatching infernal plots against the State—
Nay! good my Lords! I pay you spare my ears!
Like Turkish divan, or Venetian peers;
Hatching infernal plots against the State—
Nay! good my Lords! I pay you spare my ears!
I never said, whilst here in state you sit,
Like Satan's Council, you're ten times as big,
Swoln by the magic of your self-conceit,
As folks that walk about without a wig.
Like Satan's Council, you're ten times as big,
Swoln by the magic of your self-conceit,
As folks that walk about without a wig.
I never said that you were bound to do
Aught else, but what your Lordships freely chose;
That states have any right to question you,
Or thrust in your concerns a busy nose.
Aught else, but what your Lordships freely chose;
That states have any right to question you,
Or thrust in your concerns a busy nose.
90
I never questioned your undoubted right
To give what titles, and to whom you please;
You shall be dukes and princes! by this light,
I'll lie as quiet as a mouse in cheese.
To give what titles, and to whom you please;
You shall be dukes and princes! by this light,
I'll lie as quiet as a mouse in cheese.
I ne'er asserted that you ruled the bank;
Or said it had an influence over you:
You all shall be Directors; first in rank;
And if you please, kings, lords, and commons, too.
Or said it had an influence over you:
You all shall be Directors; first in rank;
And if you please, kings, lords, and commons, too.
Gad so! my gracious lords, I've found at last
That I've been guilty of an indecorum:
In thus addressing you, I've been too fast,
I should have first addressed his worship Quorum.
That I've been guilty of an indecorum:
In thus addressing you, I've been too fast,
I should have first addressed his worship Quorum.
Great Sir! but troth, this measure will not hit
The solemn style which I to him must use;
So, if you please, I'll stop a tiny bit,
And hold a conference with Madam Muse.
The solemn style which I to him must use;
So, if you please, I'll stop a tiny bit,
And hold a conference with Madam Muse.
June 12, 1793
| The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 | |