The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq A cousin of Peter's, and candidate for the post of Poet Laureat to the C. U. S. In two parts |
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| ODE IX.
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 | The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq |  |
77
ODE IX.
TO SPECULATION.
Jonathan celebrateth the virtues and blessings of Speculation.
Vulgus me sibilat—at ego mihi plaudo
Quoties contemplor nammos in arca.
Quoties contemplor nammos in arca.
Blest Speculation! on whose paper wings:
Some modern worthies rise like school boy's kite,
Soaring above us with supreme delight,
Whilst with the shouts below the welkin rings:
Shouts, such as farmers use to crows and daws,
Contempt and hatred speaking—not applause:
Some modern worthies rise like school boy's kite,
Soaring above us with supreme delight,
Whilst with the shouts below the welkin rings:
Shouts, such as farmers use to crows and daws,
Contempt and hatred speaking—not applause:
On thy light pinions A * s first 'gan to soar,
Rising, like any sky-lark, out of sight,
With S * h pursued his bold advent'rous flight,
S ** k and W ** h and a dozen more,
Whose names are all enrolled in the Banks,
An honor priz'd above constituents' thanks.
Rising, like any sky-lark, out of sight,
With S * h pursued his bold advent'rous flight,
S ** k and W ** h and a dozen more,
Whose names are all enrolled in the Banks,
An honor priz'd above constituents' thanks.
Aided by thee, the Politician's sight
Of error purg'd, the certain tract he spies,
The game pursues with eagle's wings and eyes,
And, seizing, quickens his impetuous flight:
Tho' gorg'd, insatiate still! for thus employ'd
Promethean vultures would be sooner cloy'd.
Of error purg'd, the certain tract he spies,
The game pursues with eagle's wings and eyes,
And, seizing, quickens his impetuous flight:
Tho' gorg'd, insatiate still! for thus employ'd
Promethean vultures would be sooner cloy'd.
78
What, though the mutilated Soldiers' wounds
And carious aching stumps unheal'd remain,
With not a comfort to assuage his pain,
Whilst with his groans the troubled air resounds,
The sordid Gripus , all unfeeling, hears,
Or with the victim's pension stops his ears!
And carious aching stumps unheal'd remain,
With not a comfort to assuage his pain,
Whilst with his groans the troubled air resounds,
The sordid Gripus , all unfeeling, hears,
Or with the victim's pension stops his ears!
Let faithless Britain still with hostile arm,
Infest our commerce, and our lands invade,
Indians and Algerines suborn her views to aid,
And hold the nation always in alarm;
Thy venal train, on quarter-day intent,
Submission! cry, and peace! and six per cent.
Infest our commerce, and our lands invade,
Indians and Algerines suborn her views to aid,
And hold the nation always in alarm;
Thy venal train, on quarter-day intent,
Submission! cry, and peace! and six per cent.
O may corruption ne'er again obtain
So vile an agent to promote her cause,
Trampling on Justice, and her sacred laws,
And prostituting conscience 'self for gain;
Union shall flourish then, and strength arise,
And Justice wave her banners to the skies.
So vile an agent to promote her cause,
Trampling on Justice, and her sacred laws,
And prostituting conscience 'self for gain;
Union shall flourish then, and strength arise,
And Justice wave her banners to the skies.
Which at the present time befitteth well.
79
THE DRUNKEN INDIAN.—A TALE.
An Indian who to Philadelphia came,
The wonders of that wond'rous place to see,
Was ask'd, two fav'rite wishes might he frame,
Sure of the grant, what would those wishes be?
The wonders of that wond'rous place to see,
Was ask'd, two fav'rite wishes might he frame,
Sure of the grant, what would those wishes be?
“That all our rivers might turn into rum,
“And all our mountains sugar-loaves become,”
“And all our mountains sugar-loaves become,”
Quoth he. The questioner proceeds again,
“Those wishes granted, what more would you ask,
“If a third wish you might, likewise, obtain?”
To answer now was not an easy task.
“Those wishes granted, what more would you ask,
“If a third wish you might, likewise, obtain?”
To answer now was not an easy task.
He silent sits and muses as if dumb;
At length in transport cries, “more RUM, more RUM!”
At length in transport cries, “more RUM, more RUM!”
Thus when our Conti-rags were turn'd to gold,
And Speculation saw her gains untold,
Which from that source and from Assumption sprung,
Awhile her wishes in suspense were hung.
And Speculation saw her gains untold,
Which from that source and from Assumption sprung,
Awhile her wishes in suspense were hung.
What next shall Atlas do for Speculation?
Let's have a Bank! a Bank! she cries—to damn the Nation.
Let's have a Bank! a Bank! she cries—to damn the Nation.
80
Another boon now offer'd from his hands
;
Awhile in deep suspence the harpy stands;
But hark! she cries out—Sell the Western Lands!
Awhile in deep suspence the harpy stands;
But hark! she cries out—Sell the Western Lands!
| The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq | |