The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe In one Volume ... The Third Edition Augmented [by Alexander Radcliffe] |
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Upon the Death of Edward Story, Esq; Master of the Pond, and Principal of Bernards-Inn.
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 | The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe |  |
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Upon the Death of Edward Story, Esq; Master of the Pond, and Principal of Bernards-Inn.
Let all that read these Lines in Tears be drown'd,
Since Story's dead, the Master of the Pond;
What idle Tales fantastick Poets feign
About God Neptune, and his stormy Main,
That his Dominion's great, 'tis no such matter,
What great Command can there be over Water?
To Story's power 'twere Non-sence to compare it,
For he was Master of a Pond of Claret:
And he this Scarlet Sea, like Moses,—did
To all his Club of Israelites divide:
And when too late at night some came in doz'd,
The Pond o'er them, as o'er th' Egyptians clos'd.
Since Story's dead, the Master of the Pond;
What idle Tales fantastick Poets feign
About God Neptune, and his stormy Main,
That his Dominion's great, 'tis no such matter,
What great Command can there be over Water?
To Story's power 'twere Non-sence to compare it,
For he was Master of a Pond of Claret:
And he this Scarlet Sea, like Moses,—did
To all his Club of Israelites divide:
And when too late at night some came in doz'd,
The Pond o'er them, as o'er th' Egyptians clos'd.
This Pond was Helicon, where Story sate
Like mighty Phœbus, in his Chair of State:
His Tongue made Musick like Apollo's Lyre,
Which when he us'd, he silenc'd, all the Quire;
He had his Muses too, but more than Nine,
Besides, they're of the Gender Masculine:
Of different Subjects every Muse did sing,
Which they from Johns, or Grays-Inn Walks did bring.
Some Foreign Matters sang, another Muse,
In humble Stile, sang of Domestick News;
Some sang of bloody Plots against the Throne
And Government; another sang of none;
Till by some sign his pleasure was exprest,
Then all were quiet while he told a Jest.
And as this witty Club he kept in awe,
Like mighty Phœbus, in his Chair of State:
His Tongue made Musick like Apollo's Lyre,
Which when he us'd, he silenc'd, all the Quire;
He had his Muses too, but more than Nine,
Besides, they're of the Gender Masculine:
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Which they from Johns, or Grays-Inn Walks did bring.
Some Foreign Matters sang, another Muse,
In humble Stile, sang of Domestick News;
Some sang of bloody Plots against the Throne
And Government; another sang of none;
Till by some sign his pleasure was exprest,
Then all were quiet while he told a Jest.
He headed too, a Body of the Law;
Yet for all that, as skilful as he was,
Death brought his Action without shewing Cause.
And ran him to the Utlary with such speed,
He had not time enough to supersede.
With all Mankind Death must his Interest clear,
But to call in the Principle's sovere.
| The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe | |