Satires And Biography By Anthony Pasquin [i.e. John Williams] |
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[Walk nine times round a wight, with cat-like leer] |
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 | Satires And Biography |  |
[Walk nine times round a wight, with cat-like leer]
Walk nine times round a wight, with cat-like leer,
Maugre his semblance, drapery or phrase;
Ere you admit the animal your Co:
Much good or ill celebrity or shame
Hangs on the close associate of your youth:
Tho' genius is not subject to the will,
Our spungy faculties imbibe a grace,
And catch those properties we oft behold!
Taste, we attach from Observation's nod,
And Truth is made subervient to Esteem:
Great P. P. Rubens pencill'd angels squab,
Because his rancid Helena was huge!
Holbein design'd them lumpish, short and square,
Because his bungy, Belgic drab was squat!
Rembrandt drew Venus with a phiz imbrown'd,
Because his shrew would seldom lave her cheek!
And Joshua Reynolds pourtray'd every dame
With charmful symmetry, (no matter who)
As Sarah Bunbury'd improv'd his sense.
Maugre his semblance, drapery or phrase;
Ere you admit the animal your Co:
Much good or ill celebrity or shame
Hangs on the close associate of your youth:
Tho' genius is not subject to the will,
Our spungy faculties imbibe a grace,
And catch those properties we oft behold!
Taste, we attach from Observation's nod,
And Truth is made subervient to Esteem:
Great P. P. Rubens pencill'd angels squab,
Because his rancid Helena was huge!
Holbein design'd them lumpish, short and square,
Because his bungy, Belgic drab was squat!
Rembrandt drew Venus with a phiz imbrown'd,
Because his shrew would seldom lave her cheek!
And Joshua Reynolds pourtray'd every dame
With charmful symmetry, (no matter who)
As Sarah Bunbury'd improv'd his sense.
When Death shall pinch the vitals of your Sire,
I charge ye, by the love ye bear our house,
All to eschew the metaphysic squad:
Let Patience arm ye 'gainst the ills of life,
Merit, my children, cannot claim a boon;
Successive Dunces wear the governing robe,
Whose brains are so bemix'd with dregs and lead,
They'd scarce be buoyant on th'Armenian lake!
Talents, most eminent, all shivering lie,
Smote by the elements, unclad, unfed:
Such things there are, and yet the Gods look on!
When a Gymnosophist shall pass your gate,
Crow 'till you burst the knitting of your lungs,
Court them, as Persians supplicate the Sun;
They to Beneficence are doubly dear!
Be not embrazen'd by a luckless hint,
To think yourself superior to controul;
Beware the overweenings of self-love,
Nor under-rate an unencounter'd foe,
Lest in the sequel you should catch a Tartar.
I charge ye, by the love ye bear our house,
All to eschew the metaphysic squad:
Let Patience arm ye 'gainst the ills of life,
Merit, my children, cannot claim a boon;
Successive Dunces wear the governing robe,
Whose brains are so bemix'd with dregs and lead,
They'd scarce be buoyant on th'Armenian lake!
Talents, most eminent, all shivering lie,
Smote by the elements, unclad, unfed:
Such things there are, and yet the Gods look on!
When a Gymnosophist shall pass your gate,
Crow 'till you burst the knitting of your lungs,
Court them, as Persians supplicate the Sun;
20
Be not embrazen'd by a luckless hint,
To think yourself superior to controul;
Beware the overweenings of self-love,
Nor under-rate an unencounter'd foe,
Lest in the sequel you should catch a Tartar.
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