The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq In two volumes. With Decorations. The fourth edition |
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A SIMILE. |
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 | The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq |  |
A SIMILE.
What village but has sometime seen
the clumsy shape, the frightful mien,
Tremendous claws, and shagged hair,
Of that grim brute yclip'd a bear?
He from his dam, the learn'd agree,
Receiv'd the curious form you see;
Who with her plastic tongue alone,
Produc'd a visage—like her own—
And thus they hint, in mystic fashion,
The pow'rful force of education —
Perhaps yon crowd of swains is viewing
E'en now, the strange exploits of Bruin;
Who plays his antics, roars aloud;
The wonder of a gaping crowd!
the clumsy shape, the frightful mien,
Tremendous claws, and shagged hair,
Of that grim brute yclip'd a bear?
He from his dam, the learn'd agree,
Receiv'd the curious form you see;
Who with her plastic tongue alone,
Produc'd a visage—like her own—
And thus they hint, in mystic fashion,
The pow'rful force of education —
Perhaps yon crowd of swains is viewing
E'en now, the strange exploits of Bruin;
220
The wonder of a gaping crowd!
So have I known an aukward lad,
Whose birth has made a parish glad,
Forbid, for fear of sense, to roam,
And taught by kind mamma at home;
Who gives him many a well-try'd rule,
With ways and means—to play the fool.
In sense the same, in stature higher,
He shines, ere long, a rural squire,
Pours forth unwitty jokes, and swears,
And bawls, and drinks, but chiefly stares:
His tenants of superior sense
Carouze, and laugh, at his expence;
And deem the pastime I'm relating,
To be as pleasant, as bear-baiting.
Whose birth has made a parish glad,
Forbid, for fear of sense, to roam,
And taught by kind mamma at home;
Who gives him many a well-try'd rule,
With ways and means—to play the fool.
In sense the same, in stature higher,
He shines, ere long, a rural squire,
Pours forth unwitty jokes, and swears,
And bawls, and drinks, but chiefly stares:
His tenants of superior sense
Carouze, and laugh, at his expence;
And deem the pastime I'm relating,
To be as pleasant, as bear-baiting.
| The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq | |