Poems on Several Occasions In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell |
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POLTIS, King of Thrace;
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POLTIS, King of Thrace;
OR, THE Peace-Keeper:
A TALE, from Plutarch: Address'd to the Powers of Europe, in the Year 1726.
Ere
Europe's Peace is broken quite,
Ere Fleets and Armies meet in Fight,
Ere Blood is spilt, and Treasure spent,
Ere Crowns are lost, and Kingdoms rent,
Ye jarring Powers, with Patience, hear
A Tale, from Plutarch, worth your Ear.
Ere Fleets and Armies meet in Fight,
Ere Blood is spilt, and Treasure spent,
Ere Crowns are lost, and Kingdoms rent,
Ye jarring Powers, with Patience, hear
A Tale, from Plutarch, worth your Ear.
When Greeks, revengeful, had decreed
Against the Trojans to proceed,
'Twas thought expedient to take in
What neighbouring Forces they cou'd win;
That, by collected Rage and Strength,
The Town might be their own at length.
Against the Trojans to proceed,
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What neighbouring Forces they cou'd win;
That, by collected Rage and Strength,
The Town might be their own at length.
Ambassadors, among the rest,
To Poltis carried their Request.
To Poltis carried their Request.
The Thracian, tardy, as the Dutch,
Car'd not for War and Mischief much;
But, warily, the Cause enquir'd
That had the Grecian Chiefs inspir'd
With hostile Fury—
Car'd not for War and Mischief much;
But, warily, the Cause enquir'd
That had the Grecian Chiefs inspir'd
With hostile Fury—
'Twas told, with Circumstances strong,
That Menelaus suffer'd Wrong
From Paris, unprovok'd,—and how
Th' Adulterers liv'd together now:
But that, with his concurring Aid,
They were not in the least afraid,
But Helen shou'd be had again,
And Troy laid level with the Plain.
That Menelaus suffer'd Wrong
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Th' Adulterers liv'd together now:
But that, with his concurring Aid,
They were not in the least afraid,
But Helen shou'd be had again,
And Troy laid level with the Plain.
He, good and wise! the Matter weigh'd,
And then, in peaceful Manner, said;
And then, in peaceful Manner, said;
“Is that your Quarrel? That your Strife?
“Is all this Pother for a Wife?
“For shame, ye Greeks, your Anger stifle,
“Nor break the Peace for such a Trifle.
“What tho' the Rape was most injurious?
“Consider, Paris' Love was furious.
“'Twas wrong the Grecian to supplant,
“And 'twere so, shou'd the Trojan want.
“Both must have Wives. Come,—I have two,
“And, for the Sake of Peace and you,
“(Tho' both are as belov'd by me,
“As Wives, in Conscience, ought to be)
“I'll one to that same Trojan send,
“And t'other to my Grecian Friend.
“If either of 'em shou'd again
“For want of Female Flesh complain,
“The Devil's in him. For my Part,
“I'm satisfy'd, with all my Heart;
“And must be very sick of Life,
“When I take Cudgels for a Wife.
“Is all this Pother for a Wife?
“For shame, ye Greeks, your Anger stifle,
“Nor break the Peace for such a Trifle.
“What tho' the Rape was most injurious?
“Consider, Paris' Love was furious.
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“And 'twere so, shou'd the Trojan want.
“Both must have Wives. Come,—I have two,
“And, for the Sake of Peace and you,
“(Tho' both are as belov'd by me,
“As Wives, in Conscience, ought to be)
“I'll one to that same Trojan send,
“And t'other to my Grecian Friend.
“If either of 'em shou'd again
“For want of Female Flesh complain,
“The Devil's in him. For my Part,
“I'm satisfy'd, with all my Heart;
“And must be very sick of Life,
“When I take Cudgels for a Wife.
The Greeks despis'd those Ways and Means,
T'accommodate the Difference:
But, headlong to the Battle rush'd,
And Ten long Years for Conquest push'd;
Lost many Pounds, and many Lives,
Worth twenty times as many Wives;
And, when, at last, the War was o'er,
What was it from the Field they bore?
Why, Falstaff's Honour, and a Whore!
T'accommodate the Difference:
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And Ten long Years for Conquest push'd;
Lost many Pounds, and many Lives,
Worth twenty times as many Wives;
And, when, at last, the War was o'er,
What was it from the Field they bore?
Why, Falstaff's Honour, and a Whore!
| Poems on Several Occasions | |