Gulliveriana or, a fourth volume of miscellanies. Being a Sequel of the Three Volumes published by Pope and Swift. To which is added, Alexanderiana; or, A Comparison between the Ecclesiastical and Poetical Pope. And many Things, in Verse and Prose, relating to the latter. With an ample Preface; and a Critique on the Third Volume of Miscellanies lately publish'd by those two facetious Writers [by Jonathan Smedley] |
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The Forester and the Wood.
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 | Gulliveriana |  |
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The Forester and the Wood.
A TALE.
I
In good King Edgar's Days we read,(Some hundred Years ago)
The Thing's immortal made by Speed,
And eke, by learned Stow.
II
A Forester, of High Renown,There dwelt in Kent's fair Land;
Sometimes he wore a rural Crown,
His Word was a Command.
III
Icomen of all Sorts and DegreesDid weld his fruitful Ground,
They liv'd in Plenty, Peace and Ease,
And bless'd him all around.
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IV
Amidst his Land, in comely Guise,In those same Days there stood,
Its Branches stretching to the Skies,
A large and comely Wood.
V
This Forester, resolv'd one Day,After Debate mature,
To's Yeomen Labour, and good Pay,
From this Wood to procure.
VI
And to himself, likewise much Wealth,And many other Good,
As Corn and Wine, and Ease and Health,
And all from this same Wood.
VII
But at that Time, a Priest arose,Of sable, sullen Hue,
And Priests, before, and since have chose,
Dire Mischiefs, oft, to do.
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VIII
This Priest he bellow'd wide and loud,And fir'd the Yeomens Blood,
And into Tumults rais'd the Crowd,
On score of this same Wood.
IX
Nay he, full many and many a Time,In Verses, Doggrel hight;
(Which with sophistick Prose did chime)
Did shew his spiritual Spight.
X
For, you must know his Heart and Mind,(So full of canker'd Gall,
Nor to the Forester inclin'd)
Did often make him bawl,
XI
Not only 'gainst his Landlord, true,So great, and eke so good,
But to revile his Greenmen too,
On score of this same Wood.
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XII
So, on a Day, in gorgeous Gown,And Bible in his Hand;
Cock'd Hat, and in his keenest Frown,
The Mob he did command,
XIII
And Yeomen, likewise, to declare,That Wood, it must be fell'd,
Or else, that it should cost him dear,
For, it was Ominous held;
XIV
Nor was of Use, while there it stood,Was neither Thick, nor Tall,
That it disgrac'd the Neighbourhood,
And therefore it should fall.
XV
So to the Castle they repair'd,The Forester's high Tow'r,
And there these Tidings they declar'd
With all their Might and Power.
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XVI
With that, the Forester, so meek,In gentle Tone, replied,
My Mind some Mischief did bespeak,
When that same Priest I spied.
XVII
Be not deceiv'd, my Yeomen true,By superstitious Lies,
In secular Facts, have nought to do
With Men of Mysteries.
XVIII
Think how this sullen Priest has writ,(And with some Folk's Applause)
With all his Cunning and his Wit,
Against our Forest-Laws.
XIX
How oft has he embroil'd the PeaceOf all the Neighbourhood,
Before that I propos'd the Case
Of Vantage, from this Wood?
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XX
How has he set (with monstrous, vain,And most ungrounded Fears)
The Wives and Daughters, Dogs and Men,
Together by the Ears!
XXI
Be sure you, mainly, are deceiv'd,By this Hot Man of God;
And you your selves have ill behav'd,
And in a Way most odd.
XXII
My Greenmen all, with Main and Might,Espouse Myself and Cause,
And say, that all propos'd is right,
By ancient Forest-Laws.
XXIII
And what, belike, can I propose,In all I say or do,
But still, with every thing to close,
That makes for me and you.
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XXIV
If you, my Yeomen are undone,And cannot pay your Rent,
To Foreign Countries, I must run,
And exil'd be from Kent.
XXV
And if that I impoverish you(Which the great God forbid)
This foolish Thing, then, shall I do,
My Land stands in your stead.
XXVI
For all the Archers ye maintain,And Greenmen eke so many,
Must, then, be fed out of my Gain,
And Rents, if I have any.
XXVII
No, no, the Lord of all Things knows,Your Interest, well as mine,
Just, like those comely Forest Boughs,
Together still must twine.
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XXVIII
And now my Heart does almost bleed,(Like that of Altar'd Beast)
To recollect the horrid Deed
Of this same bloody Priest.
XXIX
My Yeomen, then, be ye well sure,Upon my Royal Word,
Out of this Wood I will procure
And that, upon Record,
XXX
To ye, your Wives and Children dear,And to each worthy Friend,
Comforts and Blessings, Year by Year,
Which never shall know End.
XXXI
Believe me, Gold and Silver, Brass,Out of this Wood shall come,
That every where shall current Pass,
And bless your House and Home.
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XXXII
This Wood shall buy you Cloaths so neat.And Carr to take the Air;
It shall supply your House with Meat,
Your Churches shall Repair.
XXXIII
With that the Yeomen and the Mob,To Passion strange gave Birth,
This Fellow, cry'd they, we will sob,
From off the Face of Earth.
XXXIV
And so they stript him of his Gown,(But spar'd the Word of God)
And whipt him, tightly, thro' the Town,
With Bow-string, stead of Rod.
XXXV
Crying, Long live the Forester,Fam'd be his Wit and Skill,
With us, and with this same Wood here,
Let him do what he will.
| Gulliveriana | |