 | Poems on several occasions |  |
52
THE MOUNTEBANK.
Now mounts Jack-pudding on the lofty stage
T'attend great Cure-all thro' his mimic rage,
And thus his garb with witty jeer defends,
An open fool, dear Sirs, on you depends.
Addressing his learn'd audience on this wise,
Pleased he hears the loud ha! ha! arise;
Omen portentous where the humour lies.
T'attend great Cure-all thro' his mimic rage,
And thus his garb with witty jeer defends,
An open fool, dear Sirs, on you depends.
Addressing his learn'd audience on this wise,
Pleased he hears the loud ha! ha! arise;
Omen portentous where the humour lies.
But yet he strove, and play'd his tricks in vain,
The doctor too perform'd his part with pain;
Nay, stallion-like, made pedigree the test,
Thinking the father reign'd in ev'ry breast;
But found 'twas wrong: 'tis not the many cures
That this refin'd, all-gambling age allures.
Hair-lips, king's-evil, cancers, deadly ills,
In vain he boasts his balm each cure fulfils,
In vain he tells the virtue of his pills.
The doctor too perform'd his part with pain;
Nay, stallion-like, made pedigree the test,
Thinking the father reign'd in ev'ry breast;
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That this refin'd, all-gambling age allures.
Hair-lips, king's-evil, cancers, deadly ills,
In vain he boasts his balm each cure fulfils,
In vain he tells the virtue of his pills.
Like senseless marble stood the gaping throng;
No plaudits echo'd, tho' his wily tongue
Its utmost pleads: nay, that he may succeed,
Paupers he heals by charitable deed.
No plaudits echo'd, tho' his wily tongue
Its utmost pleads: nay, that he may succeed,
Paupers he heals by charitable deed.
Would any those who feel affliction's storms,
To him apply, his gen'rous breast so warms
To give them ease; nor think he's like that tribe
Who plead for murder can they gain a bribe.
No; bids them come to him in public view,
That all may see the wonders he can do.
His harangue ended; but alas! the theme
Gain'd no admittance, till Delusion came,
And Pœans sung how great was Fortune's fame.
To him apply, his gen'rous breast so warms
To give them ease; nor think he's like that tribe
Who plead for murder can they gain a bribe.
No; bids them come to him in public view,
That all may see the wonders he can do.
His harangue ended; but alas! the theme
Gain'd no admittance, till Delusion came,
And Pœans sung how great was Fortune's fame.
54
The crowd thus caught, the doctor shews a prize
Of glitt'ring plate; and he who fortune tries,
Shall sov'reign balsam, powder, pills receive
Gratis; if not, brand him a common knave.
'Tis done, and now behold the village-chuck,
His bended stake's thrown up for better luck;
The cobler's awl, joiners and masons rules,
Too plain descry'd a great increase of fools.
Others in lucky numbers much confide,
When Reason's lost then Folly takes the guide.
One, says the first, as principal is best;
Another, that the happy nine is blest;
Tho' not encouraged by old Galen's sons,
Yet sure the nine a fav'rite number runs.
Of glitt'ring plate; and he who fortune tries,
Shall sov'reign balsam, powder, pills receive
Gratis; if not, brand him a common knave.
'Tis done, and now behold the village-chuck,
His bended stake's thrown up for better luck;
The cobler's awl, joiners and masons rules,
Too plain descry'd a great increase of fools.
Others in lucky numbers much confide,
When Reason's lost then Folly takes the guide.
One, says the first, as principal is best;
Another, that the happy nine is blest;
Tho' not encouraged by old Galen's sons,
Yet sure the nine a fav'rite number runs.
Nine morns the infant through the briar goes
To stem the cough from whence much mischief flows:
Nine morns pale youths unto the kine repair
To drink their milk and suck the fragrant air,
To drive away consumption's skinny train,
And brace the nerves under its lucky reign.
While yet a third resolves to try his fate
By Freedom's number, if perchance that date
His wish could gain, no one should him deprive
Of his lov'd fortune set in forty-five.
To stem the cough from whence much mischief flows:
Nine morns pale youths unto the kine repair
To drink their milk and suck the fragrant air,
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And brace the nerves under its lucky reign.
While yet a third resolves to try his fate
By Freedom's number, if perchance that date
His wish could gain, no one should him deprive
Of his lov'd fortune set in forty-five.
Mean time the doctor, with looks most demure,
Bids Folly's sons of hidden marks besure;
Shews them the ticket which the prize contains,
And with his plea of honour them detains;
And that his plan with justice may agree,
Two boys are plac'd, from base intrig'ing free:
Again the gaudy toy's expos'd to view,
Again it takes among the childish crew;
While round his court the busy buz is heard,
For trifling shilling shall I be deterr'd
From seeking Fortune in so fair a way,
Who knows but I may meet success to-day?
With such-like talk does each himself confound,
And gladly listens to the golden sound:
In haste throws up (first ty'd in lucky knot)
His handkerchief, to hold the happy lot.
Then ribbands, knives, and gloves appear in swarms,
Who but the owners know their several charms?
All, all still wishing for the flatt'ring toy;
And more the ideots, more the doctor's joy.
Bids Folly's sons of hidden marks besure;
Shews them the ticket which the prize contains,
And with his plea of honour them detains;
And that his plan with justice may agree,
Two boys are plac'd, from base intrig'ing free:
Again the gaudy toy's expos'd to view,
Again it takes among the childish crew;
While round his court the busy buz is heard,
For trifling shilling shall I be deterr'd
From seeking Fortune in so fair a way,
Who knows but I may meet success to-day?
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And gladly listens to the golden sound:
In haste throws up (first ty'd in lucky knot)
His handkerchief, to hold the happy lot.
Then ribbands, knives, and gloves appear in swarms,
Who but the owners know their several charms?
All, all still wishing for the flatt'ring toy;
And more the ideots, more the doctor's joy.
Now sounds the Andrew's horn to Fortune's train,
And now th'imprudent herd from talk refrain;
Close wrapt in deepest thought see them appear;
See how suspended 'twixt vain hope and fear:
Till loud-tongu'd Fame proclaim'd the happy he;
Dame Fortune's choice, and partner of her glee.
Deceit, with smiles, did like a jilt attend,
Th'unhappy blanks they greet their lucky friend;
And then th'accomplish'd doctor's works defend.
One praises balsam, t'other powders fine;
His cake and pills, their virtues how divine.
Not but Confusion wild put in its claim:
For, oh! sad tale: her luck to try, a dame
The handkerchief most rare, that did adorn
Her snowy breast upon the nuptial morn,
Had thither sent; but base Fraud, never true,
Receiv'd the precious pledge, and with it flew.
Then what ensu'd, my Muse must not relate,
Lest scandal triumph o'er the marriage state.
And now th'imprudent herd from talk refrain;
Close wrapt in deepest thought see them appear;
See how suspended 'twixt vain hope and fear:
Till loud-tongu'd Fame proclaim'd the happy he;
Dame Fortune's choice, and partner of her glee.
Deceit, with smiles, did like a jilt attend,
Th'unhappy blanks they greet their lucky friend;
And then th'accomplish'd doctor's works defend.
One praises balsam, t'other powders fine;
His cake and pills, their virtues how divine.
57
For, oh! sad tale: her luck to try, a dame
The handkerchief most rare, that did adorn
Her snowy breast upon the nuptial morn,
Had thither sent; but base Fraud, never true,
Receiv'd the precious pledge, and with it flew.
Then what ensu'd, my Muse must not relate,
Lest scandal triumph o'er the marriage state.
Yet Fortune's cause the giddy throng maintain'd
With much success, until Experience deign'd
To call in Prudence; when that heav'n-born maid
Brought Reason and Discretion to her aid.
When lo! their eyes were open'd, and each found
Himself deluded, and with folly crown'd.
With much success, until Experience deign'd
To call in Prudence; when that heav'n-born maid
Brought Reason and Discretion to her aid.
When lo! their eyes were open'd, and each found
Himself deluded, and with folly crown'd.
| Poems on several occasions | |