 | Rough Sketches of Bath, and Other Poems |  |
44
CARABOO.
Oh! aid me, ye spirits of wonder! who soar
In realms of Romance where none ventured before;
Ye Fairies! who govern the fancies of men,
And sit on the point of Monk Lewis's pen;
Ye mysterious Elves! who for ever remain
With Lusus Naturæs, and Ghosts of Cock-Lane;
Who ride upon broomsticks, intent to deceive
All those who appear predisposed to believe,
And softly repeat from your home in the spheres
Incredible stories to credulous ears;
With every thing marvellous, every thing new,
We'll trace a description of Miss Caraboo.
In realms of Romance where none ventured before;
Ye Fairies! who govern the fancies of men,
And sit on the point of Monk Lewis's pen;
Ye mysterious Elves! who for ever remain
With Lusus Naturæs, and Ghosts of Cock-Lane;
Who ride upon broomsticks, intent to deceive
All those who appear predisposed to believe,
And softly repeat from your home in the spheres
Incredible stories to credulous ears;
With every thing marvellous, every thing new,
We'll trace a description of Miss Caraboo.
Johanna's disciples, who piously came
To present babies' caps to the elderly dame,
Though all hopes of the virgin's accouchement is o'er,
Shall meet with the smile of derision no more;
Their wonders were weak, their credulity small—
Caraboo was engender'd by nothing at all!
And where did she come from?—and who can she be?
Did she fall from the sky?—did she rise from the sea?
A seraph of day, or a shadow of night?
Did she spring upon earth in a stream of gas-light?
Did she ride on the back of a fish, or sea-dog?
A spirit of health, or a devil incog.?
Was she wafted by winds over mountain and stream?
Was she borne to our isle by the impulse of steam?
Was she found in complete “fascination” elate?
Or discover'd at first in a chrysalis state?
Did some philosophic analysis draw
Her component degrees from some hot-water spa?
Did some chemical process occasion her birth?
Did galvanic experiments bring her on earth?
Is she new? is she old? is she false? is she true?
Come read me the riddle of Miss Caraboo.
To present babies' caps to the elderly dame,
45
Shall meet with the smile of derision no more;
Their wonders were weak, their credulity small—
Caraboo was engender'd by nothing at all!
And where did she come from?—and who can she be?
Did she fall from the sky?—did she rise from the sea?
A seraph of day, or a shadow of night?
Did she spring upon earth in a stream of gas-light?
Did she ride on the back of a fish, or sea-dog?
A spirit of health, or a devil incog.?
Was she wafted by winds over mountain and stream?
Was she borne to our isle by the impulse of steam?
Was she found in complete “fascination” elate?
Or discover'd at first in a chrysalis state?
Did some philosophic analysis draw
Her component degrees from some hot-water spa?
Did some chemical process occasion her birth?
Did galvanic experiments bring her on earth?
46
Come read me the riddle of Miss Caraboo.
Astronomers sage may exhibit her soon,
A daughter-in-law to the man in the moon;
Or declare that her visit accounts for the rain
Which happen'd last year, and may happen again;
That dark spots appear in the course she has run,
Coeval perhaps with the spots on the sun;
That she may be connected with Corsairs—all these,
And as many more possible things as you please.
A daughter-in-law to the man in the moon;
Or declare that her visit accounts for the rain
Which happen'd last year, and may happen again;
That dark spots appear in the course she has run,
Coeval perhaps with the spots on the sun;
That she may be connected with Corsairs—all these,
And as many more possible things as you please.
In what hand does she write?—In what tongue does she speak?
Is it Arabic, Persic, Egyptian, or Greek?
She must be a blue-stocking lady indeed,
To write an epistle which no man can read;
Though we have some publishing scribes I could name,
Whose letters will meet with a fate much the same.
Is it Arabic, Persic, Egyptian, or Greek?
47
To write an epistle which no man can read;
Though we have some publishing scribes I could name,
Whose letters will meet with a fate much the same.
She then wore no ear-rings, though still may be seen
The holes in her ears, where her ear-rings had been;
Leathern shoes on her feet, a black shawl round her hair,
And of black worsted stockings an elegant pair;
Her gown was black stuff, and my readers may guess
If her story contains as much stuff as her dress.
The holes in her ears, where her ear-rings had been;
Leathern shoes on her feet, a black shawl round her hair,
And of black worsted stockings an elegant pair;
Her gown was black stuff, and my readers may guess
If her story contains as much stuff as her dress.
Of the famed Indian Jugglers we all must have heard,
Who, to gain a subsistence, would swallow a sword;
But men (without proof) who believe tales like these,
Will undoubtedly swallow whatever you please.
Who, to gain a subsistence, would swallow a sword;
But men (without proof) who believe tales like these,
Will undoubtedly swallow whatever you please.
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I have heard those who thought that she wish'd to deceive,
After seeing her person have learn'd to believe;
Even those who have doubted the truth of her case,
Have forgotten their doubts when they look'd in her face.
I never have seen her; but if when I see,
The truth of her tale is apparent to me,
I will cancel these lines, and most gladly rehearse
Her swimming and fencing in beautiful verse;
In the graces and charms of my muse to adorn her,
Shall be the employment of
After seeing her person have learn'd to believe;
Even those who have doubted the truth of her case,
Have forgotten their doubts when they look'd in her face.
I never have seen her; but if when I see,
The truth of her tale is apparent to me,
I will cancel these lines, and most gladly rehearse
Her swimming and fencing in beautiful verse;
In the graces and charms of my muse to adorn her,
Shall be the employment of
Q. in the Corner.
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