Horace in London Consisting of imitations of the first two books of the odes of Horace. By the authors of the rejected addresses, or the new theatrum poetarum [Horace and James Smith] |
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| XIII. | ODE XIII. The STOCK JOBBER'S LAMENT.
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 | Horace in London |  |
147
ODE XIII. The STOCK JOBBER'S LAMENT.
Ille et nefasto te posuit die.
O fatal Omnium, wicked was his noddle,
Who first created (omen of ill luck)
Thee, doomed to make thy holder almost waddle,
And turn a green Goose, to a limping Duck.
Who first created (omen of ill luck)
Thee, doomed to make thy holder almost waddle,
And turn a green Goose, to a limping Duck.
Napoleon, who with me has play'd the Devil,
Has doubtless acted it with many more,
In midnight massacres disposed to revel,
Or poison soldiers upon Jaffa's shore.
Has doubtless acted it with many more,
In midnight massacres disposed to revel,
Or poison soldiers upon Jaffa's shore.
All other crimes I could forgive thee, Boney,
But this exceeds the blackest in degree;
'Tis murderous sacrilege to take my money,
For money is both life and soul to me.
But this exceeds the blackest in degree;
'Tis murderous sacrilege to take my money,
For money is both life and soul to me.
148
We cannot all of us be always winners,
Bulls will hold on when markets mock their art;
And disappointed Bears, tho' cunning sinners,
Sometimes hold off, when prices upward start.
Bulls will hold on when markets mock their art;
And disappointed Bears, tho' cunning sinners,
Sometimes hold off, when prices upward start.
Fortune takes one behind her on a pillion;
Another whom to-day she tumbles down,
To-morrow she may bless with half a million,
And leave the first with scarcely half a crown.
Another whom to-day she tumbles down,
To-morrow she may bless with half a million,
And leave the first with scarcely half a crown.
How narrow my escape from utter ruin!
On the black board I thought to see my name,
Where every sneering brother Bull or Bruin,
Might read at once my losses and my shame.
On the black board I thought to see my name,
Where every sneering brother Bull or Bruin,
Might read at once my losses and my shame.
There future Ducks who in hot water dabble,
Chatter of leagues and wars in sounds confused:
Others of Long Annuities will gabble,
Or prate of my appropriate Fund—Reduced.
Chatter of leagues and wars in sounds confused:
Others of Long Annuities will gabble,
Or prate of my appropriate Fund—Reduced.
But what a sudden truce to their debating,
When the commissioners are served with stock!
Then Bulls and Bears, no more each other baiting,
Round a new pivot clamorously flock.
When the commissioners are served with stock!
Then Bulls and Bears, no more each other baiting,
Round a new pivot clamorously flock.
149
Three headed Cerberus stands mute with wonder,
To find his roar excell'd by human tongues,
With lifted hands, all bellowing like thunder,
A fleet of fingers in a storm of lungs.
To find his roar excell'd by human tongues,
With lifted hands, all bellowing like thunder,
A fleet of fingers in a storm of lungs.
Rise from the shades, old Orpheus, with thy fiddle,
To quell this row among the biped cattle;
Bid Bulls with dancing Bears lead down the middle,
So shall their tongues and heels in concert rattle.
To quell this row among the biped cattle;
Bid Bulls with dancing Bears lead down the middle,
So shall their tongues and heels in concert rattle.
| Horace in London | |