 | Little John And The Giants |  |
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PROLOGUE.
Ladies and Gentlemen!—You are here invited,
Not to be entertain'd, I fear—but frighted.
How shall our delicate lads, and tender lasses,
Who scream and tremble—if a mouse but passes—
Withstand the mighty terrors of this night?
Gigantic, hideous forms—phrew—dreadful sight!
Besides, you know, it is not in our nature,
To like your folks—so very much above—ourselves in stature.
I told our author this—I was not for it—he,
Forsooth, must have it so—and quotes authority.
Homer, you'll see, he says, in Pope's translation,
Gives you, of Giants, a whole hulking nation—
Damn'd strapping dogs, with mouths to ears expanded;
And, though all single-eyed, yet double-handed!
Ovid, in treating of old times, can tell us,
This earth once teem'd with such tall thwacking fellows,
Who scaled the skies, on Ossa Pelion rear'd,
And the blest gods in their bright mansions scared.
'Tis true, they fail'd—and thence, fourteen to seven,
Giants have dropt all hope—of scaling Heaven.
Ah! what good times we live in?—Yet, I hate
Our world should grow—so little—all of late.
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We have had, to pick Three Giants from a nation—
No monsters, neither—just enough to shew
Some scenes, that past—a thousand years ago!
Well—could we find it without his explaining—
This man, altho' a poet, has some meaning.
Suppose now—ay!—No, no—I cannot say
For certain—faith, e'en find it as ye may!
Yet, to avow One Truth, I shall not fear—
He means All Honour—to All Persons, here!
| Little John And The Giants | |