Volume Ii Part 8 (1/2)

I saw thee raised to high renown, Supporting half the British crown; And often have I seen thee grace The chaste Diana's infant face; And whensoe'er you please to s.h.i.+ne, Less useful is her light than thine: Thy numerous fingers know their way, And oft in Celia's tresses play.

To place thee in another view, I'll show the world strange things and true; What lords and dames of high degree May justly claim their birth from thee!

The soul of man with spleen you vex; Of spleen you cure the female s.e.x.

Thee for a gift the courtier sends With pleasure to his special friends: He gives, and with a generous pride, Contrives all means the gift to hide: Nor oft can the receiver know, Whether he has the gift or no.

On airy wings you take your flight, And fly unseen both day and night; Conceal your form with various tricks; And few know how or where you fix: Yet some, who ne'er bestow'd thee, boast That they to others give thee most.

Meantime, the wise a question start, If thou a real being art; Or but a creature of the brain, That gives imaginary pain?

But the sly giver better knows thee; Who feels true joys when he bestows thee.

ON A CORKSCREW

Though I, alas! a prisoner be, My trade is prisoners to set free.

No slave his lord's commands obeys With such insinuating ways.

My genius piercing, sharp, and bright, Wherein the men of wit delight.

The clergy keep me for their ease, And turn and wind me as they please.

A new and wondrous art I show Of raising spirits from below; In scarlet some, and some in white; They rise, walk round, yet never fright.

In at each mouth the spirits pa.s.s, Distinctly seen as through a gla.s.s: O'er head and body make a rout, And drive at last all secrets out; And still, the more I show my art, The more they open every heart.

A greater chemist none than I Who, from materials hard and dry, Have taught men to extract with skill More precious juice than from a still.

Although I'm often out of case, I'm not ashamed to show my face.

Though at the tables of the great I near the sideboard take my seat; Yet the plain 'squire, when dinner's done, Is never pleased till I make one; He kindly bids me near him stand, And often takes me by the hand.

I twice a-day a-hunting go; Nor ever fail to seize my foe; And when I have him by the poll, I drag him upwards from his hole; Though some are of so stubborn kind, I'm forced to leave a limb behind.

I hourly wait some fatal end; For I can break, but scorn to bend.

THE GULF OF ALL HUMAN POSSESSIONS 1724

Come hither, and behold the fruits, Vain man! of all thy vain pursuits.

Take wise advice, and look behind, Bring all past actions to thy mind.

Here you may see, as in a gla.s.s, How soon all human pleasures pa.s.s; How will it mortify thy pride, To turn the true impartial side!

How will your eyes contain their tears, When all the sad reverse appears!

This cave within its womb confines The last result of all designs: Here lie deposited the spoils Of busy mortals' endless toils: Here, with an easy search, we find The foul corruptions of mankind.

The wretched purchase here behold Of traitors, who their country sold.

This gulf insatiate imbibes The lawyer's fees, the statesman's bribes.

Here, in their proper shape and mien, Fraud, perjury, and guilt are seen.

Necessity, the tyrant's law, All human race must hither draw; All prompted by the same desire, The vigorous youth and aged sire.

Behold the coward and the brave, The haughty prince, the humble slave, Physician, lawyer, and divine, All make oblations at this shrine.

Some enter boldly, some by stealth, And leave behind their fruitless wealth.

For, while the bashful sylvan maid, As half-ashamed and half-afraid, Approaching finds it hard to part With that which dwelt so near her heart; The courtly dame, unmoved by fear, Profusely pours her offering here.

A treasure here of learning lurks, Huge heaps of never-dying works; Labours of many an ancient sage, And millions of the present age.

In at this gulf all offerings pa.s.s And lie an undistinguish'd ma.s.s.

Deucalion,[1] to restore mankind, Was bid to throw the stones behind; So those who here their gifts convey Are forced to look another way; For few, a chosen few, must know The mysteries that lie below.