He many a creature did anatomize, He many a dog destroyed, and many a cat; He knew the various modes of ancient times, Their arts and fashions of each different guise, Their weddings, funerals, punishments for crimes, Their strength, their learning eke, and rarities; Of old habiliments, each sort and size, Male, female, high and low, to him were known; Each gladiator dress, and stage disguise; With learned, clerkly phrase he could have shown How the Greek tunic differed from the Roman gown. A curious medalist, I wot, he was, And boasted many a course of ancient coin; Well as his wife's he knewen every face, From Julius Cæsar down to Constantine: For some rare sculpture he would oft ypine, (As green-sick damosels for husbands do ;) And when obtainèd, with enraptured eyne, He'd run it o'er and o'er with greedy view, And look, and look again, as he would look it through. His rich museum, of dimensions fair, With goods that spoke the owner's mind was fraught: Things ancient, curious, value-worth, and rare, From sea and land, from Greece and Rome, were brought, Which he with mighty sums of gold had bought : On these all tides with joyous eyes he pored; And, sooth to say, himself he greater thought, When he beheld his cabinets thus stored, Than if he'd been of Albion's wealthy cities lord. MARK AKENSIDE. THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS. FRIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name, Unless to one you stint the flame, The child, whom many fathers share, Hath seldom known a father's care. "T is thus in friendship; who depend On many, rarely find a friend. A hare who, in a civil way, Complied with everything, like Gay, As forth she went at early dawn, What transport in her bosom grew, The horse replied, "Poor honest puss, She next the stately bull implored; I may, without offense, pretend The goat remarked, her pulse was high, Her languid head, her heavy eye: "My back," says he, "may do you harm; The sheep's at hand, and wool is warm." The sheep was feeble, and complained His sides a load of wood sustained; Said he was slow, confessed his fears; For hounds eat sheep as well as hares. She now the trotting calf addressed, To save from death a friend distressed. "Shall I," says he, "of tender age, In this important case engage? Older and abler passed you by; How strong are those! How weak am I! Should I presume to bear you hence, Those friends of mine may take offense. Excuse me, then; you know my heart; But dearest friends, alas! must part. How shall we all lament! Adieu! For see, the hounds are just in view." JOHN GAY. |