John Gay

Bumkinet, Grubbinol

Why, Grubbinol, dost thou so wistful seem?There’s sorrow in thy look, if right I deem.‘Tis true, yon oaks with yellow tops appear,And chilly blasts begin to nip the year;From the tall elm a shower of leaves is borneAnd their lost beauty riven beeches mourn.Yet ev’n this season pleasance blithe affords,Now the squeez’d press foams with…

Air I.An old woman clothed in gray, &c.1-

–Each neighbour abuses his brother;–Whore and rogue they call husband and wife:–All professions be-rogue one another.–The priest calls the lawyer a cheat,–The lawyer be-knaves the divine;–And the statesman, because he’s so great,–Thinks his trade as honest as mine.Air XI.A Soldier and a Sailor2-A fox may steal your hens, sir,–A whore your health and pence, sir,–Your…

The Shepherd’s Week : Wednesday; Or, The Dumps

Sparabella.The wailings of a maiden I recite,A maiden fair, that Sparabella hight.Such strains ne’er warble in the linnet’s throat,Nor the gay goldfinch chants so sweet a note,No magpie chatter’d, nor the painted jay,No ox was heard to low, nor ass to bray.No rustling breezes play’d the leaves among,While thus her madrigal the damsel sung.A while,…

Of Walking the Streets by Day.

The proper implements for wintry ways;Has taught the walker, with judicious eyes,To read the various warnings of the skies.Now venture, Muse, from home to range the town,And for the public safety risk thy own.For ease and for dispatch, the morning’s best;No tides of passengers the street molest.You’ll see a draggled damsel, here and there,From Billingsgate…

Thus far the Muse has trac’d in useful lays

Has taught the walker, with judicious eyes,To read the various warnings of the skies.Now venture, Muse, from home to range the town,And for the public safety risk thy own.For ease and for dispatch, the morning’s best;No tides of passengers the street molest.You’ll see a draggled damsel, here and there,From Billingsgate her fishy traffic bear;On doors…

Olympus’ gates unfold: in heaven’s high towers

Great Jove above the rest exalted sate,And in his mind revolv’d succeeding fate,His awful eye with ray superior shone,The thunder-grasping eagle guards his throneOn silver clouds the great assembly laid,The whole creation at one view survey’d.But see, fair Venus comes in all her state;The wanton Loves and Graces round her wait;With her loose robe officious…