MARY GULLIVER TO LEMUEL GULLIVER. 377 spouses: At early morn I to the market haste (Studious in ev'ry thing to please thy taste); A curious fowl and 'sparagus I chose, (For I remember you were fond of those); Three shillings cost the first, the last seven groats; Sullen you turn from both, and call for oats. Others bring goods and treasure to their houses, Something to deck their pretty babes and My only token was a cup like horn, That's made of nothing but a lady's corn. 'Tis not for that I grieve; no, tis to see The groom and sorrel mare preferr'd to me! These, for some moments when you deign to quit, And, at due distance sweet discourse admit, 'Tis all my pleasure thy past toil to know; For pleas'd remembrance builds delight on wo. At ev'ry danger pants thy consort's breast, And gaping infants squall to hear the rest. How did I tremble, when by thousands bound, I saw thee stretch'd on Lilliputian ground! When scaling armies climb'd up every part, Each step they trod I felt upon my heart. But when thy torrent quench'd the dreadful blaze, King, queen, and nation staring with amaze, Full in my view how all my husband came! And what extinguish'd theirs, increas'd my flame. Those spectacles, ordain'd thine eyes to save, Were once my present; love that armour gave. How did I mourn at Bolgolam's decree! For, when he sign'd thy death, he sentenc'd me. When folks might see thee all the country round For sixpence, I'd have given a thousand pound. Lord! when the giant babe that head of thine Got in his mouth, my heart was up in mine! When in the marrow-bone I see thee ramm'd, Or on the house-top by the monkey cramm'd, The piteous images renew my pain, flame! O teach me, dear, new words to speak my Or Glumglum's humbler title sooth thine ear: TO QUINBUS FLESTRIN, THE MAN-MOUNTAIN. A LILLIPUTIAN ODE. IN amaze Muse, inspire All thy fire! When they said Propp'd the skies: See! and believe your eyes! See him stride Vallies wide, Over woods, Over floods! When he treads, Groan and shake: Armies quake; Lest his spurn Man and steed: Left and right, Lest a host Beneath his foot be lost! Turn'd aside From his hide Safe from wound, Clouds he blows: When he speaks, When he eats, When he drinks, On thy hand Let me stand; So shall I, Lofty poet! touch the sky. A GENTLE ECHO ON WOMAN. IN THE DORIC MANNER. [These verses were supposed, by the late Mr Reed, to have been written either in imitation of Lord Sterling's Aurora, or of a scene of the old play, entitled, "The Hog has lost his Pearl." There is a similar scene in Webster's Duchess of Malfy, and every reader must remember the dialogue between the Bearward and Echo in Hudibras.] SHEPHERD. ECHO, I ween, will in the woods reply, SHEPHERD. ECHO. Try. What must we do our passion to express? SHEPHERD. ECHO. Press. ECHо. Before. How shall I please her who ne'er lov'd before? SHEPHERD. What most moves women when we them address? SHEPHERD. ECHо. A dress. Say, what can keep her chaste, whom I adore! SHEPHERD, ECHO. A door. ECHO. Lyaг. If music softens rocks, love tunes my lyre. SHEPHERD. Then teach me, Echo, how shall I come by her? SHEPHERD. ECHO. Buy her. Eсно. Her deer. When bought, no question, I shall be her dear? Shepherd. But deer have horns: how must I keep her under? SHEPHERD. ECHO. Keep her under. ECHо. A-se under. How shall I hold her, ne'er to part asunder? SHEPHERD. But what can glad me, when she's laid on bier? SHEPHERD. ECHO. Beer. What must I do, when woman will be kind? Eсно. Be kind. |