Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters, EPIGRAM ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH, STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.(1) Sure 'twas by Providence design'd, Rather in pity, than in hate, That he should be, like Cupid, blind, (1) [First printed in "The Bee," 1759. See vol. i. p. 8.] (2) ["The princess of Eboli, the mistress of Phillip II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion of Henry III. of France, had each of them lost an eye; and the famous Latin epigram, which Goldsmith has either translated or imitated, was written on them."-LORD BYRON, Works, vol. vi. p. 390.] STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL Amidst the clamour of exulting joys, Which triumph forces from the patriot heart, O, Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe, Alive, the foe thy dreadful vigour fled, And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes : STANZAS.(2) Weeping, murmuring, complaining, Myra, too sincere for feigning, Fears th' approaching bridal night. Yet why impair thy bright perfection? She long had wanted cause of fear. (1) [First printed in the "Busy Body," 1759. The alleged relationship of the Poet with this distinguished officer, produced very naturally an effort to celebrate him, after a death so honourable.] (2) [First printed in "The Bee." 1759.] THE GIFT. TO IRIS, IN BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake, What annual offering shall I make My heart, a victim to thine eyes, Say, would the angry fair one prize A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy, If gems, or gold, impart a joy, I'll give them-when I get 'em. (1) [First printed in "The Bee," 1759. The original is in Ménagiana, tom. iv. p. 200 : ÉTRENNE À IRIS. "Pour témoignage de ma flamme, Iris, du meilleur de mon âme, Je vous donne à ce nouvel an, Non pas dentelle, ni ruban, Non pas essence, non pas pommade, Un mouchoir, des gants, un bouquet, Quoi donc? attendez, je vous donne, Qui m'avez toujours refusé Le point si souvent proposé, Je vous donne.-Ah! le puis-je dire? Fussiez-vous cent fois plus aimable, Belle Iris, je vous donne-au diable."] I'll give but not the full-blown rose, I'll give thee something yet unpaid, Not less sincere than civil: I'll give thee-ah! too charming maid, AN ELEGY ON THE GLORY OF HER SEX, MRS. MARY BLAIZE.(1) Good people all, with one accord, Who never wanted a good word— The needy seldom pass'd her door, Who left a pledge behind. (1) [These lines were first printed in "The Bee," 1759. Mr. Croker observes, in a communication to the editor:-" The elegy on Madam Blaize, and the better part of that on the Death of a Mad Dog, are closely imitated from a well-known French string of absurdities called 'La Chanson du fameux la Galisse;' one of many versions of which you will find in the Ménagiana, vol. iii, p.29. I shall select two or three stranzas as examples:— "Messieurs, vous plait-il d'ouir Il pourra vous rejouir, Pourvu qu'il vous divertisse. On dit que dans ses amours, Il fut caressé des belles, Qui le suivirent toujours,- Il fut par un triste sort, Blessé d'une main cruelle ; On croit, puisqu'il est mort, Que la plaie était mortelle."] She strove the neighbourhood to please, At church, in silks and satins new, Her love was sought, I do aver, But now her wealth and finery fled, The doctors found, when she was dead, Her last disorder mortal. Let us lament, in sorrow sore, For Kent-street well may say, That had she liv'd a twelvemonth more, She had not died to-day. DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR'S BED-CHAMBER.(9) Where the Red Lion staring o'er the way, See vol. ii. (1) [First printed, in 1760, in "The Citizen of the World." p. 117. On this subject Goldsmith had projected an heroi-comic poem, as appears by one of his letters to his brother (see Life, ch. viii.); and with a few variations it forms the description of the ale-house in the "Deserted Village." See p. 62 of the present volume.] |