Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
WHY SO PALE.
WHY SO pale and wan, fond lover?
Prythee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Prythee, why so pale?
Why so dull and mute, fond lover?
Prythee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do't?
Prythee, why so mute?
Quit, quit for shame! this will not move;
This cannot take her:
If of herself she will not love,
Nothing can make her—
The Devil take her!
Tum lingua infringi, vox delirare virilis,
Et fundi infantes balba de nare susurri.
Ocius inde ætas succedit septima-finis
Portenti, extremus vitai mobilis actus :
Claudicat ingenium, rediere oblivia rerum;
Gustus hebet, pereunt dentes, caligat ocellus;
Omnia deficiunt atque uno tempore desunt.
CUR PALLES.
CUR tener palles amator?
Fare, cur palles?
Quod rubenti denegatur,
Tune pallens id feres?
Fare, cur palles?
Cur puer taces amator?
Fare, cur taces?
Eloquenti quod negatur,
Idne tu tacens feres?
Fare, cur taces?
Abstine, abstine, proh pudorem!
Istud haud movet :
Sponte ni sentiat amorem,
Nil eam flectet
Orcus occupet!
THE CITY SHOWER.
CAREFUL observers may foretell the hour,
By sure prognostics, when to dread a shower.
While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o'er
Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.
Returning home at night, you'll find the sink
Strike your offended sense with double stink.
If you be wise, then go not far to dine;
You'll spend in coach hire more than save in wine.
A coming shower your shooting corns presage;
Old aches will throb, your hollow tooth will rage;
Sauntering in coffee-house is Dulman seen;
He damns the climate and complains of spleen.
Meanwhile the South, rising with dabbled wings,
A sable cloud athwart the welkin flings,
That swill'd more liquor than it could contain,
And, like a drunkard, gives it up again.
Brisk Susan whips her linen from the rope,
While the first drizzling shower is borne aslope :
Such is that sprinkling, which some careless quean
Flirts on you from her mop, but not so clean;
Si bene quis varii cognoverit omina cœli,
Non temere huic subitis obfuit imber aquis.
Scilicet in terras ubi sit ruitura procella,
Undique dant certas plurima signa notas.
Desinit assuetos venturi præscia ludos,
Nec sequitur caudam felis, ut ante, suam: Putrida corruptos sentina emittet odores,
Cum propriam repetes, nocte ineunte, domum. Si sapias, hodie sit cura domestica cœna;
Mensa nec alterius suadeat ire foras;
Quippe gravis sumptus conductæ (crede) quadrigæ,
Plus tibi constabit quam tua cœna domi.
Sæva dabunt importuni præsagia calli,
Et novus a fractis dentibus angor erit.
Oscitat inque uncta discinctus Natta popina
Multa piger de se, de Jove multa dolet.
Interea madidas Auster quatit humidus alas,
Et totum nubes occupat atra polum,
Quæ nimio proluta haustu, velut ebrius olim,
Indelibatas evomit ore dapes.
Suspensas Susanna rapit de cannabe vestes,
Fertur ut obliqua prima procella via.
Sic tortis agitur de scopis foetidus imber,
Præter inexpertas te properante fores:
You fly, invoke the gods; then turning stop
To rail; she singing still whirls on her mop.
Nor yet the dust had shunned th' unequal strife,
But, aided by the wind, fought still for life.
Now in contiguous drops the flood comes down,
Threatening with deluge this devoted town:
To shops in crowds the daggled females fly,
Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy.
The templar spruce, while every spout's abroach,
Stays till 'tis fair, yet seems to call a coach.
The tucked-up semstress walks with hasty strides,
While streams run down her oiled umbrella's sides.
Here various kinds by various fortunes led,
Commence acquaintance underneath a shed:
Triumphant tories and desponding whigs
Forget their feuds, and join to save their wigs.
Boxed in a chair the beau impatient sits,
While spouts run clattering o'er the roof by fits;
And ever and anon with frightful din
The leather sounds; he trembles from within.
Now from all parts the swelling kennels flow, And bear their trophies with them as they go: Filths of all hues and odour seem to tell
What street they sailed from, by their sight and smell.
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