Virg. When, 'midst his song, the iwinkling glass betrays, No midnight masquerade her beauty wears, No homebred jars her quiet state control, Hang on her breast, and her small cottage grace ; And edges eastern clouds with rosy light, The fleecy ball their busy fingers cull, The healthy huntsman, with the cheerful horn, Or from the spindle draw the lengthening wool : Summons the dogs, and greets the dappled morn; Thus flow her hours with constant peace of mind The kind rewarders of industrious life; Farewell The city calls me from your bowers : TRIVIA; OR, THE IN THREE BOOKS. Now circling turns, and now at large she flies; Quo te Moeri podes? an quo via ducit, in urbem ? Book I. Of the Implements for Walking the Streets, and Signs of the Weather. O'er the high gate, and down the headlong hill? Canst thou the stag's laborious chase direct, THROUGH winter streets to steer your course aright, Or the strong fox through all his arts detect? How to walk clean by day, and safe by night; The theme demands a more experienc'd lay : How jostling crowds with prudence to decline, Ye mighty hunters ! spare this weak essay. When to assert the wall, and when resign, O happy plains, remote from war's alarms, I sing : thou, Trivia, goddess, aid my song, And all the ravages of hostile arms! Through spacious streets conduct thy bard along; And happy shepherds, who, secure from fear, By thee transported, I securely stray On open downs preserve your fleecy care! Where winding alleys lead the doubtful way, Whose spacious barns groan with increasing store, The silent court and opening square explore, And whirling flails disjoint the cracking foor! And long perplexing lanes untrod before. No barbarous soldier, bent on oruel spoil, To pave thy realm, and sinooth the broken ways, Spreads desolation o'er your fertile soil ; Earth from her womb a flinty tribute pays; No trampling steed lays waste tho ripen'd grain, For thee the sturdy pavior thumps the ground, Nor crackling fires devour the promis'd gain ; Whilst every stroke his laboring lungs resound; No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar, For thee the scavenger bids kennels glide The dreadful signal of invasive war; Within their bounds, and heaps of dirt subside. No trumpet's clangour wounds the mother's ear, My youthful bosom burns with thirst of fame, And calls the lover from his swooning fair. From the great there to build a glorious name, What happiness the rural maid attends, To tread in paths to ancient bards unknown, In cheerful labor while each day she spends! And bind my temples with a civic crown: She gratefully receives what Heaven has sent, But more my country's love demands my lays ; And, rich in poverty, enjoys content. My country's be the profit, mine the preise ! (Such happiness, and such unblemishd fame, When the black youth at chosen stands rejoice, Ne'er glad the bosom of the courtly dame): And “clean your shoes" resounds from every voice, She never feels the spleen's imagin'd pains, When late their miry sides stage-coaches show, Nor melancholy stagnates in her veins; And their stiff horses through the town move slow. She never loses life in thoughtless ease, When all the Mall in leafy ruin lies, Nor on the velvet couch invites disease ; And damsels first renew their oyster-cries : Her home-spun dress in simple neatness lies, Then let the prudent walker shoes provide, And for no glaring equipage she sighs : Not of the Spanish or Morocco hide ; Her reputation, which is all her boast, The wooden heel may raise the dancer's bound, In a malicious visit ne'er was lost ; And with the scallop'd top his step be crowd do Let firm, well-hammer'd soles protect thy feet, O happy streets! to rumbling wheels unknown, Nor should it prove thy less important care, Her rosy cheek with distant visits glow'd, And exercise unartful charms bestow'd : Now in thy trunk thy D'Oily habit fold, But since in braided gold her foot is bound, The silken drugget ill can fence the cold ; And a long training mantua sweeps the ground, The frieze's spongy nap is soak'd with rain, Her shoe disdains the street; the lazy fair, And showers soon drench the camlet's cockled grain; With narrow step, affects a limping air. True Witney* broad-cloth, with its shag unshorn, Now gaudy pride corrupts the lavish age, Unpierc'd is in the lasting tempest worn : And the streets flame with glaring equipage; Be this the horseman's fence, for who would wear The tricking gamester insolently rides, Amid the town the spoils of Russia's bear? With Loves and Graces on his chariot sides; Within the roquelaure's clasp thy hands are pent, In saucy state the griping broker siis, Hands, that, stretch'd forth, invading harms prevent. And laughs at honesty and trudging wits. Let the loop'd bavaroy the fop embrace, For you, O honest men! these useful lays Or his deep cloak bespatter'd o'er with lace. The Muse prepares ; I seek no other praise. That garment best the winter's rage defends, When sleep is first disturb'd by morning cries, Whose ample form without one plait depends ; From sure prognostics learn to know the skies, By various namest in various counties known, Lest you of rheums and coughs at night complain Yet held in all the true surtout alone; Surpris'd in dreary fogs, or driving rain.. Be thine of kersey firm, though small the cost, When suffocating mists obscure the morn, There brave unwet the rain, unchill'd the frost. Let thy worst wig, long us'd to storms, be worn; If the strong cane support thy walking hand, This knows the powder'd footman, and with care Chairmen no longer shall the wall command ; Beneath his flapping hat secures his hair. Ev'n sturdy carmen shall thy nod obey, Be thou for every season justly drest, And rattling coaches stop to make thee way : Nor brave the piercing frost with open breast; This shall direct thy cautious tread aright, And, when the bursting clouds a deluge pour, Though not one glaring lamp enliven night. Let thy surtout defend the drenching shower. Let beaux their canes, with amber tipt, produce; The changing weather certain signs reveal. Be theirs for empty show, but thine for use. Ere Winter sheds her snow, or frosts congeal, In gilded chariots while they loll at ease, You'll see the coals in brighter flame aspire, And lazily insure a life's disease ; And sulphur tinge with blue the rising fire; While softer chairs the tawdry load convey Your tender shins the scorching heat decline, To court, to White's,f assemblies, or the play ; And at the dearth of coals the poor repine ; Rosy-complexion'd Health thy steps attends, Before her kitchen hearth, the nodding dame, And exercise thy lasting youth defends. In flannel mantle wrapt, enjoys the flame; Imprudent men Heaven's choicest gifts profano: Hovering, upon her feeble knees she bends, Thus some beneath their arm support the cane; And all around the grateful warmth ascends. The dirty point of checks the careless pace, Nor do less certain signs the town advise And miry spots the clean cravat disgrace. of milder weather and serener skies. Oh! may I never such misfortune meet! The ladies, gaily dress'd, the Mall adorn May no such vicious walkers crowd the street! With various dyes, and paint the sunny morn: May Providence o'ershade me with her wings, The wanton fawns with frisking pleasure range, While the bold Muse experienc'd danger sings! And chirping sparrows greet the welcome change, Not that I wander from my native home, Not that their minds with greater skill are fraught,* And (tempting perils) foreign cities roam. Endued by instinct, or by reason taught : Let Paris be the theme of Gallia's Muse, The seasons operate on every breast; Where slavery treads the streets in wooden shoes. 'Tis hence the fawns are brisk, and ladies drest. Nor do I rove in Belgia's frozen clime, When on his box the nodding coachman snores, And teach the clumsy boor to skate in rhymo; And dreams of fancied fares; when tavern doors Where, if the warmer clouds in rain descend, The chairmen idly crowd ; then ne'er refuse No miry ways industrious steps offend; To trust thy busy steps in thinner shoes. The rushing flood from sloping pavements pours, But when the swinging signs your ears offend And blackens the canals with dirty showers. With creaking noise, then rainy floods impend; Let others Naples' smoother streets rehearse, Soon shall the kennels swell with rapid streams, And with prond Roman structures grace their verse, And rush in muddy torrents to the Thames. Where frequent murders wake the night with groans, The bookseller, whose shop's an open square, And blond in purple torrents dyes the stones. Foresees the tempest, and with early care, Nor shall the Muse through narrow Venice stray, of learning strips the rails; the rowing crew, Where gondolas their painted oars display. To tempt a fare, clothe all their tilts in blue; * A town in Oxfordshire. A chocolate-house in St. James's street. * Haud equidem credo, quia sit divinitus illis, VIRG. Georg. I On hosiers' poles depending stockings tied, Her cleanly pail the pretty housewife bears, [sounds The milky burthen smokes upon her head, Vulcan by chance the bloomy maiden spies, Ah, Mulciber! recall thy nuptial vows, Think how her eyes dart inexhausted charms, When blue-ey'd Patty near his window came, Nor Paul nor Swithin rule the clouds and wind. His anvil rests, his forge forgets to flame. If you the precepts of the Muse despise, To hear his soothing tales, she feigns delays ; And slight the faithful warning of the skies, What woman can resist the force of praise ? Others you'll see, when all the town's afloat, At first she coyly every kiss withstood, Wrapt in th' embraces of a kersey coat, And all her cheek was flush'd with modest blood , Or double-bottom'd frieze ; their guarded feet With headless nails he now surrounds her shoes, Defy the muddy dangers of the street; 'To save her steps from rains and piercing dews. While you, with hat unloop'd, the fury dread She lik'd his soothing tales, his presents wore, Of spouts high streaming, and with cautious tread And granted kisses, but would grant no more. Shun erery dashing pool, or idly stop, Yet Winter chilld her feet, with cold she pines, To seek the kind protection of a shop. And on her cheek the fading rose declines; But business summons; now with hasty scud No more her humid eyes their lustre boast, You jostle for the wall; the spatter'd mud And in hoarse sounds her melting voice is lost. Hides all thy hose behind ; in vain you scour, Thus Vulcan saw, and in his heavenly thought Thy wig, alas! uncurld, admits the shower. A new machine mechanic fancy wrought, Su fierce Aleclo's snaky tresses fell, Above the mire her shelter'd steps to raise, When Orpheus charm'd the rigorous powers of Hell; And bear her safely through the wintery ways. Or thus hung Glaucus' beard, with briny dew Straight the new engine on his anvil glows, Clotted and straight, when first his amorous view And the pale virgin on the patten rose. Surpris'd the bathing fair; the frighted maid No more her lungs are shook with dropping rheums, Now stands a rock, transform'd by Circe's aid. And on her cheek reviving beauty blooms. Guod housewives all the winter's rage despise, The god obtain'd his suit: though flattery fail, Defended by the riding-hood's disguise; Presents with female virtue must prevail. Or, underneath th' umbrella's oily shed, The patten now supports each frugal dame, Воок ІІ. Of walking the Streets by Day. To read the various warnings of the skies : Where Lincoln wide extends her fenny soil, Now venture, Muse, from home to range the town, A goodly yeoman liv'd, grown white with toil; And for the public safety risk thy own. One only daughter bless'd his nuptial bed, For ease and for dispatch, the morning 's best ; Who from her infant hand the poultry fed : No tides of passengers the streets molest. Martha (her careful mother's name) sbe bore, You 'll see a draggled damsel here and there, But now her careful mother was no more. From Billingsgate her fishy traffic bear; Whilst on her father's knee the damsel play'd, On doors the sallow milk-maid chalks her gains; Patty he fondly call'd the smiling maid ; Ah! how unlike the milk-maid of the plains ! As years increas'd, her ruddy beanty grew, Before proud gates attending asses bray, And Patty's fame o'er all the village few. Or arrogate with solemn pace the way; Soon as the grey.ey'd morning streaks the skies, These grave physicians with their milky cheer And in the doubtful day the woodcock flies, The love-sick maid and dwindling beau repair; Here rows of drummers stand in martial file, But still the wandering passes forc'd his stay, Thy venturous footsteps to a female guide : She'll lead thee with delusive smiles along, Full-charg'd with news the breathless hawker runs: Dive in thy fob, and drop thee in the throng. Shops open, coaches roll, carts shake the ground, When waggish boys the stunted besom ply, And all the streets with passing cries resound. To rid the slabby pavement, pass not by If cloth'd in black you tread the busy town, Ere thou hast held their hands; some heedless flirt Or if distinguish'd by the reverend gown, Will overspread thy calves with spattering dirt. Three trades avoid : oft in the mingling press Where porters' hogsheads roll from carts aslope, The barber's apron soils the sable dress ; Or brewers down steep cellars stretch the rope, Shun the perfumer's touch with cautious eye, Where counted billets are by carmen tost, Nor let the baker's step advance too nigh. Stay thy rash step, and walk without the post. Ye walkers too, that youthful colors wear, What though the gathering mire thy feet beThree sullying trades avoid with equal care : smear, The little chimney-sweeper skulks along, The voice of Industry is always near. And marks with sooty stains the heedless throng; Hark! the boy calls thee to his destin'd stand, When small-coal murmurs in the hoarser throat, And the shoe shines beneath his oily hand. From smutty dangers guard thy threaten'd coat; Here let the Muse, fatigued amid the throng, The dustman's cart offends thy clothes and eyes, Adorn her precepts with digressive song; When through the street a cloud of ashes flies; Of shirtless youths the secret rise to trace, But, whether black or lighter dyes are worn, And show the parent of the sable race. The chandler's basket, on his shoulder borne, Like mortal man, great Jove (grown fond of With tallow spots thy coat; resign the way, change) To shun the surly butcher's greasy tray, of old was wont this nether world to range, Butchers, whose hands are dyed with blood's foul To seek amours; the vice the monarch lov’d, stain, Soon through the wide ethereal court improv'd : And always foremost in the hangman's train. And ev’n the proudest goddess, now and then, Let due civilities be strictly paid : Would lodge a night among the sons of men; The wall surrender to the hooded maid ; To vulgar deities descends the fashion, Nor let thy siurdy elbow's hasty rage Each, like her betters, had her earthly passion. Jostle the feeble steps of trembling age: Then Cloacina* (goddess of the tide, And when the porter bends beneath his load, Whose sable streams beneath the city glide,) And pants for breath, clear thou the crowded road. Indulg'd the modish flame; the town she rov'd, But, above all, the groping blind direct; A mortal scavenger she saw, she lov'd; And from the pressing throng the lame protect. The muddy spots that dried upon his face, You 'll sometimes meet a fop, of nicest tread, Like female patches, heighten'd every grace : Whose mantling peruke veils his empty head; She gaz'd; she sigh'd ; (for love can beauties spy At every step he dreads the wall to lose, In what seem faults to every common eye.) And risks, to save a coach, his red-heel'd shoes ; Now had the watchman walk'd his second round Him, like the miller, pass with caution by, When Cloacina hears the rumbling sound Lest from his shoulder clouds of powder fly. Of her brown lover's cart (for well she knows But, when the bully, with assuming pace, That pleasing thunder): swift the goddess rose, Cocks his broad hat, edg'd round with tarnish'd And through the streets pursu'd the distant noise, lace, Her bosom panting with expected joys. Yield not the way, defy his strutting pride, With the night-wandering harlot's airs she past, And thrust him to the muddy kennel's side; Brush'd near his side, and wanton glances cast; He never turns again, nor dares oppose, In the black form of cinder-wench she came, But mutters coward curses as he goes. When love, the hour, the place, had banish'd shame, If drawn by business to a street unknown, To the dark alley arm in arm they move : Let the sworn porter point thee through the town; O may no link-boy interrupt their love! Be sure observe the signs, for signs remain, When the pale Moon had nine times fill'd her Like faithful landmarks, to the walking train. space, Seek not from prentices to learn the way, The pregnant goddess (cautious of disgrace) Those fabling boys will turn thy steps astray ; Descends to Earth; but sought no midwife's aid, Ask the grave tradesman to direct thee right, Nor 'midst her anguish to Lucina pray'd ; He ne'er deceives—but when he profils by 't. No cheerful gossip wish'd the mother joy, Where fam'd St. Giles's ancient limits spread, Alone, beneath a bulk, she dropt the boy. (prov'd, An enrail'd column rears its lofty head; The child, through various risks in years im. Here to seven streels seven dials count the day, At first, a beggar's brat, compassion mov'd ; And from each other catch the circling ray. His infant tongue soon learnt the canting art, Here oft the peasant, with inquiring face, Knew all the prayers and whines to touch the Bewilder'd, trudges on from place to place ; heart. He dwells on every sign with stupid gaze, Enters the narrow alley's doubtful maze, * Cloacina was a goddess, whose image Tatius (a king Tries every winding court and street in vain, of the Sabines) found in the common sewer; and, not And doubles o'er his weary steps again. knowing what goddess it was, he called it Cloacina, from Thus hardly Theseus with intrepid feet the place in which it was found, and paid to it divino Travers’d the dangerous labyrinth of Crete; honors.--Lactant. 1. 20, Minuc, Fel. Oct. p. 232. Oh, happy unown'd youths ! your limbs can bear His treble voice resounds along the Meuse, shoes !" The goddess long had mark'd the child's distress, Too long detains the walker on his way; Where, elevated o'er the gaping crowd, Though expedition bids, yet never stray Diana forms his brush; the god of day Where no rang'd posts defend the rugged way. A tripod gives, amid the crowded way Here laden carts with thundering wagons meet, To raise the dirty foot, and ease his toil; Wheels clash with wheels, and bar the narrow Kind Neptune fills his vase with fetid oil street; Now dawns the morn, the sturdy lad awakes, If, as the Samian taught, the soul revives, That, in mix'd fumes, the wrinkled nose offend. But I, alas ! hard Fortune's utmost scorn, Where chandlers' caldrons boil ; where fishy prey Who ne'er knew parent, was an orphan born! Hide the wet stall, long absent from the sea ; Some boys are rich by birth beyond all wants, And where the cleaver chops the heifer's spoil, Belov'd by uncles, and kind good old aunts; And where huge hogsheads sweat with trainy oil ; When time comes round, a Christmas-box they bear, Thy breathing nostril hold: but how shall I And one day makes them rich for all the year. Pass, where in piles Carnaviant cheeses lie; Had I the precepts of a father learn'd, Cheese, that the table's closing rites denies, Perhaps I then the coachman's fare had earn'd, And bids me with th' unwilling chaplain rise ? For lesser boys can drive; I thirsty stand, O bear me to the paths of fair Pall-Mall! And see the double flagon charge their hand, Safe are thy pavements, grateful is thy smell! See them puff off the froth, and gulp amain, At distance rolls along the gilded coach, While with dry tongue I lick my lips in vain.” Nor sturdy carmen on thy walks encroach ; While thus he fervent prays, the heaving tide, No lets would bar thy ways were chairs denied, In widen'd circles, beats on either side ; The soft supports of laziness and pride : The goddess rose amid the inmost round, Shops breathe perfumes, through sashes ribbons glow, With wither'd turnip-tops her temples crown'd; The mutual arms of ladies and the beau. Low reach'd her dripping tresses, lank, and black Yet still ev'n here, when rains the passage hide, As the smooth jet, or glossy raven's back; Oft the loose stone spirts up a muddy tide Around her waist a circling eel was twin'd, Beneath thy careless foot; and from on high, Which bound her robe that hung in rags behind. Where masons mount the ladder, fragments fly, Now, beckoning to the boy, she thus begun: Mortar and crumbled lime in showers descend, " Thy prayers are granted; weep no more, my son : And o'er thy head destructive tiles impend. Go thrive. At some frequented corner stand ; But sometimes let me leave the noisy roads, This brush I give thee, grasp it in thy hand; And silent wander in the close abodes, Temper the soot within this vase of oil, Where wheels ne'er shake the ground; there pensive And let the little tripod aid thy toil. stray, On this, methinks, I see the walking crew, In studious thought, the long uncrowded way. At thy request, support the miry shoe; Here I remark each walker's different face, The foot grows black that was with dirt embrown'd, And in their look their various business trace. And in thy pocket gingling half-pence sound.” The broker here his spacious beaver wears, The goddess plunges swift beneath the flood, Upon his brow sit jealousies and cares; And dashes all around her showers of mud : The youth straight chose his post; the labor plied * Thames-street. Where branching streets from Charing-Cross divide; | Cheshire, anciently so called. |