Оценить:
 Рейтинг: 0

A Satire Anthology

Автор
Год написания книги
2017
<< 1 ... 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ... 104 >>
На страницу:
15 из 104
Настройки чтения
Размер шрифта
Высота строк
Поля
Slothful disorder filled his stable,
And sluttish plenty decked her table.
Their beer was strong, their wine was port;
Their meal was large, their grace was short.
They gave the poor the remnant meat,
Just when it grew not fit to eat.
They paid the church and parish rate,
And took, but read not, the receipt;
For which they claimed their Sunday’s due
Of slumbering in an upper pew.
No man’s defects sought they to know,
So never made themselves a foe.
No man’s good deeds did they commend,
So never raised themselves a friend.
Nor cherished they relations poor,
That might decrease their present store;
Nor barn nor house did they repair,
That might oblige their future heir.
They neither added nor confounded;
They neither wanted nor abounded.
Nor tear nor smile did they employ
At news of grief or public joy.
When bells were rung and bonfires made,
If asked, they ne’er denied their aid;
Their jug was to the ringers carried,
Whoever either died or married.
Their billet at the fire was found,
Whoever was deposed or crowned.
Nor good, nor bad, nor fools, nor wise;
They would not learn, nor could advise;
Without love, hatred, joy, or fear,
They led – a kind of – as it were;
Nor wished, nor cared, nor laughed, nor cried.
And so they lived, and so they died.

    Matthew Prior.

THE REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE

I  sent for Ratcliffe; was so ill,
That other doctors gave me over:
He felt my pulse, prescribed his pill,
And I was likely to recover.

But when the wit began to wheeze,
And wine had warm’d the politician,
Cured yesterday of my disease,
I died last night of my physician.

    Matthew Prior.

TWELVE ARTICLES

I

LEST it may more quarrels breed,
I will never hear you read.

II

By disputing, I will never,
To convince you, once endeavour.

III

When a paradox you stick to,
I will never contradict you.

IV

When I talk, and you are heedless,
I will show no anger needless.

V

When your speeches are absurd,
I will ne’er object a word.

VI

When you, furious, argue wrong,
I will grieve, and hold my tongue.

VII

Not a jest or humorous story
Will I ever tell before ye.
To be chidden for explaining,
When you quite mistake the meaning.

VIII

Never more will I suppose,
You can taste my verse or prose.

IX

You no more at me shall fret,
While I teach and you forget.

<< 1 ... 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ... 104 >>
На страницу:
15 из 104

Другие электронные книги автора Carolyn Wells