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A Satire Anthology

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Год написания книги
2017
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Two honest tradesmen meeting in the Strand,
One took the other briskly by the hand;
“Hark-ye,” said he, “’tis an odd story, this,
About the crows!” “I don’t know what it is,”
Replied his friend. “No! I’m surprised at that;
Where I came from it is the common chat;
But you shall hear – an odd affair indeed!
And that it happened, they are all agreed.
Not to detain you from a thing so strange,
A gentleman, that lives not far from ’Change,
This week, in short, as all the alley knows,
Taking a puke, has thrown up three black crows.”
“Impossible!” “Nay, but it’s really true;
I have it from good hands, and so may you.”
“From whose, I pray?” So, having named the man,
Straight to inquire his curious comrade ran.
“Sir, did you tell” – relating the affair.
“Yes, sir, I did; and, if it’s worth your care,
Ask Mr. Such-a-one, he told it me.
But, by the bye, ’twas two black crows – not three.”
Resolved to trace so wondrous an event,
Whip, to the third, the virtuoso went;
“Sir” – and so forth. “Why, yes; the thing is fact,
Though, in regard to number, not exact;
It was not two black crows – ’twas only one;
The truth of that you may depend upon;
The gentleman himself told me the case.”
“Where may I find him?” “Why, in such a place.”
Away goes he, and, having found him out,
“Sir, be so good as to resolve a doubt.”
Then to his last informant he referred,
And begged to know if true what he had heard.
“Did you, sir, throw up a black crow?” “Not I.”
“Bless me! how people propagate a lie!
Black crows have been thrown up, three, two, and one;
And here, I find, all comes, at last, to none.
Did you say nothing of a crow at all?”
“Crow – crow – perhaps I might, now I recall
The matter over.” “And pray, sir, what was’t?”
“Why, I was horrid sick, and, at the last,
I did throw up, and told my neighbor so,
Something that was – as black, sir, as a crow.”

    John Byrom.

AN EPITAPH

A  lovely young lady I mourn in my rhymes;
She was pleasant, good-natured, and civil (sometimes);
Her figure was good; she had very fine eyes,
And her talk was a mixture of foolish and wise.
Her adorers were many, and one of them said
“She waltzed rather well – it’s a pity she’s dead.”

    George John Cayley.

AN EPISTLE TO SIR ROBERT WALPOLE

WHILE at the helm of State you ride,
Our nation’s envy, and its pride;
While foreign courts with wonder gaze,
And curse those counsels that they praise;
Would you not wonder, sir, to view
Your bard a greater man than you?
Which that he is, you cannot doubt,
When you have read the sequel out.

You know, great sir, that ancient fellows,
Philosophers, and such folks, tell us,
No great analogy between
Greatness and happiness is seen.
If, then, as it might follow straight,
Wretched to be, is to be great,
Forbid it, gods, that you should try
What ’tis to be so great as I!

The family that dines the latest
Is in our street esteem’d the greatest;
But latest hours must surely fall
’Fore him who never dines at all.
Your taste in architect, you know,
Hath been admired by friend and foe;
But can your earthly domes compare
With all my castles – in the air?
We’re often taught, it doth behove us
To think those greater who’re above us;
Another instance of my glory,
Who live above you, twice two story,
And from my garret can look down
On the whole street of Arlington.

Greatness by poets still is painted
With many followers acquainted;
This, too, doth in my favour speak;
Your levée is but twice a week;
From mine I can exclude but one day —
My door is quiet on a Sunday.

Nor in the manner of attendance
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