A subject for their genius fit; And coxcombs in red ribbons shine! That court and courtiers have no taste: DEAN SWIFT AT SIR. ARTHUR IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND. THE Dean would visit Market-Hill, His manners would not let him wait, Lest we should think ourselves neglected, And so we see him at our gate Three days before he was expected. After a week, a month, a quarter, Though not a soul would have him stay. I've said enough to make him blush, Nor for my life will take the hint. But you my dear, may let him know, Or you may say "My wife intends, Or," Mr Dean-I should with joy The house accounts are daily rising; How much he eats, how much he swills. His brace of puppies how they stuff! Yet never think they get enough; *The seat of Acheson Moore, Esq. in the county of Tyrone.-F. O! if I could, how I would maul Must I be every moment chid With *Skinnybonia, Snipe, and Lean? O! that I could but once be rid Of this insulting tyrant Dean! ON A VERY OLD GLASS AT MARKETHILL. FRAIL glass! thou bear'st that name as well as I; Though none can tell which of us first shall die. ANSWERED EXTEMPORE BY DR SWIFT. ME only chance can kill; thou,.frailer creature, May'st die, like me, by chance; but must by nature. * The Dean used to call Lady Acheson by those names.-F. ON CUTTING DOWN THE THORN, * AT MARKET-HILL. 1727. AT Market-Hill as well appears, Hither came every village maid, And on the boughs her garland hung; And here, beneath the spreading shade, Secure from satyrs sate and sung. Sir Archibald, † that valorous knight, (Sir Archibald, whose favourite name Wise Hawthornden and Stirling's lord.) ‡ * A village near the seat of Sir Arthur Acheson, where the Dean sometimes made a long visit. The tree, which was a remarkable one, was much admired by the knight. Yet the Dean, in one of his unaccountable humours, gave directions for cutting it down in the absence of Sir Arthur, who was of course highly incensed, nor would see Swift for some time after. By way of making his peace, the Dean wrote this poem; which had the desired effect.-ANDERSON. + Sir Archibald Acheson, secretary of state for Scotland.---F. Drummond of Hawthornden, and Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, who were both friends of Sir Archibald, and famous for their poetry...-F. But time with iron teeth, I ween, Its head reclining toward the ground. This aged sickly sapless thorn, Which must, alas! no longer stand, Behold the cruel Dean in scorn Cuts down with sacrilegious hand. Dame Nature, when she saw the blow, She scarce recover'd in a week. The Sylvan powers, with fear perplex'd, The magpie, lighting on the stock, The owl foresaw, in pensive mood, Last trolled forth the gentle swine, All as she scrubb'd her meazly rump. |