MARY GULLIVER TO LEMUEL GULLIVER. O squander not thy grief! those tears command 375 MARY GULLIVER TO CAPTAIN LEMUEL GULLIVER. ARGUMENT. [The captain, some time after his return, being retired to Mr Sympson's in the country, Mrs Gulliver, apprehending from his late behaviour, some estrangement of his affections, writes him the following expostulating, soothing, and tenderly complaining epistle.] WELCOME, thrice welcome to thy native place! -What, touch me not? what, shun a wife's embrace? Have I for this thy tedious absence borne, And wak'd, and wish'd whole nights for thy return? Once thou didst cleave, and I could cleave for life. See how they pat thee with their pretty paws: Why start you? are they snakes? or have they claws? Thy Christian seed, our mutual flesh and bone: * Biddel, like thee, might farthest India rove; Not touch me! never neighbour call'd me slut: Some say, the devil himself is in that mare: If so, our Dean shall drive him forth by pray'r. Some think you mad, some think you are possest, That bedlam and clean straw will suit you best. Vain means, alas, this frenzy to appease! That straw, that straw, would heighten the disease. My bed (the scene of all our former joys, Witness two lovely girls, two lovely boys) Alone I press: in dreams I call my dear, I stretch my hand; no Gulliver is there! I wake, I rise, and shiv'ring with the frost Search all the house; my Gulliver is lost! Forth in the street I rush with frantic cries; The windows open, all the neighbours rise; "Where sleeps my Gulliver? O tell me where!" The neighbours answer, "With the sorrel mare." * Names of the sea captains mentioned in Gulliver's Travels.-H MARY GULLIVER TO LEMUEL GULLIVER. 377 At early morn I to the market haste (Studious in ev'ry thing to please thy taste); A curious fowl and 'sparagus I chose, (For I remember you were fond of those); Three shillings cost the first, the last seven groats; Sullen you turn from both, and call for oats. Others bring goods and treasure to their houses, Something to deck their pretty babes and spouses: My only token was a cup like horn, That's made of nothing but a lady's corn. 'Tis not for that I grieve; no, tis to see The groom and sorrel mare preferr'd to me! These, for some moments when you deign to quit, And, at due distance sweet discourse admit, 'Tis all my pleasure thy past toil to know; For pleas'd remembrance builds delight on wo. At ev'ry danger pants thy consort's breast, And gaping infants squall to hear the rest. How did I tremble, when by thousands bound, I saw thee stretch'd on Lilliputian ground! When scaling armies climb'd up every part, Each step they trod I felt upon my heart. But when thy torrent quench'd the dreadful blaze, King, queen, and nation staring with amaze, Full in my view how all my husband came! And what extinguish'd theirs, increas'd my flame. Those spectacles, ordain'd thine eyes to save, Were once my present; love that armour gave. How did I mourn at Bolgolam's decree! For, when he sign'd thy death, he sentenc'd me. When folks might see thee all the country round For sixpence, I'd have given a thousand pound. Lord! when the giant babe that head of thine Got in his mouth, my heart was up in mine! When in the marrow-bone I see thee ramm'd, Or on the house-top by the monkey cramm'd, The piteous images renew my pain, O teach me, dear, new words to speak my flame! Or Glumglum's humbler title sooth thine ear: TO QUINBUS FLESTRIN, THE MAN.MOUNTAIN. A LILLIPUTIAN ODE. IN amaze Can our eyes Of him told, When they said Propp'd the skies: See! and believe your eyes! See him stride Vallies wide, Over woods, Over floods! When he treads, Mountains heads Groan and shake: Armies quake; Lest his spurn Man and steed: Left and right, |