Obsequious at his high command, Let Ayes seem Noes, and Noes seem Ayes; THE LAMENTATION OF GLUMDAL CLITCH FOR THE LOSS OF GRILDRIG. A PASTORAL. [Pope writes to Swift, that the bookseller wished to print these following pieces before the second edition of Gulliver's Travels, but he refused his permission, as not liking them much. He mentions also commendatory verses from a horse to Gulliver, which do not appear.-See his letter to Swift, 8th March 1726-7.] Soon as Glumdalclitch miss'd her pleasing care, No British miss sincerer grief has known, In peals of thunder now she roars, and now, And fill'd the cruet with the acid tide, Sure in that lake he dropt; my Grilly's drown'd!" "Vain is thy courage, Grilly, vain thy boast! But little creatures enterprise the most. Trembling I've seen thee dare the kitten's paw, Nay, mix with children, as they play'd at taw, Nor fear the marbles as they bounding flew; Marbles to them, but rolling rocks to you! "Why did I trust thee with that giddy youth? Who from a page can never learn the truth? Vers'd in court tricks, the money-loving boy To some lord's daughter sold the living toy, Or rent him limb from limb in cruel play, As children tear the wings of flies away. From place to place o'er Brobdingnag I'll roam, Ah never will return, or bring thee home 13 But who hath eyes to trace the passing wind? O show me, Flora, 'midst those sweets, the flow'r Where sleeps my Grildrig in his fragrant bow'r! "But ah! I fear thy little fancy roves On little females and on little loves; Thy pigmy children, and thy tiny spouse, Hast thou for these now ventur'd from the shore, No more behold thee turn my watch's key, She said; but broken accents stopt her voice, Soft as the speaking-trumpet's mellow noise: She sobb'd a storm, and wip'd her flowing eyes, Which seem'd like two broad suns in misty ski es 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 |