Book 2 — THE DEVIL'S THOUGHTS[319:1]
Reading edition
THE DEVIL'S THOUGHTS[319:1]
I From his brimstone bed at break of day A walking the Devil is gone, To visit his snug little farm the earth, And see how his stock goes on. [320]II Over the hill and over the dale, 5 And he went over the plain, And backward and forward he switched his long tail As a gentleman switches his cane. III And how then was the Devil drest? Oh! he was in his Sunday's best: 10 His jacket was red and his breeches were blue, And there was a hole where the tail came through. IV He saw a Lawyer killing a Viper On a dunghill hard by his own stable; And the Devil smiled, for it put him in mind 15 Of Cain and his brother, Abel. V He saw an Apothecary on a white horse Ride by on his vocations, And the Devil thought of his old Friend Death in the Revelations.[320:1] 20 [321]VI He saw a cottage with a double coach-house, A cottage of gentility; And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that apes humility. VII He peep'd into a rich bookseller's shop, 25 Quoth he! we are both of one college! For I sate myself, like a cormorant, once Hard by the tree of knowledge.[321:1] [322]VIII Down the river did glide, with wind and tide, A pig with vast celerity; 30 And the Devil look'd wise as he saw how the while, It cut its own throat. 'There!' quoth he with a smile, 'Goes "England's commercial prosperity."' IX As he went through Cold-Bath Fields he saw A solitary cell; 35 And the Devil was pleased, for it gave him a hint For improving his prisons in Hell. X He saw a Turnkey in a trice Fetter a troublesome blade; 'Nimbly,' quoth he, 'do the fingers move 40 If a man be but used to his trade.' XI He saw the same Turnkey unfetter a man, With but little expedition, Which put him in mind of the long debate On the Slave-trade abolition. 45 XII He saw an old acquaintance As he passed by a Methodist meeting;— [323]She holds a consecrated key, And the devil nods her a greeting. XIII She turned up her nose, and said, 50 'Avaunt! my name's Religion,' And she looked to Mr. —— And leered like a love-sick pigeon. XIV He saw a certain minister (A minister to his mind) 55 Go up into a certain House, With a majority behind. XV The Devil quoted Genesis Like a very learnéd clerk, How 'Noah and his creeping things 60 Went up into the Ark.' XVI He took from the poor, And he gave to the rich, And he shook hands with a Scotchman, For he was not afraid of the —— 65 XVII General ——[323:1] burning face He saw with consternation, And back to hell his way did he take, For the Devil thought by a slight mistake It was general conflagration. 70
1799.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
[
3-4
]
To look at his little snug farm of the Earth To visit, &c.
1828, 1829.
And see how his stock went on.
M. P., 1828, 1829.
[
7
]
switched] swish'd M. P., 1828, 1829.
[
8
]
switches] swishes M. P., 1828, 1829.
[
9-12
]
Not in M. P.
[
14
]
On the dunghill beside his stable M. P.: On a dung-heap beside his stable 1828, 1829.
[
15-16
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Oh! oh; quoth he, for it put him in mind Of the story of Cain and Abel
M. P.
[
16
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his] his 1828, 1829.
[
17
]
He . . . on] An Apothecary on M. P.: A Pothecary on 1828, 1829.
[
18
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Ride] Rode M.P., 1828, 1829. vocations] vocation M. P.
[
20
]
Revelations] Revelation M. P.
[
21
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saw] past M. P.
[
23
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And he grinn'd at the sight, for his favourite vice M. P.
[
25
]
peep'd] went M. P., 1828, 1829.
[
27
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sate myself] myself sate 1828, 1829.
[
28
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Hard by] Upon M. P.: Fast by 1828, 1829.
[
29-33
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He saw a pig right rapidly Adown the river float, The pig swam well, but every stroke Was cutting his own throat.
M. P.
[
29
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did glide] there plied 1828, 1829.
Between 33-4
Old Nicholas grinn'd and swish'd his tail For joy and admiration; And he thought of his daughter, Victory, And his darling babe, Taxation.
M. P.
[
34-5
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As he went through —— —— fields he look'd At a
M. P.
[
37
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his] the M. P. in] of M. P.
[
39
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Fetter] Hand-cuff M. P.: Unfetter 1834.
[
40-1
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'Nimbly', quoth he, 'the fingers move If a man is but us'd to his trade.'
M. P.
[
42
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unfetter] unfettering M. P.
[
44
]
And he laugh'd for he thought of the long debates M. P.
[
46
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saw] met M. P.
[
47
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Just by the Methodist meeting. M. P.
[
48
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holds] held M. P. key] flag[323:A] M. P.
[
49
]
And the Devil nods a greeting. M. P.
[
50-2
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She tip'd him the wink, then frown'd and cri'd 'Avaunt! my name's —— And turn'd to Mr. W——
M. P.
[
66
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General ——] General ——'s M. P.
[
68
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way did take M. P.
[
70
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general] General M. P.