WRITTEN AFTER A WALK BEFORE SUPPER[37:3]
Reading edition
WRITTEN AFTER A WALK BEFORE SUPPER[37:3]
Tho' much averse, dear Jack, to flicker, To find a likeness for friend V—ker, I've made thro' Earth, and Air, and Sea, A Voyage of Discovery! And let me add (to ward off strife) 5 For V—ker and for V—ker's Wife— She large and round beyond belief, A superfluity of beef! [38]Her mind and body of a piece, And both composed of kitchen-grease. 10 In short, Dame Truth might safely dub her Vulgarity enshrin'd in blubber! He, meagre bit of littleness, All snuff, and musk, and politesse; So thin, that strip him of his clothing, 15 He'd totter on the edge of Nothing! In case of foe, he well might hide Snug in the collops of her side. Ah then, what simile will suit? Spindle-leg in great jack-boot? 20 Pismire crawling in a rut? Or a spigot in a butt? Thus I humm'd and ha'd awhile, When Madam Memory with a smile Thus twitch'd my ear—'Why sure, I ween, 25 In London streets thou oft hast seen The very image of this pair: A little Ape with huge She-Bear Link'd by hapless chain together: An unlick'd mass the one—the other 30 An antic small with nimble crupper——' But stop, my Muse! for here comes supper.
1792.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] Epistle iii. Written, &c., 1796.
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1
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dear Jack] at folk Letter, 1792.
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2
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A simile for Vicar Letter, 1792.
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6
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For Vicar and for Vicar's wife Letter, 1792.
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large] gross Letter, 1792.
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enshrin'd] enclos'd
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will] can Letter, 1792.
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I ha'd and hem'd Letter, 1792.
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Madam] Mrs. Letter, 1792.
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huge] large Letter, 1792.
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Link'd] Tied Letter, 1792.
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31
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small] lean Letter, 1792: huge 1796, 1877, 1888, 1893. For Antic huge read antic small 'Errata', 1796 p. [189].