019:02,000@@@@@| 
019:02,000['  ]| <Caesar's Ghost (1686)>
019:02,000['  ]| <This is a modernised text of Bodleian MS Firth c 15,>
019:02,000['  ]| <in Behn's hand and signed by her, but with the signature>
019:02,000['  ]| <crossed out.  The only other source is the 1703 POAS.>
019:02,000['  ]| <The poem is a satire on a vast military demonstration put>
019:02,000['  ]| <on by James II at Hounslow in the summer of 1686.  The>
019:02,000['  ]| <judgement on the army was to prove spot on in 1688.  But>
019:02,000['  ]| <the poet claims to be an admirer of James.  >
019:02,001[A  ]| It was still low ebb of night, when not a star
019:02,002[A  ]| Was twinkling in$4$ the muffled hemisphere;
019:02,003[A  ]| When all around in$4$ horrid darkness mourned,
019:02,004[A  ]| As if old chaos were again returned;
019:02,005[A  ]| And not one gleam of the eternal light
019:02,006[A  ]| Shot through the solid darkness of the night;
019:02,007[A  ]| In$4$ dismal silence nature seemed to$9$ sleep,
019:02,008[A  ]| And all the winds were buried in$4$ the deep;
019:02,009[A  ]| No$2$ whispering Zephyrus aloft did blow
019:02,010[A  ]| Nor warring boughs were murmuring below;
019:02,011[A  ]| No$2$ falling waters dashed, no$2$ rivers purled;
019:02,012[A  ]| But all conspired to$9$ hush the drowsy world.
019:02,013[A  ]| When on$4$ my couch in$4$ thoughtless slumbers wrapt
019:02,014[A  ]| I lay reposed ~~ my very soul too slept
019:02,015[A  ]| In$4$ peaceful dullness, silent and serene
019:02,016[A  ]| Till it was debauched and wakened into dream.
019:02,017[A  ]| Methought I saw a dark and dismal vault,
019:02,018[A  ]| Whose horror cannot be conceived by$4$ thought,
019:02,019[A  ]| And seemed by$4$ some infernal magic wrought:
019:02,020[A  ]| So$5#1$ vast and so$5#1$ perplexing intricate,
019:02,021[A  ]| As if the dreadful court of death and fate;
019:02,022[A  ]| And yet of kings the great repositer,
019:02,023[A  ]| And only royal dust lies mouldering there.
019:02,024[A  ]| Amidst those monuments of sacred fame,
019:02,025[A  ]| Great Caesar's stood, Caesar, whose deathless name
019:02,026[A  ]| When shrines decay, triumphant shall remain,
019:02,027[A  ]| While sense, good nature, wit, and love shall reign.
019:02,028[A  ]| While I, with fear but awful trembling, paid
019:02,029[A  ]| Humble oblations to$4$ the mighty dead.
019:02,030[A  ]| Methought the sweating marble did unclose,
019:02,031[A  ]| And from death's mansion the dread monarch rose;
019:02,032[A  ]| His eyes over all scattered a sullen light,
019:02,033[A  ]| Such as divides the breaking day from night;
019:02,034[A  ]| By$4$ whose faint beams the object I discerned,
019:02,035[A  ]| All pale ~~ with ghastly majesty adorned.
019:02,036[A  ]| His stiffened loins a purple mantle bore,
019:02,037[A  ]| His brows a wreath of withered laurels wore,
019:02,038[A  ]| Such as had flourished there in$4$ life before.
019:02,039[A  ]| Now forth he stalks, silent as shadows glide,
019:02,040[A  ]| Or clouds that$6#1$ skim the air while they divide;
019:02,041[A  ]| As quick as thought the faithless town he passed,
019:02,042[A  ]| And towards the camp of wondrous fame did haste,
019:02,043[A  ]| While midnight fogs surround his awful head
019:02,044[A  ]| And down his locks their baneful poison shed.
019:02,045[A  ]| The wandering demons frighted at the view
019:02,046[A  ]| And all the ignes fatui withdrew;
019:02,047[A  ]| Hecate let fall her charm-preparing weeds,
019:02,048[A  ]| Wondering what unknown power earth's surface treads,
019:02,049[A  ]| Which$6#1$ more than that$6#2$ which$6#1$ she invokes she dreads.
019:02,050[A  ]| She flies all frighted with erected hair
019:02,051[A  ]| And scarce her broomstaff bears her through the air;
019:02,052[A  ]| From his dire presence every evil ran,
019:02,053[A  ]| Except that$6#2$ more exalted evil, man:
019:02,054[A  ]| Not the first race of less corrupted fiends,
019:02,055[A  ]| Till taught by$4$ man, knew half his new-coined sins.
019:02,056[A  ]| Thrice with majestic pace he walks the round,
019:02,057[A  ]| Surveying the pavilions' utmost bound,
019:02,058[A  ]| And useless grandeur every where he found.
019:02,059[A  ]| Philippi nor the famed Pharsalia's field,
019:02,060[A  ]| Did not more signs of glorious action yield;
019:02,061[A  ]| But this was all for$4$ show, not terror, made,
019:02,062[A  ]| It was Hounslow farce: a siege in$4$ masquerade.
019:02,063[A  ]| More near he views it yet, and found within,
019:02,064[A  ]| All the degrees of luxury and sin.
019:02,065[A  ]| Alsatia's sink into this common shore,
019:02,066[A  ]| Did all its vile and nasty nuisance pour:
019:02,067[A  ]| Fat sharpers, broken cuckolds, gamesters, cheats,
019:02,068[A  ]| What Newgate disembogues, find here retreats;
019:02,069[A  ]| The groom and footman from their liveries stripped,
019:02,070[A  ]| With scarf, gay feather, and command equipped.
019:02,071[A  ]| Promotion gives to$4$ sauciness pretence,
019:02,072[A  ]| And greatness is mistook for$4$ insolence;
019:02,073[A  ]| And to$9$ evince their valour every hour,
019:02,074[A  ]| Bamboo the slaves that$6#1$ bow beneath their power.
019:02,075[A  ]| Yet to$4$ the country ladies these appear
019:02,076[A  ]| So$5#1$ novel, witty, 9beau, 9en*cavalier,
019:02,077[A  ]| That$3$ scarce a tender heart is left behind:
019:02,078[A  ]| Pray heaven a maidenhead you chance to$9$ find!
019:02,079[A  ]| The phantom to$4$ that$6#2$ quarter first resorts,
019:02,080[A  ]| Where the illustrious generals keep their courts.
019:02,081[A  ]| Great Faversham, the foremost of the crew,
019:02,082[A  ]| Whose uncle, Turennne, well could fight we knew;
019:02,083[A  ]| He who$6#1$ so$5#1$ often does repeat the jest
019:02,084[A  ]| How he subdued the monarch of the West
019:02,085[A  ]| (Or would have done it had he not been undressed);
019:02,086[A  ]| This rough, stern hero of our British war
019:02,087[A  ]| To$4$ neighbouring tents is always borne in$4$ chair
019:02,088[A  ]| For$4$ fear of incommodement from the air.
019:02,089[A  ]| None wonders what did Churchill recommend,
019:02,090[A  ]| Who$6#1$ never did to$4$ deeds of arms pretend:
019:02,092[A  ]| Love, all his active youth, his business was,
019:02,093[A  ]| Love that$6#1$ best suits his handsome shape and face.
019:02,094[A  ]| But armies are like$4$ verse, whose jingling chimes
019:02,095[A  ]| Are here for$4$ sense, and there for$4$ doggerel rhymes.
019:02,096[A  ]| Here, where Bellona lays her armour by$5$
019:02,097[A  ]| And learns to$9$ be more charming company,
019:02,098[A  ]| Where the ill-natured god has nought to$9$ do,
019:02,099[A  ]| Some few for$4$ fighting are, but most for$4$ show.
019:02,100[A  ]| Where rich embroidered cloak 9a*la*campagne
019:02,101[A  ]| So$5#1$ often shines, unless it chance to$9$ rain;
019:02,102[A  ]| Then, lord, how the Sir Nice will$1$ fret and fling!
019:02,103@w   | "Andon <i.e. undone>, it is spoiled, before shown before the keeng<sic>".
019:02,104[A  ]| In$4$ perfumed beds adorned, they are basking laid,
019:02,105[A  ]| Gay as young brides, on$4$ Persian carpets tread
019:02,106[A  ]| That$6#1$ over the spacious floor in$4$ wanton pride are spread;
019:02,107[A  ]| Like$4$ feasting gods, luxurious, and, they say,
019:02,108[A  ]| As arrant fornicators, too, as they.
019:02,109[A  ]| None comes amiss when lust their fancies lead,
019:02,110[A  ]| Alcmena, nor the smooth-faced Ganymede;
019:02,111[A  ]| For$3$, like$4$ those gods too, all are given to$4$ love,
019:02,112[A  ]| But none we hear ever thundered but old Jove.
019:02,113[A  ]| P***r the hero acts in$4$ Loveit's arms,
019:02,114[A  ]| Tells of soft sieges, batteries and alarms,
019:02,115[A  ]| And cants his passions out in$4$ warlike terms;
019:02,116[A  ]| How the artillery of her eyes did wound,
019:02,117[A  ]| And how at the first onset he gave ground:
019:02,118[A  ]| He who$6#1$ never yet did to$4$ a conqueror bow,
019:02,119[A  ]| Yet kisses and adores his fetters now;
019:02,120[A  ]| While all the batteries ever he essayed
019:02,121[A  ]| Have been against the female fortress made;
019:02,122[A  ]| While Loveit, who$6#1$ has less of love than pride,
019:02,123[A  ]| Being with gilt coach and country house supplied
019:02,124[A  ]| Makes that$6#2$ suffice for$4$ all defects beside.
019:02,125[A  ]| Here lay a youth of all his wits bereft,
019:02,126[A  ]| Who$6#1$ this campaign was by$4$ a mistress left,
019:02,127[A  ]| A nauseous strumpet, insolent and loud,
019:02,128[A  ]| False and destructive, basely born and proud.
019:02,129[A  ]| Oh baffled fool, thou that$6#1$ hadst seen the fate
019:02,130[A  ]| Of Cully Bash's quickly spent estate;
019:02,131[A  ]| Collier undone, and forty rakehells more
019:02,132[A  ]| For$4$ an old, common, overgrown flabby whore,
019:02,133[A  ]| Whose bastard son may vie with thee for$4$ age,
019:02,134[A  ]| A trader twenty year upon$4$ the stage:
019:02,135[A  ]| What from the expensive folly couldst thou see
019:02,136[A  ]| But shameful ruin, laughed at infamy?
019:02,137[A  ]| I know thy eyes were opened long before,
019:02,138[A  ]| But still the jilt betrayed thee to$4$ the whore;
019:02,139[A  ]| Debased thy noble spirit to$4$ her rule,
019:02,140[A  ]| And turned thy once fair fame to$4$ ridicule;
019:02,141[A  ]| Debauched thy sense with conversation base,
019:02,142[A  ]| Whores, eating pimps, players, a numerous race,
019:02,143[A  ]| While thou, the treating cully, wert despised,
019:02,144[A  ]| And cuckold by$4$ the slaves thou hadst gormandised.
019:02,145[A  ]| Return, thou prodigal, from husks and swine:
019:02,146[A  ]| The ruin of the first was cause of thine.
019:02,147[A  ]| They say thou art brave: give us this proof of it,
019:02,148[A  ]| And we will$1$ believe thou canst be braver yet:
019:02,149[A  ]| Thou hast yet a nobler race of life to$9$ run:
019:02,150[A  ]| Leave Harwood to$4$ her next to$9$ be undone.
019:02,151[A  ]| But her kind keeper gone, his flame will$1$ fade;
019:02,152[A  ]| Love cools when it is an obligation made.
019:02,153[A  ]| There an old battered Tangieran behold,
019:02,154[A  ]| More mauled by$4$ love than ever he was in$4$ field;
019:02,155[A  ]| Yet wondrous amorous still, and wondrous gay,
019:02,156[A  ]| Old January dizened up$5$ in$4$ May.
019:02,157[A  ]| His tents no$2$ trophies of his victories graces,
019:02,158[A  ]| But all adorned with mighty looking glasses,
019:02,159[A  ]| In$4$ which$6#1$ he practices 9bon*mien and faces;
019:02,160[A  ]| How well to$9$ manage ogling, and what air
019:02,161[A  ]| He should maintain, when cock, when frisk his hair;
019:02,162[A  ]| What affectation best would youth express
019:02,163[A  ]| And least the ruins of his age confess;
019:02,164[A  ]| Half choked with monstrous cravat-string, disputes
019:02,165[A  ]| Which$6#1$ colour best with his complexion suits;
019:02,166[A  ]| And all in$4$ middle gallery to$9$ pore
019:02,167[A  ]| To$9$ charm and barter for$4$ some low-priced whore.
019:02,168[A  ]| Vain self-admiring fop, though every day
019:02,169[A  ]| Thou dost thy antiquated form survey,
019:02,170[A  ]| But to$9$ be well-deceived, cease playing the ass,
019:02,172[A  ]| Six hours each morn before thy looking glass,
019:02,173[A  ]| And trust thy wiser valet with thy dress;
019:02,174[A  ]| For$3$, whilst thou dost not that$6#2$ aged face behold,
019:02,175[A  ]| Thy dress may flatter thee thou art not old.
019:02,176[A  ]| Ch***m, that$6#2$ scoundrel, he whom nature made
019:02,177[A  ]| An arrant blockhead, yet a rogue by$4$ trade,
019:02,178[A  ]| Which$6#1$ he industriously improved so$5#1$ well,
019:02,179[A  ]| He did in$4$ nicest villainies excel,
019:02,180[A  ]| And from the trumpet raised the colonel.
019:02,181[A  ]| Yet lives a double scandal to$4$ his race:
019:02,182[A  ]| His morals are as odious as his face.
019:02,183[A  ]| Though knave and coward in$4$ his front be writ,
019:02,184[A  ]| He has one virtue that$6#1$ supports him yet ~~
019:02,185[A  ]| A passive valour that$6#1$ can kicking bear,
019:02,186[A  ]| A caution that$6#1$ secured him in$4$ his fear
019:02,187[A  ]| Behind the cannons in$4$ the Western War;
019:02,188[A  ]| And farther to$4$ this honour has pretence,
019:02,189[A  ]| Can cheat his men with matchless impudence:
019:02,190[A  ]| But that$6#2$ is the common cry, while no$2$ bold tongue
019:02,191[A  ]| Is found to$9$ tell Augustus of their wrong.
019:02,192[A  ]| Next old Grabecious Su***d, who$6#1$ sat
019:02,193[A  ]| Like$4$ Bacchus on$4$ his tun in$4$ drunken state,
019:02,194[A  ]| With all his mellow gang encompassed round,
019:02,195[A  ]| In$4$ high debauch of wine and bawdry drowned.
019:02,196[A  ]| Ga***y that$6#2$ monster of prodigious size,
019:02,197[A  ]| A body fitted to$4$ his beastly vice;
019:02,198[A  ]| With fiery face more formidable far
019:02,199[A  ]| Than gorgon's head or, to$4$ that$6#2$ coward, war;
019:02,200[A  ]| In$4$ youth mean cheats and rooking was his trade.
019:02,201[A  ]| Now (starving) got command, for$4$ drink, not bread.
019:02,202[A  ]| V***n our new Troy's Hector, and our hope,
019:02,203[A  ]| Preferred from tail of coach to$4$ head of troop;
019:02,204[A  ]| It was no$2$ true courage got him first a name;
019:02,205[A  ]| But some Welsh fury did his blood inflame.
019:02,206[A  ]| And sure he can not fight when he is taken.
019:02,207[A  ]| No$2$ brutal, coward, tyrant Algerine
019:02,208[A  ]| Ever treated slaves so$5#1$ ill as his have been;
019:02,209[A  ]| As if to$4$ him authority were new.
019:02,210[A  ]| It is but ~~ damn ye rascals ~~ and a blow;
019:02,211[A  ]| For$4$ this so$5#1$ oft false musters we observe,
019:02,212[A  ]| Rather than follow him the rogues will$1$ starve;
019:02,213[A  ]| He would, if ever indeed there came a war,
019:02,214[A  ]| Be justly shot, like$4$ wry-necked chevalier,
019:02,215[A  ]| By$4$ some of his own soldiers in$4$ the rear.
019:02,216[A  ]| But V***n is not alone, more of his stamp,
019:02,217[A  ]| That$6#1$ better merit Tyburn, rule the camp.
019:02,218[A  ]| Among the rest Mic***l that$6#2$ fornicator,
019:02,219[A  ]| Encamped with grandam doxy and her daughter;
019:02,220[A  ]| The good old jade he loves because she's handy,
019:02,221[A  ]| Can smoke and joke and hold him tack with brandy.
019:02,222[A  ]| Full threescore years in$4$ wise experience bred,
019:02,223[A  ]| Preferred from filling ale to$9$ fill his bed;
019:02,224[A  ]| She is old enough to$9$ witch, and by$4$ her art
019:02,225[A  ]| Has thrust a crooked pin quite through his heart;
019:02,226[A  ]| Or he has some damned infirmity unseen,
019:02,227[A  ]| That$6#1$ makes him dote on$4$ such a rivelled queen.
019:02,228[A  ]| To$9$ grace the drunken club was beau Sir*Tom,
019:02,229[A  ]| Dubbed for$4$ his brother's merits not his own;
019:02,230[A  ]| From drudging city prig advanced to$9$ be
019:02,231[A  ]| Right-worshipful in$4$ place of high degree;
019:02,232[A  ]| But knows not how to$9$ manage quality,
019:02,233[A  ]| But thought the nearest way was to$9$ be lewd,
019:02,234[A  ]| And all degrees the debauchee pursued;
019:02,235[A  ]| And like$4$ true cit did always overdo,
019:02,236[A  ]| As well in$4$ lewdness as in$4$ fashions too;
019:02,237[A  ]| But drink is his leading vice, his darling sin,
019:02,238[A  ]| That$6#1$ pimps his duller inclination in$5$;
019:02,239[A  ]| Then loud as storms, in$4$ countenance for$4$ all evil,
019:02,240[A  ]| Swears and invokes by$4$ healths his guardian devil;
019:02,241[A  ]| Omits no$2$ crimes full glasses can maintain
019:02,242[A  ]| And rather than not leave behind a name
019:02,243[A  ]| For$4$ lewdness will$1$ achieve immortal fame.
019:02,244[A  ]| By$4$ chance the poet Elkanah was there,
019:02,245[A  ]| To$9$ make them sport, for$3$ it was not yet the fair,
019:02,246[A  ]| With many more, too scandalous to$9$ name,
019:02,247[A  ]| Whose talents are to$9$ whore, swear, drink and game.
019:02,248[A  ]| At a large table they were seated round,
019:02,249[A  ]| With bottles snush, foul pipes and glasses crowned,
019:02,250[A  ]| Boxes and dice ~~ but whether false or true
019:02,251[A  ]| I leave it to$4$ the fools that$6#2$ night shall rue.
019:02,252[A  ]| For$3$ there was country squire and city cully,
019:02,253[A  ]| That$6#1$ came to$9$ see the show, hooked in$5$ by$4$ bully,
019:02,254[A  ]| Where rooked of all their coin they treated are
019:02,255[A  ]| 9A*la*campagne ~~ that$6#2$ is with 9chere*entire.
019:02,256@w   | Damme,
019:02,256[A  ]| cries Grab,
019:02,256@w   | each prig his buttock bring,
019:02,257@w   | And let us forthwith fall to$4$ managing.
019:02,258@w   | When I am boozing clear old dudgeon is drollish:
019:02,259@w   | Then, let my natural be or gimp or polish,
019:02,260@w   | I sink her down ~~
019:02,260[A  ]| then makes some nasty jest
019:02,261[A  ]| And crowns it with a bumper to$4$ the best;
019:02,262[A  ]| And calls for$4$ link-boy, swears his pego is nice,
019:02,263[A  ]| And scorns to$9$ fumble on$5$ in$4$ common vice.
019:02,264[A  ]| Then to$4$ the height of lewdness all retire
019:02,265[A  ]| And Venus must extinguish Bacchus' fire.
019:02,266[A  ]| Thus it is thus when men forsake an honest trade!
019:02,267[A  ]| How much a better pedant thou hadst made;
019:02,268[A  ]| Or, bilking sharp, hadst bullied up$5$ and down
019:02,269[A  ]| And awed the trembling mortals of the town?
019:02,270[A  ]| This was thy talent, this thy proper sphere;
019:02,271[A  ]| Yet still this part of thee remains while here:
019:02,272[A  ]| That$6#1$ thou canst cheat, oppress, and domineer.
019:02,273[A  ]| Yet this even by$4$ thy foes must be confessed,
019:02,274[A  ]| Of all the roaring tribe thou art the best.
019:02,275[A  ]| But numberless and endless it were to$9$ tell
019:02,276[A  ]| All the rank vices that$6#1$ fill this local Hell.
019:02,277[A  ]| Whose newer sins were never to$4$ Sodom known;
019:02,278[A  ]| And if just heaven should send its vengeance down,
019:02,279[A  ]| There is not one Lot to$9$ save the burning town.
019:02,280[A  ]| All which$6#1$ the phantom does in$4$ haste survey,
019:02,281[A  ]| He scents the morning air and must away,
019:02,282[A  ]| And on$4$ the eastern hill he views the breaking day;
019:02,283[A  ]| Yet before he goes, with a remorse extreme,
019:02,284[A  ]| Looks back and sighs over new Jerusalem;
019:02,285[A  ]| Nor could depart till like$4$ the prophet too
019:02,286[A  ]| In$4$ whispering air pronounced thrice
019:02,286@b   | Woe, woe, woe.
019:02,287[A  ]| And then methought I heard a hollow sound,
019:02,288[A  ]| Like$4$ echoes which$6#1$ from caves and rocks rebound:
019:02,289[A  ]| And thus it spake:
019:02,289@b   | Full five and twenty years
019:02,290@b   | I reigned, without the noise or toils of war,
019:02,291@b   | Bore all indignities of rebel power,
019:02,292@b   | And saw my life in$4$ danger every hour;
019:02,293@b   | Yet rather had resigned it up$5$ in$4$ peace,
019:02,294@b   | Than owed my safety to$4$ such brutes as these;
019:02,295@b   | At best but scarecrows, rebels to$9$ affright:
019:02,296@b   | Put them to$4$ action and scarce one will$1$ fight.
019:02,297@b   | O, great Augustus, thou deservst an host
019:02,298@b   | Of heroes, such as ancient Rome did boast;
019:02,299@b   | Where each commander should like$4$ Scipio be
019:02,300@b   | Or rather like$4$ the yet more god-like thee:
019:02,301@b   | Brave temperate, prudent to$4$ the last degree;
019:02,302@b   | The common rout all Scaeva's in$4$ the field,
019:02,303@b   | Who$6#1$ bore a thousand arrows on$4$ his shield.
019:02,304@b   | At least they should have souls to$9$ be inspired
019:02,305@b   | And by$4$ thy great example to$9$ be fired;
019:02,306@b   | Thy valour and thy virtues imitate,
019:02,307@b   | And raise at once thy glory and the state.
019:02,308[A  ]| This said, and parting with a pitying look,
019:02,309[A  ]| Towards his eternal home his way he took,
019:02,310[A  ]| And blessed his fate he could again return
019:02,311[A  ]| To$4$ the dark confines of his peaceful urn.
019:02,000[A  ]| <This is the end (about 2500 words)>