041:44,000[' ]| 041:44,000[' ]| 041:44,001[A ]| To$4$ thee, Dear Dick, this Tale I send, 041:44,002[A ]| Both as a Critic and a Friend. 041:44,003[A ]| I tell it with some Variation 041:44,004[A ]| (Not altogether a Translation) 041:44,005[A ]| From La*Fontaine; an Author, Dick, 041:44,006[A ]| Whose Muse would touch thee to$4$ the quick. 041:44,007[A ]| The Subject is of that$6#2$ same kind, 041:44,008[A ]| To$4$ which$6#1$ thy Heart seems most inclined: 041:44,009[A ]| How Verse may alter it, God knows, 041:44,010[A ]| Thou lovest it well, I am sure, in$4$ Prose. <10> 041:44,011[A ]| So$3$, without Preface, or Pretence, 041:44,012[A ]| To$9$ hold thee longer in$4$ Suspense, 041:44,013[A ]| I shall proceed, as I am able, 041:44,014[A ]| To$4$ the Recital of my Fable. 041:44,015[A ]| A Goblin of the merry Kind, 041:44,016[A ]| More black of Hue, than cursed of Mind, 041:44,017[A ]| To$9$ help a Lover in$4$ Distress, 041:44,018[A ]| Contrived a Charm with such Success; 041:44,019[A ]| That$3$ in$4$ short Space the cruel Dame 041:44,020[A ]| Relented, and returned his Flame. <20> 041:44,021[A ]| The Bargain made between them both, 041:44,022[A ]| Was bound by$4$ Honour and by$4$ Oath: 041:44,023[A ]| The Lover laid down his Salvation, 041:44,024[A ]| And Satan staked his Reputation. 041:44,025[A ]| The Latter promised on$4$ his Part 041:44,026[A ]| (To$9$ serve his Friend and show his Art,) 041:44,027[A ]| That$3$ Madam should by$4$ twelve o'clock, 041:44,028[A ]| Though hitherto as hard as Rock, 041:44,029[A ]| Become as gentle as a Glove, 041:44,030[A ]| And kiss and coo like$4$ any Dove. <30> 041:44,031[A ]| In$4$ short, the Woman should be his, 041:44,032[A ]| This is, upon$4$ Condition ~~ Viz; 041:44,033[A ]| That$3$ He, the Lover, after tasting 041:44,034[A ]| What one would wish were everlasting; 041:44,035[A ]| Should, in$4$ Return for$4$ such Enjoyment, 041:44,036[A ]| Supply the Fiend with fresh Employment: 041:44,037@d | That$6#2$ is all, 041:44,037[A ]| quoth Pug; 041:44,037@d | my poor Request 041:44,038@d | Is, only never to$9$ have Rest; 041:44,039@d | You thought, it is like$5$, with Reason too, 041:44,040@d | That$3$ I should have been served, not You: <40> 041:44,041@d | But what? upon$4$ my Friend impose! 041:44,042@d | No$7$ ~~ though a Devil, none of those. 041:44,043@d | Your Business then, pray understand me, 041:44,044@d | Is nothing more but to$9$ Command me. 041:44,045@d | Of one thing only let me warn ye, 041:44,046@d | Which$6#1$ somewhat nearly may concern ye: 041:44,047@d | As soon as ever one Work is done; 041:44,048@d | Strait name a new one; and so$5#2$ on$5$; 041:44,049@d | Let each to$4$ other quick succeed, 041:44,050@d | Or else ~~ you know how it is agreed ~~ <50> 041:44,051@d | For$3$ if through any Hums or Haws 041:44,052@d | There haps an intervening Pause, 041:44,053@d | In$4$ which$6#1$, for$4$ Want of fresh Commands, 041:44,054@d | Your Slave obsequious, Idle stands, 041:44,055@d | Nor Soul nor Body ever more 041:44,056@d | Shall serve the Nymph whom you adore; 041:44,057@d | But both be laid at Satan's Feet, 041:44,058@d | To$9$ be disposed as he thinks meet. 041:44,059[A ]| At once the Lover all approves: 041:44,060[A ]| For$3$ who$6#2$ can hesitate that$6#1$ loves? <60> 041:44,061[A ]| And thus he argues in$4$ his Thought: 041:44,062@b | Why, after all, I venture nought; 041:44,063@b | What Mystery is in$4$ Commanding? 041:44,064@b | Does that$6#2$ require Much Understanding? 041:44,065@b | Indeed, were it my Part to$9$ Obey, 041:44,066@b | He would go the better of the Lay: 041:44,067@b | But he must do what I think fit ~~ 041:44,068@b | Pshaw, pshaw, young Belzebub is bit. 041:44,069[A ]| Thus pleased in$4$ Mind, he calls a Chair, 041:44,070[A ]| Adjusts, and combs, and courts the Fair: <70> 041:44,071[A ]| The Spell takes Place, and all goes right, 041:44,072[A ]| And happy he employs the Night 041:44,073[A ]| In$4$ sweet Embraces, balmy Kisses; 041:44,074[A ]| And riots in$4$ the Bliss of Blisses. 041:44,075[A ]| O Joy, cried he, that$6#1$ hast no$2$ Equal! 041:44,076[A ]| But hold ~~ no$2$ Raptures ~~ mark the Sequel. 041:44,077[A ]| For$3$ now, when near the Morning's Dawn, 041:44,078[A ]| The Youth began as it were to$9$ yawn; 041:44,079[A ]| His Eyes a silky Slumber seized, 041:44,080[A ]| Or would have done, if Pug had pleased: <80> 041:44,081[A ]| But that$6#2$ officious Demon, near, 041:44,082[A ]| Now buzzed for$4$ Business in$4$ his Ear; 041:44,083[A ]| In$4$ Haste, he names a thousand things: 041:44,084[A ]| The Goblin plies his wicker Wings, 041:44,085[A ]| And in$4$ a Trice returns to$9$ ask 041:44,086[A ]| Another and another Task. 041:44,087[A ]| Now, Palaces are built and Towers, 041:44,088[A ]| The Work of Ages in$4$ few Hours. 041:44,089[A ]| Then, Storms are in$4$ an Instant raised, 041:44,090[A ]| Which$6#1$ the next Moment are appeased. <90> 041:44,091[A ]| Now Showers of Gold and Gems are rained, 041:44,092[A ]| As if each India had been drained: 041:44,093[A ]| And He, in$4$ one astonished View, 041:44,094[A ]| Sees both Golconda and Peru. 041:44,095[A ]| These Things, and stranger Things than these, 041:44,096[A ]| Were done with equal Speed and Ease. 041:44,097[A ]| And now to$4$ Rome poor Pug he will$1$ send: 041:44,098[A ]| And Pug soon reached his Journey's End, 041:44,099[A ]| And soon returned with such a Pack 041:44,100[A ]| Of Bulls and Pardons at his Back, <100> 041:44,101[A ]| That$3$ now, the Squire (who$6#1$ had some Hope 041:44,102[A ]| In$4$ holy Water and the Pope,) 041:44,103[A ]| Was out of Heart, and at a Stand 041:44,104[A ]| What next to$9$ wish, and what command; 041:44,105[A ]| Invention flags, his Brain grows muddy, 041:44,106[A ]| And black Despair succeeds brown Study. 041:44,107[A ]| In$4$ this Distress the woeful Youth 041:44,108[A ]| Acquaints the Nymph with all the Truth, 041:44,109[A ]| Begging her Counsel, for$4$ whose Sake 041:44,110[A ]| Both Soul and Body were at Stake. <110> 041:44,111@c | And is this all? 041:44,111[A ]| replies the Fair: 041:44,112@c | Let me alone to$9$ cure this Care. 041:44,113@c | When next your Demon shall appear, 041:44,114@c | Pray give him ~~ look, what I hold here. 041:44,115@c | And bid him labour, soon or late, 041:44,116@c | To$9$ lay these Ringlets lank and strait. 041:44,117[A ]| Then, something scarcely to$9$ be seen, 041:44,118[A ]| Her Finger and her Thumb between 041:44,119[A ]| She held, and sweetly smiling, cried, 041:44,120@c | Your Goblin's Skill shall now be tried. <120> 041:44,121[A ]| She said; and gave ~~ what shall I call 041:44,122[A ]| That$6#2$ thing so$5#1$ shining, crisp and small, 041:44,123[A ]| Which$6#1$ round his Finger strove to$9$ twine? 041:44,124[A ]| A Tendril of the Cyprian Vine? 041:44,125[A ]| Or Sprig from Cytherea's Grove; 041:44,126[A ]| Shade of the Labyrinth of Love? 041:44,127[A ]| With Awe, he now takes from her Hand 041:44,128[A ]| That$6#2$ Fleece-like Flower of fairy Land: 041:44,129[A ]| Less precious, whilom, was the Fleece 041:44,130[A ]| Which$6#1$ drew the Argonauts from Greece; <130> 041:44,131[A ]| Or that$6#2$, which$6#1$ modern Ages see 041:44,132[A ]| The Spur and Prize of Chivalry, 041:44,133[A ]| Whose Curls of kindred Texture, grace 041:44,134[A ]| Heroes and Kings of Spanish Race. 041:44,135[A ]| The Spark prepared, and Pug at Hand, 041:44,136[A ]| He issues, thus, his strict Command. 041:44,137@b | This Line, thus Curve and thus Orbicular, 041:44,138@b | Render direct, and perpendicular; 041:44,139@b | But so$5#1$ direct, and in$4$ no$2$ sort 041:44,140@b | It ever may in$4$ Rings retort. <140> 041:44,141@b | See me no$2$ more till this be done: 041:44,142@b | Hence, to$4$ thy Task ~~ avaunt, be gone. 041:44,143[A ]| Away the Fiend like$4$ Lightning flies, 041:44,144[A ]| And all his Wit to$4$ Work applies: 041:44,145[A ]| Anvils and Presses he employs, 041:44,146[A ]| And dins whole Hell with hammering Noise. 041:44,147[A ]| In$4$ vain: he to$4$ no$2$ Terms can bring 041:44,148[A ]| One Twirl of that$6#2$ reluctant Thing; 041:44,149[A ]| The elastic Fibre mocks his Pains, 041:44,150[A ]| And its first spiral Form retains. <150> 041:44,151[A ]| New Stratagems the Sprite contrives, 041:44,152[A ]| And down the Depths of Sea he dives: 041:44,153@d | This Sprunt its Pertness sure will$1$ lose 041:44,154@d | When laid 041:44,154[A ]| (said he) 041:44,154@d | to$9$ soak in$4$ Ooze. 041:44,155[A ]| Poor foolish Fiend! he little knew 041:44,156[A ]| Whence Venus and her Garden grew. 041:44,157[A ]| Old Ocean, with paternal Waves 041:44,158[A ]| The Child of his own Bed receives; 041:44,159[A ]| Which$6#1$ oft as dipped new Force exerts, 041:44,160[A ]| And in$4$ more vigorous Curls reverts. <160> 041:44,161[A ]| So$3$, when to$4$ Earth, Alcides flung 041:44,162[A ]| The huge Anteus, whence he sprung, 041:44,163[A ]| From every Fall fresh Strength he gained, 041:44,164[A ]| And with new Life the Fight maintained. 041:44,165[A ]| The baffled Goblin grows perplexed, 041:44,166[A ]| Nor knows what Sleight to$9$ practice next: 041:44,167[A ]| The more he tries, the more he fails; 041:44,168[A ]| Nor Charm, nor Art, nor Force avails. 041:44,169[A ]| But all concur his Shame to$9$ show, 041:44,170[A ]| And more exasperate the Foe. <170> 041:44,171[A ]| And now he pensive turns and sad, 041:44,172[A ]| And looks like$4$ melancholic mad. 041:44,173[A ]| He rolls his Eyes now off, now on$4$ 041:44,174[A ]| That$6#2$ wonderful Phenomenon. 041:44,175[A ]| Sometimes he twists and twirls it round, 041:44,176[A ]| Then, pausing, meditates profound: 041:44,177[A ]| No$2$ End he sees of his Surprise, 041:44,178[A ]| Nor what it should be can devise: 041:44,179[A ]| For$3$ never yet was Wool or Feather, 041:44,180[A ]| That$6#1$ could stand buff against all Weather; <180> 041:44,181[A ]| And unrelaxed like$4$ this, resist 041:44,182[A ]| Both Wind and Rain, and Snow and Mist. 041:44,183[A ]| What Stuff, or whence, or how it was made, 041:44,184[A ]| What Spinster Witch could spin such Thread, 041:44,185[A ]| He nothing knew; but to$4$ his Cost 041:44,186[A ]| Knew all his Fame and Labour lost. 041:44,187[A ]| Subdued, abashed, he gave it over; 041:44,188[A ]| It is said, he blushed; it is sure, he swore 041:44,189[A ]| Not all the Wiles that$6#1$ Hell could hatch 041:44,190[A ]| Could conquer that$6#2$ Superb Moustache. <190> 041:44,191[A ]| Defeated thus, thus discontent, 041:44,192[A ]| Back to$4$ the Man the Demon went: 041:44,193@d | I grant, 041:44,193[A ]| quoth he, 041:44,193@d | our Contract null, 041:44,194@d | And give you a Discharge in$4$ full. 041:44,195@d | But tell me now, in$4$ Name of Wonder, 041:44,196@d | (Since I so$5#1$ candidly knock under,) 041:44,197@d | What is this Thing? Where could it grow? 041:44,198@d | Pray take it ~~ it is 7in*Statu*quo. 041:44,199@d | Much Good may it do you; for$4$ my Part, 041:44,200@d | I wash my Hands of it from my Heart. <200> 041:44,201@b | In$4$ Truth, Sir Goblin or Sir Fairy, 041:44,202[A ]| Replies the Lad, 041:44,202@b | you are too soon weary. 041:44,203@b | What, leave this trifling Task undone! 041:44,204@b | And thinkest Thou this the only one? 041:44,205@b | Alas! were this subdued, thou wouldst find 041:44,206@b | Millions of more such still behind, 041:44,207@b | Which$6#1$ might employ, even to$4$ Eternity, 041:44,208@b | Both you and all your whole Fraternity.