The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 170

25

[NINETY-EIGHT]

O would the Baptist come again And preach aloud with might and main Repentance to our viperous race!

But should this miracle take place, I hope, ere Irish ground he treads, He'll lay in a good stock of heads!

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 162. Adapted from Friedrich von Logau's _Sinngedicht_, _Johannes der Taufer_, Lessing's edition, Bk. I, No. 30:--

'Nicht recht! nicht recht! wurd' immer schrein Johannes, sollt' er wieder sein.

Doch kam er, riet' ich, da.s.s er dachte, Wie viel er Kopf' in Vorrat brachte.'

26

OCCASIONED BY THE FORMER

I hold of all our viperous race The greedy creeping things in place Most vile, most venomous; and then The United Irishmen!

To come on earth should John determine, Imprimis, we'll excuse his sermon.

Without a word the good old Dervis Might work incalculable service, At once from tyranny and riot Save laws, lives, liberties and moneys, If sticking to his ancient diet He'd but eat up our locusts and _wild honeys_!

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 162.

LINENOTES:

[After 4] Now by miraculous deeds to stir them MS.

27

[A LIAR BY PROFESSION]

As d.i.c.k and I at Charing Cross were walking, Whom should we see on t'other side pa.s.s by But Informator with a stranger talking, So I exclaim'd, 'Lord, what a lie!'

Quoth d.i.c.k--'What, can you hear him?'

'Hear him! stuff!

I saw him open his mouth--an't that enough?'

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. First collected _P. and D. W._, ii. 163. Adapted from Lessing's _Sinngedicht_ No. 142. _Auf den Ley._ 'Der gute Mann, den Ley beiseite dort gezogen!'

28

TO A PROUD PARENT

Thy babes ne'er greet thee with the father's name; 'My Lud!' they lisp. Now whence can this arise?

Perhaps their mother feels an honest shame And will not teach her infant to tell lies.

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800, included in _Essays, &c._, ii.

997. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 164. Adapted from Lessing's _Sinngedicht_ No. 17. _An den Doktor Sp * *._ 'Dein Sohnchen la.s.st dich nie den Namen Vater h.o.r.en.'

29

RUFA

Thy lap-dog, Rufa, is a dainty beast, It don't surprise me in the least To see thee lick so dainty clean a beast.

But that so dainty clean a beast licks thee, Yes--that surprises me.

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 164. Adapted from Lessing's _Sinngedicht_ No. 66. _An die Dorilis._ 'Dein Hundchen, Dorilis, ist zartlich, tandelnd, rein.'

30

ON A VOLUNTEER SINGER

Swans sing before they die--'twere no bad thing Should certain persons die before they sing.

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. Included in _Keepsake_, 1829, p.

277; _Essays, &c._, 1850, ii. 988. First collected in 1834.

31

OCCASIONED BY THE LAST

A JOKE (cries Jack) without a sting-- _Post obitum_ can no man sing.

And true, if Jack don't mend his manners And quit the atheistic banners, _Post obitum_ will Jack run foul Of such _folks_ as can only _howl_.

First published in _An. Anth._, 1800. Included in _Essays, &c._, iii.

988. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii, 165.

LINENOTES:

[1] joke] jest Essays, &c.

[5] _folks_] sparks Essays, &c.

32

EPITAPH ON MAJOR DIEMAN

Know thou who walks't by, Man! that wrapp'd up in lead, man, What once was a Dieman, now lies here a dead man.

Alive a proud MAJOR! but ah me! of our poor all, The soul having gone, he is now merely Corporal.

? 1800. Now first published from MS.