Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/307

 169 ���To penetrate the meaning of the jest ; �No jest, he cries, but forreign news I try �To learn, by conuersation with the Fry, �A Scott, my Friend, some Akers had of Land, �Which, since no Corn, nor Tree wou'd on them stand, �He turn'd to pounds, and thought his fortune made �By joyning in the Caledonian Trade; �So, cross'd the waves, but now, sad rumours come 30 �Th' unhappy youth, abroad has found his Doom; �To know the truth, and sett my thoughts att ease, �I question'd with these Pigmies of the Seas, �Who modestly reply, with loosen' d tongue, �For Dariens Istmus they were far too yong, �Nor from the Shoar, a League cou'd hard'ly keep; �But, send me, to those Monsters of the Deep, �Which round the World a yearly course maintain �Till now, here dress' d, they swim in sawce again, �Cou'd I, but speak, with one of those full-grown, 40 �My Friend's disaster might be thoroughly known ; �Whether, detain'd by Death, by want, or wind, �The Project broke, he stayes so long behind? �None, need demand, if his invention took, �Who for his teeth, thus made his tongue the hook. �A Jest, well tim'd, though from a worthless Man �Often obtains, more then true merit can. �THE ATHEIST AND THE ACORN �Methinks this World is oddly made, �And ev'ry thing's amiss, A dull presuming Atheist said, As stretch'd he lay beneath a Shade; �And instanced in this: �Behold, quoth he, that mighty thing, A Pumpkin, large and round, ��� �