Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/238

228 Till I at length by discipline grew tame, Gentle, and tractable, as now I am. 'Twas by this short, and slight severity I gained these marks and badges which you see. But what are they? Allons, monsieur! let's go.' 'Not one step farther, sir; excuse me now. Much joy t'ye of your envied, blessed estate, I will not buy preferment at that rate; In God's name, take your golden chains for me; Faith, I'd not be a king, not to be free. Sir dog, your humble servant, so good bye!'

NE night, as I was pondering of late On all the miseries of my hapless fate, Cursing my rhyming stars, raving in vain At all the powers which over poets reign, In came a ghastly shape, all pale and thin, As some poor sinner who by priest had been, Under a long Lent's penance, starved and whipped, Or parboiled lecher, late from hothouse crept. Famished his looks appeared, his eyes sunk in, Like morning gown about him hung his skin, A wreath of laurel on his head he wore, A book, inscribed the Fairy Queen, he bore. By this I knew him, rose, and bowed, and said, 'Hail reverend ghost! all hail most sacred shade! Why this great visit? why vouchsafed to me, The meanest of thy British progeny? Comest thou, in my uncalled, unhallowed muse, Some of thy mighty spirit to infuse?