Page:Trivia (John Gay) to which is added London (Samuel Johnson) (1809).djvu/61

Rh Now, man with utmost fortitude thy soul, To cross the way where carts and coaches roll: Yet do not in thy hardy skill confide, Nor rashly risk the kennel's spacious stride; Stay till afar the distant wheel you hear, Like dying thunder in the breaking air: Thy foot will slide upon the miry stone, And passing coaches crush thy tortur'd bone, Or wheels inclose the road; on either hand, Pent round with perils, in the midst you stand, And call for aid in vain; the coachman swears, And carmen drive, unmindful of thy prayers. Where wilt thou turn? ah! whither wilt thou fly? On ev'ry side the pressing spokes are nigh So sailors, while Charybdis' gulf they shun, Amaz'd, on Scylla's craggy dangers run. Be sure observe where brown Ostrea stands, Who boasts her shelly ware from Wallfleet sands; There mayst thou pass, with safe unmiry feet, Where the rais'd pavement leads athwart the street. If where Fleet-ditch with muddy current flows You chance to roam; where oyster-tubs in rows