ivory, so white.

Thus ev’ry beauteous object that I view,

Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

’Though battle call me from thy arms

Let not my pretty Susan mourn;

Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms,

William shall to his dear return.

Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,

Lest precious tears should drop from Susan’s eye’.

The boatswain gave the dreadful word,

The sails their swelling bosom spread,

No longer must she stay aboard:

They kiss’d, she sigh’d, he hung his head.

Her less’ning boat, unwilling rows to land:

’Adieu’, she cries! and wav’d her lily hand.

To a Lady

When I some antique Jar behold,

Or white, or blue, or speck’d with gold,

Vessels so pure, and so refin’d

Appear the types of woman-kind:

Are they not valu’d for their beauty,

Too fair, too fine for household duty?

With flowers and gold and azure dy’d,

Of ev’ry house the grace and pride?

How white, how polish’d is their skin,

And valu’d most when only seen!

She who before was highest priz’d

Is for a crack or flaw despis’d;

I grant they’re frail, yet they’re so rare,

The treasure cannot cost too dear!

But Man is made of coarser stuff,

And serves convenience well enough;

He’s a strong earthen vessel made,

For drudging, labour, toil and trade;

And when wives lose their other self,

With ease they bear the loss of Delf.

The Hare and Many Friends

Friendship, like love, is but a name,

Unless to one you stint the flame.

The child, whom many fathers share,

Hath seldom known a father’s care.

Tis thus in friendships; who depend

On many, rarely find a friend.

A hare, who in a civil way,

Complied with everything, like Gay,

Was known by all the bestial train

Who haunt the wood, or graze the plain.

Her care was never to offend,

And every creature was her friend.

As forth she went at early dawn,

To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn,

Behind she hears the hunter’s cries,

And from the deep-mouthed thunder flies.

She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;

She hears the near advance of death;

She doubles to mislead the hound,

And measures back her mazy round;

Till fainting in the public way,

Half-dead with fear, she gasping lay.

What transport in her bosom grew,

When first the horse appeared in view!

“Let me”, says she, “your back ascend,

And owe my safety to a friend.

You know my feet betray my flight;

To friendship every burden’s light”.

The horse replied — “Poor honest puss,

It grieves my heart to see thee thus;

Be comforted, relief is near;

For all your friends are in the rear”.

She next the stately bull implored;

And thus replied the mighty lord —

“Since every beast alive can tell

That I sincerely wish you well,

I may, without offence, pretend

To take the freedom of a friend.

Love calls me hence; a favourite cow

Expects me near yon barley mow:

And when a lady’s in the case,

You know all other things give place.

To leave you thus might seem unkind;

But see, the goat is just behind”.

The goat remarked her pulse was high,

Her languid head, her heavy eye;

“My back”, says she, “may do you harm;

The sheep’s at hand, and wool is warm”.

The sheep was feeble, and complained

His sides a load of wool sustained:

Said he was slow, confessed his fears;

For hounds cat sheep, as well as hares.

She now the trotting calf addressed,

To save from death a friend distressed.

“Shall I”, says he, “of tender age,

In this important care engage?

Older and abler passed you by;

How strong are those! how weak am I!

Should I presume to bear you hence,

Those friends of mine may take offence.

Excuse me then. You know my heart,

But dearest friends, alas! must part.

How shall we all lament! Adieu!

For, see, the hounds are just in view”.

Джон Гэй (1685–1732)

Ньюгейтский венок

Ньюгейтским баронам, чьи пальцы ловки,

Кто ловит в карманах чужих кошельки,

Кто запросто купит десяток сутяг,

А смотрит невинней бездомных бродяг, —

Вот новость для вас,

В сей радостный час:

Подарочек вам Синерожий припас.

Он нож перочинный припрятал — теперь

Ломайте без страха сундук или дверь.

В суде Синерожий ответы давал,

И подле себя стукача увидал:

Доносчик Уайльд преспокойно сидел,

Вскипел Синерожий от этаких дел.

Тут ножик блеснул,

Стукача полоснул…

Судья зазевался, и стражник зевнул.

Вдове сороковник[37] отдали. Теперь

Ломайте без страха сундук или дверь.

Иной мне заметит — а что при дворе?

В соборе, парламенте, монастыре?

Воруют — а им ордена да почёт,

Такие ловчилы и вовсе не в счёт?

Казну потроша,

Крадут до гроша

Крадут у монарха и у торгаша.

А тут Синерожий помог, и теперь

Ломайте без страха сундук или дверь.

И для махинаций