lirik lagu dr. jonathan swift: from “verses on the death of dr. swift” - carleton hobbs
“the dean, if we believe report
was never ill receiv’d at court
as for his works in verse and prose
i own myself no judge of those;
nor can i tell what critics thought ’em:
but this i know, all people bought ’em
as with a moral view design’d
to cure the vices of mankind:
his vein, ironically grave
expos’d the fool, and lash’d the knave
to steal a hint was never known
but what he writ was all his own
“he never thought an honour done him
because a dukе was proud to own him
would rather slip aside and choose
to talk with wits in dirty shoеs;
despis’d the fools with stars and garters
so often seen caressing chartres
he never courted men in station
nor persons held in admiration;
of no man’s greatness was afraid
because he sought for no man’s aid
though trusted long in great affairs
he gave himself no haughty airs:
without regarding private ends
spent all his credit for his friends;
and only chose the wise and good;
no flatt’rers; no allies in blood:
but succour’d virtue in distress
and seldom fail’d of good success;
as numbers in their hearts must own
who, but for him, had been unknown
“with princes kept a due decorum
but never stood in awe before ’em
he follow’d david’s lesson just:
‘in princes never put thy trust’;
and, would you make him truly sour
provoke him with a slave in pow’r
the irish senate if you nam’d
with what impatience he declaim’d!
fair liberty was all his cry
for her he stood prepar’d to die;
for her he boldly stood alone;
for her he oft expos’d his own
two kingdoms, just as faction led
had set a price upon his head;
but not a traitor could be found
to sell him for six hundred pound
“had he but spar’d his tongue and pen
he might have rose like other men:
but pow’r was never in his thought
and wealth he valu’d not a groat:
ingratitude he often found
and pity’d those who meant the wound:
but kept the tenor of his mind
to merit well of human kind:
nor made a sacrifice of those
who still were true, to please his foes
he labour’d many a fruitless hour
to reconcile his friends in pow’r;
saw mischief by a faction brewing
while they pursu’d each other’s ruin
but, finding vain was all his care
he left the court in mere despair
“and, oh! how short are human schemes!
here ended all our golden dreams
what st. john’s sk!ll in state affairs
what ormond’s valour, oxford’s cares
to save their sinking country lent
was all destroy’d by one event
too soon that precious life was ended
on which alone our weal depended
when up a dangerous faction starts
with wrath and vengeance in their hearts;
by solemn league and cov’nant bound
to ruin, slaughter, and confound;
to turn religion to a fable
and make the government a babel;
pervert the law, disgrace the gown
corrupt the senate, rob the crown;
to sacrifice old england’s glory
and make her infamous in story:
when such a tempest shook the land
how could unguarded virtue stand?
“with horror, grief, despair, the dean
beheld the dire destructive scene:
his friends in exile, or the tower
himself within the frown of power
pursu’d by base envenom’d pens
far to the land of slaves and fens;
a servile race in folly nurs’d
who truckle most when treated worst
“by innocence and resolution
he bore continual persecution
while numbers to preferment rose
whose merits were, to be his foes;
when ev’n his own familiar friends
intent upon their private ends
like renegadoes now he feels
against him lifting up their heels
“the dean did by his pen defeat
an infamous destructive cheat;
taught fools their int’rest how to know
and gave them arms to ward the blow
envy hath own’d it was his doing
to save that helpless land from ruin;
while they who at the steerage stood
and reap’d the profit, sought his blood
“to save them from their evil fate
in him was held a crime of state
a wicked monster on the bench
whose fury blood could never quench
as vile and profligate a villain
as modern scroggs, or old tresilian
who long all justice had discarded
nor fear’d he god, nor man regarded
vow’d on the dean his rage to vent
and make him of his zeal repent;
but heav’n his innocence defends
the grateful people stand his friends
not strains of law, nor judge’s frown
nor topics brought to please the crown
nor witness hir’d, nor jury pick’d
prevail to bring him in convict
“in exile, with a steady heart
he spent his life’s declining part;
where folly, pride, and faction sway
remote from st. john, pope, and gay
“his friendships there, to few confin’d
were always of the middling kind;
no fools of rank, a mongrel breed
who fain would pass for lords indeed:
where titles gave no right or power
and peerage is a wither’d flower;
he would have held it a disgrace
if such a wretch had known his face
on rural squires, that kingdom’s bane
he vented oft his wrath in vain;
biennial squires to market brought;
who sell their souls and votes for nought;
the nation stripp’d, go joyful back
to rob the church, their tenants rack
go snacks with thieves and rapparees
and keep the peace to pick up fees;
in ev’ry job to have a share
a jail or barrack to repair;
and turn the tax for public roads
commodious to their own abodes
“perhaps i may allow, the dean
had too much satire in his vein;
and seem’d determin’d not to starve it
because no age could more deserve it
yet malice never was his aim;
he lash’d the vice, but spar’d the name;
no individual could resent
where thousands equally were meant
his satire points at no defect
but what all mortals may correct;
for he abhorr’d that senseless tribe
who call it humour when they gibe
he spar’d a hump, or crooked nose
whose owners set not up for beaux
true genuine dulness mov’d his pity
unless it offer’d to be witty
those who their ignorance confess’d
he ne’er offended with a jest;
but laugh’d to hear an idiot quote
a verse from horace, learn’d by rote
“he knew a hundred pleasant stories
with all the turns of whigs and tories:
was cheerful to his dying day;
and friends would let him have his way
“he gave the little wealth he had
to build a house for fools and mad;
and show’d by one satiric touch
no nation wanted it so much
that kingdom he hath left his debtor
i wish it soon may have a better.”
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