MISCELLANIES IN VERSE. BY MR. POPE, DR. ARBUTHNOT, COLLECTED BY DR. SWIFT AND MR. POPE. IMITATIONS OF ENGLISH POETS. BY DR. SWIFT. 1. CHAUCER. A TALE, LATELY FOUND IN AN OLD MANUSCRIPT. WOMEN, though nat sans leacherie, Ne swinken but with secrecie: "O moder, moder," quoth the daughter, II. SPENSER. THE ALLEY †. In ev'ry town where Thamis rolls his tide, A narrow pass there is, with houses low; Where ever and anon the stream is eyed, And many a boat soft sliding to and fro : There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, The short thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall: How can ye, mothers, vex your children so; Some play, some eat, some cack against the wall, And, as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call. II. And on the broken pavement here and there A brandy and tobacco shop is near, And hens, and dogs, and hogs, are feeding by : * Dr. Warton very properly observes, that this is "a gross and dull caricature of the father of English poetry, and very unworthy of its author at any age;" yet, bad as it is, Mr. Pope has taken the trouble to alter it materially in his own publication, though not at all to improve its delicacy. N. He that was unacquainted with Spenser, and was to form his ideas of the turn and manner of his genius from this piece, would undoubtedly suppose that he abounded in filthy images, and excelled in describing the lower scenes of life. Dr. WArton. |