Of the implements for walking the streets, and signs of th weather.
THROUGH Winter streets to steer your course aright, How to walk clean by day, and safe by night, How jostling crowds, with prudence to decline, When to assert the wall, and when resign, I sing; thou, Trivia! Goddess, aid my song, Thro' spacious streets conduct thy bard along; By thee transported, I securely stray Where winding alleys lead the doubtful way, The silent court and op'ning square explore, And long perplexing lanes untrod before. To pave thy realm, and smooth the broken ways, Earth from her womb a flinty tribute pays; For thee the sturdy paver thumps the ground, Whilst ev'ry stroke his labʼring lungs resound; For thee the scavenger bids kennels glide Within their bounds, and heaps of dirt subside. My youthful bosom burns with thirst of fame, From the great theme to build a glorious name, To tread in paths to ancient bards unknown, And bind my temples with a Civic crown; But more, my country's love demands the lays, My country's be the profit, mine the praise. Vollume I.
When the black youth at chosen stands rejoice,
And Clean your shoes resounds from ev'ry voice;
When late their miry sides stage coaches show,
And their stiff horses thro' the Town move slow;
When all the Mall in leafy ruin lies,
And damsels first renew their oyster cries,
Then let the prudent Walker shoes provide,
Not of the Spanish or Morocco hide;
The wooden heel may raise the dancer's bound,
And with the scallop'd top his step be crown'd;
Let firm well-hammer'd soles protect thy feet
Thro' freezing snows, and rains, and soaking sleet.
Should the big last extend the shoe too wide,
Each stone will wrench th' unwary step aside;
The sudden turn may stretch the swelling vein,
Thy cracking joint unhinge, or ankle sprain;
And when too short the modest shoes are worn,
You'll judge the seasons by your shooting corn.
Nor should it prove thy less important care
To chuse a proper coat for winter's wear.
Now in thy trunk thy D'Oily habit fold,
The silken drugget ill can fence the cold;
The freeze's spongy nap is soak'd with rain,
And show'rs soon drench the camblet's cockled grain ; True Witney* broad cloth, with its shag unshorn,
Unpierc'd is in the lasting tempest worn:
Be this the horseman's fence; for who would wear
Amid the Town the spoils of Russia's bear?
Within the roquelaure's clasp thy hands are pent,
Hands that stretch'd forth invading harms prevent.
Let the loop'd Bavaroy the fop embrace,
Or his deep cloak bespatter'd 'o'er with lace;
That garment best the winter's rage defends
Whose shapeless form in ample plaits depends
By various names* in various counties known,
Yet held in all the true Surtout alone;
Be thine of kersey firm, tho' small the cost,
Then brave unwet the rain, unchill'd the frost.
If the strong cane support thy walking hand,
Chairmen no longer shall the wall command:
Ev'n sturdy carmen shall thy nod obey,
And rattling coaches stop to make thee way:
This shall direct thy cautious tread aright,
Tho' not one glaring lamp enliven night.
Let beaus their canes with amber tipt produce,
Be theirs for empty show, but thine for use,
In gilded chariots while they loll at ease,
And lazily ensure a life's disease;
While softer chairs the tawdry load convey
To court, to White's, † assemblies, or the play;
Rosy complexion'd Health thy steps attends,
And exercise thy lasting youth defends.
56. Whose ample form without one plait depends. 12mo edit. 1767.
* A Joseph, a Wrap-rascal, &c.
White's chocolate-house in St. James's Street.
Gay.1
Imprudent men Heaven's choicest gifts profane,
Thus some beneath their arm support the cane;
The dirty point oft' checks the careless pace,
And miry spots thy clean cravat disgrace:
O! may I never such misfortune meet,
May no such vicious Walkers crowd the street;
May Providence o'ershade me with her wings,
While the bold Muse experienc'd dangers sings!
Not that I wander from my native home,
And (tempting perils) foreign cities roam.
Let Paris be the theme of Gallia's Muse,
Where Slav'ry treads the street in wooden shoes:
Nor do I rove in Belgia's frozen clime,
And teach the clumsy boor to skate in rhyme,
Where, if the warmer clouds in rain descend,
No miry ways industrious steps offend,
The rushing flood from sloping pavements pours,
And blackens the canals with dirty show'rs.
Let others Naples' smoother streets rehearse,
And with proud Roman structures grace their verse,
Where frequent murders wake the night with groans,
And blood in purple torrents dyes the stones:
Nor shall the Muse thro' narrow Venice stray,
Where gondolas their painted oars display.
O happy Streets! to rumbling wheels unknown,
No carts, no coaches shake the floating town!
Thus was of old Britannia's City bless'd,
Ere pride and luxury her sons possess'd;
Coaches and chariots yet unfashion'd lay,
Nor late-invented chairs perplex'd the way:
Then the proud Lady tripp'd along the Town,
And tuck'd up petticoats secur'd her gown,
Her rosy cheeks with distant visits glow'd,
And exercise unartful charms bestow'd;
But since in braided gold her foot is bound,
And a long trailing mantua sweeps the ground,
Her shoe disdains the street: the lazy fair
With narrow step affects a limping air.
Now gaudy Pride corrupts the lavish age,
And the streets flame with glaring equipage:
The tricking gamester insolently rides,
With Loves and Graces on his chariot's sides:
In saucy state the griping brokersits,
And laughs at honesty and trudging wits.
For you, O Honest Men! these useful lays
The Muse prepares; I seek no other praise.
When sleep is first disturb'd by morning cries,
From sure prognostics learn to know the skies,
Lest you of rheums and coughs at night complain,
Surpris'd in dreary fogs or driving rain.
When suffocating mists obscure the morn,
Let thy worst wig, long us'd to storms, be worn;
This knows the powder'd footman, and, with care,
Bencath his flapping hat secures his hair.
Be thou, for every season, justly drest,
Nor brave the piercing frost with open breast;
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