Lives there a bard for genius famed Whom Envy's tongue hath not declaimed? Her hissing snakes proclaim her spite; She summons up the fiends of night; Hatred and malice by her stand, And prompt to do what she command. As prostrate to the orb of day A Persian, invocating, lay: "Parent of light, whose rays dispense The various gifts of Providence, Accept our praise, accept our prayer, Smile...
Poems - Post by : dplapierre - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1198
"Is there no hope?" the sick man said. The silent doctor shook his head, And took his leave with unfeigned sorrow To lose a patient on the morrow. When left alone, the dying man "Let me review my life"--began; "My bargains--well, they were well made; 'Tis the necessity of trade-- Necessity is no transgression. Now for my portion in possession: My lands and my securities, They all are...
Poems - Post by : elizad - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1060
A sneaking cur caused much disaster By pandering scandal for his master. The hound was beaten, mastiff chidden, Puss in disgrace, and pug forbidden. Each of his dearest chum grew shy. And none could tell a reason why. Burglars to rob the house laid wait. Betty in love, undid the gate; The cur was won by dint of meat; Remained the mastiff dog to cheat. The mastiff dog refused the bribe,...
Poems - Post by : markmccoid - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1155
A husband said unto his wife: "Who deals in slander deals in strife; Are we the heralds of disgrace, To thunder, love, at all our race-- And, indiscriminate in rage, To spare nor friend nor sex nor age? Your tongue, love, is a rolling flood That thundering onwards stirs up mud, And, like to fame and human woes, Progressing, strengthens as it flows." "My husband," so the _tongue_ replies,...
Poems - Post by : pbrandtnews - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1921
All upstarts, insolent in place, Remind us of their vulgar race. A butterfly, but born one morning, Sat on a rose, the rosebud scorning. His wings of azure, jet, and gold, Were truly glorious to behold; He spread his wings, he sipped the dew, When an old neighbour hove in view-- The snail, who left a slimy trace Upon the lawn, his native place. "Adam," he to the gard'ner cried,...
Poems - Post by : stelios - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2693
He who holds friendship with a knave, Will reputation hardly save; And thus upon our choice of friends Our good or evil name depends. A wrinkled hag--of naughty fame-- Sat hovering o'er a flickering flame, Propped with both hands upon her knees She shook with palsy and the breeze. She had perhaps seen fourscore years, And backwards said her daily prayers; Her troop of cats with hunger mewed,--...
Poems - Post by : Brian_Pernick - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1049
'Tis strange to see a new-launched fashion Lay on the soul and grow a passion. To illustrate such folly, I Proffer some beast to the mind's eye. Now I select the goat. What then? I never said goats equal men. A goat of singularity-- Not vainer than a goat need be-- Lay on a thymy bank, and viewed Himself reflected in the flood. "Confound my beard!" he thought, and said;...
Poems - Post by : stevepennington - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2838
The rats by night the mischief did, And Betty every morn was chid. The cheese was nibbled, tarts were taken, And purloined were the eggs and bacon; And Betty cursed the cat, whose duty Was to protect and guard the booty. A ratcatcher, of well known skill, Was called to kill or scotch the ill; And, as an engineer, surveyed Their haunts and laid an ambuscade. A cat behold him, and...
Poems - Post by : MickiGuids - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1393
Once an old hen led forth her brood To scratch and glean and peck for food; A chick, to give her wings a spell, Fluttered and tumbled in a well. The mother wept till day was done, When she met with a grown-up son, And thus addressed him:--"My dear boy, Your years and vigour give me joy: You thrash all cocks around, I'm told; 'Tis right, cocks should be brave and bold:...
Poems - Post by : Port454 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2428
All men are fond of rule and place, Though granted by the mean and base; Yet all superior merit fly, Nor will endure an equal nigh. They o'er some ale-house club preside With smoke and joke and paltry pride. Nay, e'en with blockheads pass the night; If such can read, to such I write. A lion cub of sordid mind Avoided all the lion-kind, And, greedy of applause, sought feasts...
Poems - Post by : enriquegaribay - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2632
Lest captious men suspect your story, Speak modestly its history. The traveller, who overleaps the bounds Of probability, confounds; But though men hear your deeds with phlegm, You may with flattery cram them. Hyperboles, though ne'er so great, Will yet come short of self-conceit. A painter drew his portraits truly, And marked complexion and mien duly;-- Really a fellow knew the picture, There was nor flattery nor delicture....
Poems - Post by : snicksnack - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1466
A hungry wolf had thinned the fold, Safely he refuged on the wold; And, as in den secure he lay, The thefts of night regaled his day. The shepherd's dog, who searched the glen, By chance found the marauder's den. They fought like Trojan and like Greek, Till it fell out they both waxed weak. "Wolf," said the dog, "the whilst we rest on, I fain would ask of you a question."...
Poems - Post by : piano - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 3327
A pin which long had done its duty, Attendant on a reigning beauty,-- Had held her muffler, fixed her hair, And made its mistress _debonnaire_,-- Now near her heart in honour placed, Now banished to the rear disgraced; From whence, as partners of her shame, She saw the lovers served the same. From whence, thro' various turns of life, She saw its comforts and its strife: With tailors warm, with beggars...
Poems - Post by : alanritchie - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2542
A sage awakened by the dawn, By music of the groves was drawn From tree to tree: responsive notes Arose from many warbling throats. As he advanced, the warblers ceased; Silent the bird and scared the beast-- The nightingale then ceased her lay, And the scared leveret ran away. The sage then pondered, and his eye Roamed round to learn the reason why. He marked a pheasant, as she stood...
Poems - Post by : ssk05 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1415
A monkey, to reform the times, Resolved to visit foreign climes; For therefore toilsomely we roam To bring politer manners home. Misfortunes serve to make us wise: Poor pug was caught, and made a prize; Sold was he, and by happy doom Bought to cheer up a lady's gloom. Proud as a lover of his chains His way he wins, his post maintains-- He twirled her knots and cracked her fan,...
Poems - Post by : Dusty13 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2864
A young stag in the brake was caught, And home with corded antlers brought. The lord was pleased: so was the clown. When he was tipped with half-a-crown. The stag was dragged before his wife; The gentle lady begged its life: "How sleek its skin! how specked like ermine! Sure never creature was more charming." At first within the court confined, He fled and hid from all mankind; Then, bolder grown,...
Poems - Post by : mistymary43 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 3274
As Cupid, with his band of sprites, In Paphian grove set things to rights, And trimmed his bow and tipped his arrows, And taught, to play with Lesbia, sparrows, Thus Hymen said: "Your blindness makes, O Cupid, wonderful mistakes! You send me such ill-coupled folks: It grieves me, now, to give them yokes. An old chap, with his troubles laden, You bind to a light-hearted maiden; Or join incongruous minds together,...
Poems - Post by : trout1 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1956
As specks appear on fields of snow, So blemishes on beauty show. A peacock fed in a farm-yard Where all the poultry eyed him hard-- They looked on him with evil eye, And mocked his sumptuous pageantry: Proud of the glories he inherited, He sought the praises they well merited. Then, to surprise their dazzled sight, He spread his glories to the light. His glories spread, no sooner seen...
Poems - Post by : rsgreen - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 3459
The traveller whose undaunted soul Sails o'er the seas from pole to pole Sees many wonders, which become So wonderful they strike one dumb, When we in their description view Monsters which Adam never knew. Yet, on the other hand, the sceptic Supplies his moral antiseptic; Denying unto truths belief, With groans which give his ears relief: But truth is stranger far than fiction, And outlives sceptic contradiction....
Poems - Post by : turtle34 - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 1343
Deem you to train your son and heir, For his preceptor then take care; To sound his mind your cares employ, E'er you commit to him your boy. Once on a time on native plain A bull enjoyed a native reign. A mastiff, stranger there, with ire Beheld the bull, with eyes of fire. The bovine monarch, on his part, Spurned up the dust with dauntless heart, Advised the mastiff to...
Poems - Post by : maxfrenzi - Date : May 2011 - Author : John Gay - Read : 2969
Authors
Short Stories
Long Stories
Funny Stories
Love Stories
Stories For Kids
Poems
Essays
Nonfictions
Plays
Folktales
Fairy Tales
Fables
Learning Kitchen
Home
The Persian, The Sun, And The Cloud
