"His Colour chang'd, and hung his Head, / As if some Thief had lately stole / His Gold; his other better Soul--"
— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [Editor]
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. and J. Dodsley [etc.]
Date
1757-9
Metaphor
"His Colour chang'd, and hung his Head, / As if some Thief had lately stole / His Gold; his other better Soul--"
Metaphor in Context
The worthy Giver of the Feast
In lordly Pomp at Top was plac'd;
And at the Bottom sat a Friend,
Prepar'd each Dish to recommend;
Beside there were a Number more;
I think we made just half a Score.
One Guest was seated close to Me
(An honest Captain of the Sea)
Who brought, the Niggard Wretch to spite,
Two Brothers to the jovial Sight.
Swelling in all the Pride of Fat,
Next, an huge Alderman there sat:
Scarcely four Syllables he spoke;
Others he left in Words to joke;
And, careless of whatever follow'd,
Each nearest Dish promiscuous swallow'd.
The Parasite, of curious Taste,
In Rank of Connoisseur was plac'd;
If any Dish unheeded lies,
His Hand displays the smoaking Prize:
For we, poor Critics of a Treat,
All with unknowing Relish eat;
As such nice Sauce disguis'd each Dish,
We scarce could tell the Fowl from Fish.
And now his friendly Arm high-pil'd
My Plate with half a Mackrell broil'd;
But broil'd in vain; my Nose betrays
The Fish had past its sweetest Days.
Next, Gooseberries in Plenty flow'd;
My Plate scarce bears the various Load:
For these with liberal Arm he plac'd,
To hide the Fish's real Taste.
The Captain sees with eager Eyes
This wond'rous Scene; then whispering cries,
'Come, let us freely drink away,
'Or we are poison'd, if we stay:
'Quick let us drain the Niggard's Cellar;
'Here, give some larger Glasses, Fellow.
'Can such small Cups the Thirst appease?
'A Thimble holds as much as these.'
He spoke; the Landlord, pale with Dread,
His Colour chang'd, and hung his Head,
As if some Thief had lately stole
His Gold; his other better Soul--
For one of such a sober Thinking
Trembles to hear the Sound of Drinking,
The Captain fills, and recommends
The Bottle to his nearest Friends.
Then high we charge, and 'Your's and Mine'
Went round the Board in Floods of Wine.
His Parasites, dependent Folk,
Dar'd scarcely half indulge the Joke;
With lingering Mouth they sip the Cup,
And pause, unwilling, o'er the Sup.
In lordly Pomp at Top was plac'd;
And at the Bottom sat a Friend,
Prepar'd each Dish to recommend;
Beside there were a Number more;
I think we made just half a Score.
One Guest was seated close to Me
(An honest Captain of the Sea)
Who brought, the Niggard Wretch to spite,
Two Brothers to the jovial Sight.
Swelling in all the Pride of Fat,
Next, an huge Alderman there sat:
Scarcely four Syllables he spoke;
Others he left in Words to joke;
And, careless of whatever follow'd,
Each nearest Dish promiscuous swallow'd.
The Parasite, of curious Taste,
In Rank of Connoisseur was plac'd;
If any Dish unheeded lies,
His Hand displays the smoaking Prize:
For we, poor Critics of a Treat,
All with unknowing Relish eat;
As such nice Sauce disguis'd each Dish,
We scarce could tell the Fowl from Fish.
And now his friendly Arm high-pil'd
My Plate with half a Mackrell broil'd;
But broil'd in vain; my Nose betrays
The Fish had past its sweetest Days.
Next, Gooseberries in Plenty flow'd;
My Plate scarce bears the various Load:
For these with liberal Arm he plac'd,
To hide the Fish's real Taste.
The Captain sees with eager Eyes
This wond'rous Scene; then whispering cries,
'Come, let us freely drink away,
'Or we are poison'd, if we stay:
'Quick let us drain the Niggard's Cellar;
'Here, give some larger Glasses, Fellow.
'Can such small Cups the Thirst appease?
'A Thimble holds as much as these.'
He spoke; the Landlord, pale with Dread,
His Colour chang'd, and hung his Head,
As if some Thief had lately stole
His Gold; his other better Soul--
For one of such a sober Thinking
Trembles to hear the Sound of Drinking,
The Captain fills, and recommends
The Bottle to his nearest Friends.
Then high we charge, and 'Your's and Mine'
Went round the Board in Floods of Wine.
His Parasites, dependent Folk,
Dar'd scarcely half indulge the Joke;
With lingering Mouth they sip the Cup,
And pause, unwilling, o'er the Sup.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "soul" and "gold" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
The Works of Horace in English verse. By several Hands. Collected and published by Mr. Duncombe. With notes Historical and Critical, 2 vols. (London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1757). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
05/31/2005
