"He gapes to catch the Droppings of my Lord; / And tickled to the Soul at every Joke, / Like a press'd Watch repeats what t'other spoke: / Echo to Nonsense! such a Scene to hear!"
— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [Editor]
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. and J. Dodsley
Date
1757-9
Metaphor
"He gapes to catch the Droppings of my Lord; / And tickled to the Soul at every Joke, / Like a press'd Watch repeats what t'other spoke: / Echo to Nonsense! such a Scene to hear!"
Metaphor in Context
One Step still lower, if you can, descend
To the mean Wretch, the Great Man's humble Friend;
That moving Shade, that Pendant at his Ear,
That two-legg'd Dog, still pawing on the Peer.
Studying his Looks, and watching at the Board,
He gapes to catch the Droppings of my Lord;
And tickled to the Soul at every Joke,
Like a press'd Watch repeats what t'other spoke:
Echo to Nonsense! such a Scene to hear!
'Tis just like Punch and his Interpreter.
To the mean Wretch, the Great Man's humble Friend;
That moving Shade, that Pendant at his Ear,
That two-legg'd Dog, still pawing on the Peer.
Studying his Looks, and watching at the Board,
He gapes to catch the Droppings of my Lord;
And tickled to the Soul at every Joke,
Like a press'd Watch repeats what t'other spoke:
Echo to Nonsense! such a Scene to hear!
'Tis just like Punch and his Interpreter.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "soul" and "watch" 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
11/16/2006
