Woodhouse, James (bap. 1735, d. 1820)

The Life and Lucubrations of Crispinus Scriblerus. A Novel, in Verse, Written in the Last Century

1814, 1816, 1896

One should "Fly lures of every signature, and stamp, / Which lull Thy Reason, and rouz'd Conscience cramp?"

Canst Thou, amidst Thy parasitic train,
So supercilious--volatile--and vain!
Each Idol spurn, of ev'ry shape, and shade,
By Unbelief--Pride--Lust--and Passion, made?
Perceive and spurn, all Earth's nets, traps, and gins,
And shun all snares of shrewd, and shining Sins?
Fly lures of every signature, and stamp,
Which lull Thy Reason, and rouz'd Conscience cramp?
Scorn hypocritic, base, and impious, Imps,
And lame endeavours where devotion limps;
Thy spurious pray'rs, which, neither morn, or night,
Implore new pow'rs, nor ask for added light?

Animals::Hunting, Hawking, and Fishing::Lures

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Poem first published in its entirety in 1896. The 1814 first edition receives notice in The New Monthly Magazine (March 1815); the poem was written "in the last century" (w. 1795-1820?).

Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>

04/11/2005