He let thee see the ways of men,
Which thou with pencil, not with pen,
Careful Beholder, down did’st note,
And all their motley actions quote,
Thyself unstain’d the while.  From look
Or gesture reading, more than book,
In letter’d pride thou took’st no part,
Contented with the Silent Art,
Thyself as silent.  Might I be
As speechless, deaf, and good, as He!

[Footnote 9:  Benjamin Ferrers—­died A.D. 1732.]

VII

NEWTON’S PRINCIPIA

Great Newton’s self, to whom the world’s in debt,
Owed to School Mistress sage his Alphabet;
But quickly wiser than his Teacher grown,
Discover’d properties to her unknown;
Of A plus B, or minus, learn’d the use,
Known Quantities from unknown to educe;
And made—­no doubt to that old dame’s surprise—­
The Christ-Cross-Row his Ladder to the skies. 
Yet, whatsoe’er Geometricians say,
Her Lessons were his true PRINCIPIA!

VIII

THE HOUSE-KEEPER

The frugal snail, with fore-cast of repose,
Carries his house with him, where’er he goes;
Peeps out—­and if there comes a shower of rain,
Retreats to his small domicile amain. 
Touch but a tip of him, a horn—­’tis well—­
He curls up in his sanctuary shell. 
He’s his own landlord, his own tenant; stay
Long as he will, he dreads no Quarter Day. 
Himself he boards and lodges; both invites,
And feasts, himself; sleeps with himself o’ nights. 
He spares the upholsterer trouble to procure
Chattles; himself is his own furniture,
And his sole riches.  Wheresoe’er he roam—­
Knock when you will—­he’s sure to be at home.

IX

THE FEMALE ORATORS

Nigh London’s famous Bridge, a Gate more famed
Stands, or once stood, from old Belinus named,
So judged Antiquity; and therein wrongs
A name, allusive strictly to two Tongues[10]. 
Her School hard by the Goddess Rhetoric opes,
And gratis deals to Oyster-wives her Tropes. 
With Nereid green, green Nereid disputes,
Replies, rejoins, confutes, and still confutes. 
One her coarse sense by metaphors expounds,
And one in literalities abounds;
In mood and figure these keep up the din: 
Words multiply, and every word tells in. 
Her hundred throats here bawling Slander strains;
And unclothed Venus to her tongue gives reins
In terms, which Demosthenic force outgo,
And baldest jests of foul-mouth’d Cicero. 
Right in the midst great Ate keeps her stand,
And from her sovereign station taints the land. 
Hence Pulpits rail; grave Senates learn to jar;
Quacks scold; and Billinsgate infects the Bar.

[Footnote 10:  Billingis in the Latin.]

PINDARIC ODE TO THE TREAD MILL

(1825)

I