ThePoet'sProgress

thepoet'sprogress

apoeminembryo

thou,nature,partialnature,iarraign;

ofthycapricematernalicomplain.

thepeopledfoldthykindlycarehavefound,

thehornedbull,tremendous,spurnstheground;

thelordlylionhasenoughandmore,

theforesttremblesathisveryroar;

thougiv'sttheasshishide,thesnailhisshell,

thepunywasp,victorious,guardshiscell.

thyminions,kingsdefend,controuldevour,

inallth'omnipotenceofruleandpower:

foxesandstatesmensubtlewilesensure;

thecitandpolecatstink,andaresecure:

toadswiththeirpoison,doctorswiththeirdrug,

thepriestandhedgehog,intheirrobes,aresnug:

e'ensillywomenhavedefensivearts,

theireyes,theirtongues—andnamelessotherparts.

butothoucruelstepmotherandhard,

tothypoorfenceless,nakedchild,thebard!

athingunteachableinworldlyskill,

andhalfanidiottoo,morehelplessstill:

noheelstobearhimfromtheop'ningdun,

noclawstodig,hishatedsighttoshun:

nohorns,butthosebylucklesshymenworn,

andthose,alas!notamalthea'shorn:

nonervesolfact'ry,truetomammon'sfoot,

orgrunting,grubsagacious,evil'sroot:

thesillysheepthatwanderswildastray,

isnotmorefriendless,isnotmoreaprey;

vampyre—booksellersdrainhimtotheheart,

andviper—criticscurelessvenomdart.

critics!appll'diventureonthename,

thosecut-throatbanditsinthepathsoffame,

bloodydissectors,worsethantenmonroes,

hehackstoteach,theymangletoexpose:

byblockhead'sdaringintomadnessstung,

hisheartbywanton,causelessmalicewrung,

hiswell-wonways—thanlifeitselfmoredear—

bymiscreantstornwhone'eronesprigmustwear;

foil'd,bleeding,tortur'dinth'unequalstrife,

thehaplesspoetflouncesonthroughlife,

till,fledeachhopethatoncehisbosomfired,

andfledeachmusethatgloriousonceinspir'd,

low-sunkinsqualid,unprotectedage,

deadevenresentmentforhisinjur'dpage,

heheedsnomoretheruthlesscritics'rage.

sobysomehedgethegeneroussteeddeceas'd,

forhalf-starv'd,snarlingcursadaintyfeast;

bytoilandfamineworntoskinandbone,