Seem like the lofty barn of some rich swain, And fill'd the cruet with the acid tide, Sure in that lake he dropt; my Grilly's drown'd!" "Vain is thy courage, Grilly, vain thy boast! But little creatures enterprise the most, Trembling I've seen thee dare the kitten's paw, Nay, mix with children, as they play'd at taw, Nor fear the marbles, as they bounding flew; Marbles to them, but rolling rocks to you! Why did I trust thee with that giddy youth? Who from a page can ever learn the truth? Vers'd in court tricks, the money-loving boy To some lord's daughter sold the living toy, Or rent him limb from limb in cruel play, As children tear the wings of flies away. From place to place o'er Brobdingnag I'll roam, Ah never will return, or bring thee home. But who hath eyes to trace the passing wind? How then thy fairy footsteps can I find? Dost thou bewilder'd wander all alone In the green thicket of a mossy stone; Or, tumbled from the toadstool's slipp'ry round, Perhaps, all maim'd, lie grov'ling on the ground? Dost thou, embosom'd in the lovely rose, Or, sunk, within the peach's down, repose? Within the kingcup if thy limbs are spread, Or in the golden cowslip's velvet head, O show me, Flora, 'midst those sweets, the flow'r Where sleeps my Grildrig in his fragrant bow'r! "But ah! I fear thy little fancy roves Hast thou for these now, ventur'd from the shore, No more behold thee turn my watches key, How wert thou wont to walk with cautious tread, She said; but broken accents stopt her voice, VOL. XXIV. MARY GULLIVER TO CAPTAIN LEMUEL GULLIVER. ARGUMENT. The captain, some time after his return, being retired to Mr. Sympson's in the country, Mrs. Gulliver, apprehending from his late behaviour, some estrangement of his affections, writes him the following expostulating, soothing, and tenderly com plaining epistle. WELCOME, thrice welcome to thy native place! And wak'd, and wish'd whole nights for thy return? Biddel *, like thee, might farthest India rove; Names of the sea captains mentioned in Gulliver's Travels. H. Yet Pennel's wife is brown, compar'd to me: Not touch me! never neighbour call'd me slut: Some say, the devil himself is in that mare: That's made of nothing but a lady's corn. These, for some moments when you deign to quit, And, at due distance sweet discourse admit, 'Tis all my pleasure thy past toil to know; For pleas'd remembrance builds delight on woe. At ev'ry danger pants thy consort's breast, And gaping infants squall to hear the rest. How did I tremble, when by thousands bound, I saw thee stretch'd on Lilliputian ground! When scaling armies climb'd up every part, Each step they trod I felt upon my heart. But when thy torrent quench'd the dreadful blaze, King, queen, and nation staring with amaze, Full in my view how all my husband came! And what extinguish'd theirs, increas'd my flame. Those spectacles, ordain'd thine eyes to save, Were once my present; love that armour gave. How did I mourn at Bolgolam's decree! For, when he sign'd thy death, he sentenc'd me. When folks might see thee all the country round For sixpence, I'd have given a thousand pound. Lord! when the giant babe that head of thine Got in his mouth, my heart was up in mine! When in the marrowbone I see thee ramm'd, Or on the house-top by the monkey cramm'd, The piteous images renew my pain, And all thy dangers I weep o'er again. But on the maiden's nipple when you rid, Pray heaven, 'twas all a wanton maiden did! Glumdalclitch too!-with thee I mourn her case: Heaven guard the gentle girl from all disgrace! O may the king that one neglect forgive, And pardon her the fault by which I live! Was there no other way to set him free? My life, alas! I fear prov'd death to thee. O teach me, dear, new words to speak my flame! Teach me to woo thee by the best lov'd name! Whether the style of Grildrig please thee most, So call'd on Brobdingnag's stupendous coast, |