Upon a he-goat sitting.
Matron.
To speak with such a shameless pack
We have nor will nor leisure;
Soon may your flesh rot on your back,
And we look on with pleasure!
Leader of the Orchestra.
Snout of fly, and nose of gnat,
Sting not the naked beauty!
Frog and cricket, cat and bat,
Attend ye to your duty!
Weathercock. [to the one side]
A goodly company! as sure
As I stand on the steeple;
With brides and bridegrooms swarms the moor,
The hopefulest of people!
Weathercock. [to the other side]
And opes not suddenly the ground,
To swallow one and all up,
Then, with a jerk, I’ll veer me round,
And straight to hell I’ll gallop.
Xenien.
We insects keep them all in awe,
With sharpest scissors shear we!
Old Nick, our worthy Squire Papa,
Here to salute appear we.
Hennings.
See! how in merry circles they
Sit gossiping together;
The graceless crew have hearts, they say,
As good as any other.
Musagetes.
This witch and wizard crew to lead,
My willing fancy chooses;
More hopeful field is here indeed,
Than when I lead the Muses.
Ci-devant Genius of the Age.
The Brocken has a good broad back,
Like the High-Dutch Parnassus;
The Jury here no man can pack,
Or with proud silence pass us.
Inquisitive Traveller.
Say, who is he so stiff that goes,
That stately-stalking stranger?
He snuffs for Jesuits with sharp nose,
And cries—the Church in danger!
Crane.
In muddy waters do I fish
As well as where it clear is,
And only for such cause as this
