Satyr VI. The Spleen

Hail to the sacred silence of this Grove
Hail to the greens below the greens above
Oft have I found beneath these shady trees
A reall in imaginary bliss
for they my fancy sooth  she's a cheat
Which can agreably adorn deceit
some state of life she draws with pleasing art
 brings Enchanted reason to her part
Reason awhile is captive by consent
 acts from all its rigid rules unbent
from our own selves conceales our reall case
Nor shows us what may be but what may please
When I by these am from my self with drawn
I straight become what ere I think upon

Now do I turn a statesman of the rate
that furnishes the world beside with chat
I many use I make a friend of none
 if I flatter tis my prince alone
Mankind well versd in various villany
Misrepresent each study'd Case to me
in long petitions  a present fee
sayes one your Lordship has ye royall ear
 I some articles against me fear
for sinking publick funds in such a year
Then on my chair he layes a bag of coin
Nor dares to offer what he woud have mine
Another cryes I want a place at Court
Your Lships word woud make ye buisness short
 I present two hundred guinnys for't
This as I take it is a life of state
 when I think of this I think Ime great
But now a leaf is noisy by my head
My chain is broke  all my greatness fled
In vain I woud recall the vanishd thought
Something I know did please I cant tell what
 as I hunt the traces of my mind
In a new whim a new delight I find

Now among books my chief diversion lyes
 I affect to be thought wondrous wise
in strange experiment discovery's
On All ye sorts shapes of flyes I read
Or print a book of shells as Lister did
 when I meet a thing unknown till yn
I write for Holland to ye Learned men
the subtiltys of schooles with ease I cutt
Where learnings nothing but a meer dispute
With Ipse Dixit's fixd for arguments
 quibbles formd by rules  hid with pains
Waging a warr of words in spight of sense
My skill in many languages is shown
Altho' I gracefully can speak in none
No Cares no business do my brain molest
the world admires the treasures of my breast
 I in barren satisfaction rest

Here do I change Insensibly again
 my gay fancy paints another scene
Heark or a pleasing madness charms my sense
Or I hear songs  well tund instruments
Yes tis a ball where I with airs  cloths
Engage the Ladys  outshine the beaus
I chuse a creature beautious as the light
Of her I beg  she denys a night
Scorn with the fair does still attendant go
they're proud because their outward charms they know
 fondly think them reasons to be so
But passion hearts of any temper moves
Anon shes complaisant anon she loves
When sated with the bliss their arms I quitt
I boast my triumph to each friend I meet
for men are now so scandalously vain
They think it less of pleasure to obtain
their Joys then tell 'em or'e to other men
 more of grief to hide the ripe amour
then twas to smother infant love before
I drink I dance I swear I shake ye dice
 try each path of pleasurable vice
till at ye last my wild unsettled life
like Comedys is finishd in a wife

by Just degrees the breezes louder grow
the same breast they sooth they roughen too
Methinks Ime strangely alterd in a trice
All soft unmanly pleasures I despise
Warr is my buisness honour is my prize
I grasp it in my thoughts  push along
Nor mind the toiles by which it must be won
With such bewitching powr the walking light
leads men thro' all the dangers of the night
Ore hills  vales they hunt the dazzling game
Nor feel the trouble while they see the flame
Strange force of Glory what a world are slain
to please the pride of two or three great men
how towns have fed on ratts yt scornd to yield
how dear ye hardy soldier buys ye field
Warm without anger to their arms they crowd
 for anothers quarrell wast their blood
some fight  curse while others run  pray
In Camps they rook each other at their play
 then the loosers mutiny for pay
are my brave followers slain why lett ym dy
false musterd companys my purse supply
Thus summers fraud feeds winters luxury
When in warm quarters nature craves a punk
 for the Queen I loyally get drunk

Give ore my wanton fancy now give ore
the clouds are gath'ring  anon they'le powr
the pleasures of my groves are fled away
the sacred silence  ye shiny day
what have you then to lull you in your play