THE APOTHECARY OF NEWCASTLE.
A MAN in many a country town we know,
Professes openly1 with death to wrestle,
Entering the field against the grimly foe,
Arm'd with a mortar and a pestle.
Yet some affirm, no enemies they are,
But meet just like prize-fighters in a fair,2
Who first shake hands before they box,
Then give each other plaguy knocks.
With all the love and kindness of a brother;
So (many a suffering patient saith,)
Though the apothecary fights with Death,
Still3 they are sworn friends to one another.
A member of this Esculapian line 4
Lived at Newcastle-upon-Tyne :
No man could better5 gild a pill,
Or make a bill;
Or mix a draught, or bleed, or blister;
Or draw a tooth out of your head;
Or chatter scandal by your bed,6
Or spread a plaster.
His fame full six miles round the country ran;
In short, in reputation he was solus :7
All the old women call'd him " a
Benjamin Bolus, though in trade
(Which oftentimes will genius fetter,) 8
1 Professes openly, Fait profession de.-2 Like prize-fighters in a fair, Comme ces lutteurs de la foire.-3 See § 42.-4 A member of this Esculapian line, Un membre de cette race d'Esculape.-5 Could better, Était plus capable de.-6 Chatter scandal by your bed, Médire du prochain à votre chevet.-7 Solus (alone), Seul-8 Which oftentimes will genius fetter, Circonstance qui souvent entrave le génie.
O masters! if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong,1 and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men :
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar ;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will;
Let but the commons 2 hear this testament,
(Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read,)
And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood;
Yea, beg a hair of him, for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy,
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle; I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on-
"Twas on a summer's evening in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii3—
Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through ;
See what a rent the envious Casca made ;—
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabbed ;
And, as he plucked his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar followed it!
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved 4
If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no :
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel :
Judge, O you gods! how dearly Cæsar loved him :
This was the most unkindest cut of all :5
1 I should do Brutus wrong, Je serais injuste envers Brutus.-2 Let but the commons hear this testament.-Si le peuple entendait ce testament.-3 The Nervii, Les Nerviens. To be resolved, Pour s assurer.-5 This was the most unkindest cut of all, De tous les coups qui lui furent portés, celui-là fut le plus cruel.
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquished him; then burst his mighty heart :
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.
Oh, what a fall was there, my countrymen !
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished1 over us.
Oh, now you weep; and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls! What! weep you when you but behold
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here!
Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
Το any sudden flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honourable :
What private griefs they have, alas! I know not,
That made them do it; they are wise and honourable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.2
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts;
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That loved my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood;3 I only speak right on :4
I tell you that which you yourselves do know ;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths!
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,
1 Treason flourished, La trahison était triomphante. And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you, Et je ne doute pas qu'ils ne vous donnent de bonnes raisons pour se justifier.-3 To stir men's blood, Pour émouvoir.-4 I only speak right on, Je ne sais que parler sans art.
MINE be a cot1 beside the hill;
A bee-hive's hum shall soothe my ear;
A willow brook, that turns a mill,
With many a fall, shall linger near.
The swallow, oft, beneath my thatch,
Shall twitter from her clay-built nest;
Oft shall the pilgrim lift the latch,
And share my meal, a welcome guest.
Around my ivied porch shall spring
Each fragrant flower that drinks the dew;
And Lucy, at her wheel, shall sing,
In russet gown and apron blue.
The village church, among the trees,
Where first our marriage vows were given,
With merry peals shall swell the breeze,
And point with taper spire to heaven.
THE TRAVELLERS AND THE OYSTER.
ONCE, says an author, (where, I need not say,) 2
Two travellers found an oyster in their way;
Both fierce, both hungry, the dispute grew strong,"
While, scale in hand, Dame Justice pass'd along.
Before her each with clamour pleads the laws,
Explains the matter, and would win the cause.
Dame Justice, weighing long the doubtful right,
Takes, opens, swallows it, before their sight.
1 Mine be a cot, J'aimerais une chaumière. See La Fontaine, (Liv. IX. Fable Both fierce, both hungry, the dispute grew strong, Chacun s'emporte, chacun avait faim, et la discussion s'animait.-4 The matter, L'affaire.
And now they change; a paler shadow strews
Its mantle o'er the mountains: parting day
Dies like the dolphin whom each pang imbues
With a new colour as it gasps away,
The last still loveliest, till-'tis gone,
and all is gray.
BYRON. 1788-1824.
BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
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