Classic Poem

As Shop-man notes in Day-Book first
The Goods deliver'd out on Trust;
Where Names promise'ously are plac'd,
As this comes first, and that comes last;
From whence, at proper Seasons, he,
According to the A, B, C ,
Sets down, in order, who bought what, —
This Page for one, for t'other that. —

So I, who traffick to Parnassus ,
And rhime on most Affairs that pass us,
Secure in Pocket, always keep
Pen, Ink, and Paper bound in Sheep:
Nor Time, nor Form, can make me doubt
When Fancy prompts, to take them out,
And save from Death my Infant Labours,
Whether at Home, or at some Neighbours.

So also (for the Use must be
As complex as the Simile)
At proper Times, in larger Code ,
My Vade Mecum I unload:
Digesting into sep'rate Parts,
Tales, Odes, Epistles, Flames, and Darts —

Or as at Christmass , o'er his Books,
Th' aforesaid honest Tradesman looks;
To see how Stock in Business betters,
And write out Bills upon his Debtors:
When (after having chose the best,
And shook his Head at all the rest)
He sends, or goes himself to catch,
What ready Money they will fetch —

So I, this Morning, took a View
Of all my Poems, old and new,
To weigh, with an impartial Spirit,
And use according to, their Merit:
The Flames demand the greatest Part;
Some few discover, some Desert;
These to a Friend I shew'd, and hinted
A mighty Mind to have them printed. —

Why John , said he, thy Thought in this,
I cannot say, 'tis much amiss: —
Your Friends would all be very glad,
And, Faith, my Int'rest should be had: —
But first, methinks, you ought to know
How much Mankind is pleas'd with Show. —
A rising Poet always writes
To Dukes, Lords, Ladies, 'Squires, or Knights:
While thou hast ever us'd thy Pen
To Delia, David, John , or Ben . —
These vulgar Names are what I fear: — —
For ten to one the Town will hear
That Benjamin 's a Country Quaker,
And Delia but a Mantua-maker;
That David in a Cellar pent is,
And John 's at Greenwich a mere 'Prentice.

I left my Friend without Reply,
And went to Phaebus ' Court just by: —
The God was but that Minute up,
And scarce had drank his Morning Cup, —
(To take a Draught his constant course is,
While forth the Horae bring his Horses,
And fix them to their flaming Chariot!
So bright no mortal Eye can bear it.)

Not many Ceremonies past,
My Person known, the God in haste, — —
" Speak quickly, Friend, I must not stay;
" The Western World expects the Day.
" Dost thou not see how fair Aurora
" Invites me on, and blames my Mora ?
(Note, with Apollo 'tis no Crime
To use that Tongue which comes in Rhime.)

As soon as Men can Answer make
To what superior Beings speak,
I told him all I've here told you,
And humbly ask'd him what to do. —
Do? says Apollo , in my Right,
Call Ben . my Lord; make John a Knight:
Let David shine a 'Squire compleat:
Let Delia keep her Country Seat: —
Such Words will give your Writings Strength: —
You need not put their Names at length.

I made a Bow, and Home I came,
Brim full of Joy, and sacred Flame —
Corrected all my Poems thro',
And writ, besides, this Scroll to you —
This Scroll which, from Apollo , brings
A Title, others take from Kings —
Accept it thou without one more Word,
And be Sir John from this Time forward.