Trivia; Or, The Art Of Walking The Streets Of London (excer Poem Rhyme Scheme

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Thus far the Muse has trac'd in useful lays	A
The proper implements for wintry ways	A
Has taught the walker with judicious eyes	B
To read the various warnings of the skies	B
Now venture Muse from home to range the town	C
And for the public safety risk thy own	D
	-
For ease and for dispatch the morning's best	E
No tides of passengers the street molest	E
You'll see a draggled damsel here and there	F
From Billingsgate her fishy traffic bear	F
On doors the sallow milk maid chalks her gains	G
Ah how unlike the milk maid of the plains	G
Before proud gates attending asses bray	H
Or arrogate with solemn pace the way	H
These grave physicians with their milky cheer	I
The love sick maid and dwindling beau repair	F
Here rows of drummers stand in martial file	J
And with their vellum thunder shake the pile	J
To greet the new made bride Are sounds like these	K
The proper prelude to a state of peace	L
Now industry awakes her busy sons	M
Full charg'd with news the breathless hawker runs	M
Shops open coaches roll carts shake the ground	N
And all the streets with passing cries resound	N
	-
If cloth'd in black you tread the busy town	C
Or if distinguish'd by the rev'rend gown	C
Three trades avoid oft in the mingling press	O
The barber's apron soils the sable dress	O
Shun the perfumer's touch with cautious eye	P
Nor let the baker's step advance too nigh	P
Ye walkers too that youthful colours wear	F
Three sullying trades avoid with equal care	F
The little chimney sweeper skulks along	Q
And marks with sooty stains the heedless throng	Q
When small coal murmurs in the hoarser throat	R
From smutty dangers guard thy threaten'd coat	R
The dust man's cart offends thy clothes and eyes	B
When through the street a cloud of ashes flies	B
But whether black or lighter dyes are worn	S
The chandler's basket on his shoulder borne	S
With tallow spots thy coat resign the way	H
To shun the surly butcher's greasy tray	H
Butcher's whose hands are dy'd with blood's foul stain	T
And always foremost in the hangman's train	T
	-
Let due civilities be strictly paid	U
The wall surrender to the hooded maid	U
Nor let thy sturdy elbow's hasty rage	V
Jostle the feeble steps of trembling age	V
And when the porter bends beneath his load	W
And pants for breath clear thou the crowded road	W
But above all the groping blind direct	X
And from the pressing throng the lame protect	X
You'll sometimes meet a fop of nicest tread	Y
Whose mantling peruke veils his empty head	Y
At ev'ry step he dreads the wall to lose	Z
And risks to save a coach his red heel'd shoes	Z
Him like the miller pass with caution by	P
Lest from his shoulder clouds of powder fly	P
But when the bully with assuming pace	A2
Cocks his broad hat edg'd round with tarnish'd lace	A2
Yield not the way defy his strutting pride	B2
And thrust him to the muddy kennel's side	B2
He never turns again nor dares oppose	C2
But mutters coward curses as he goes	C2
	-
If drawn by bus'ness to a street unknown	D
Let the sworn porter point thee through the town	C
Be sure observe the signs for signs remain	T
Like faithful land marks to the walking train	T
Seek not from prentices to learn the way	H
Those fabling boys will turn thy steps astray	H
Ask the grave tradesman to direct thee right	D2
He ne'er deceives but when he profits by 't	D2
	-
Where fam'd St Giles's ancient limits spread	D2
An inrail'd column rears its lofty head	D2
Here to sev'n streets sev'n dials count the day	D2
And from each other catch the circling ray	D2
Here oft the peasant with enquiring face	A2
Bewilder'd trudges on from place to place	A2
He dwells on ev'ry sign with stupid gaze	A
Enters the narrow alley's doubtful maze	A
Tries ev'ry winding court and street in vain	T
And doubles o'er his weary steps again	E2
Thus hardy Theseus with intrepid feet	D2
Travers'd the dang'rous labyrinth of Crete	D2
But still the wand'ring passes forc'd his stay	D2
Till Ariadne's clue unwinds the way	D2
But do not thou like that bold chief confide	D2
Thy vent'rous footsteps to a female guide	D2
She'll lead thee with delusive smiles along	Q
Dive in thy fob and drop thee in the throng	Q
	-
When waggish boys the stunted besom ply	P
To rid the slabby pavement pass not by	P
E'er thou hast held their hands some heedless flirt	D2
Will over spread thy calves with spatt'ring dirt	D2
Where porters hogsheads roll from carts aslope	F2
Or brewers down steep cellars stretch the rope	F2
Where counted billets are by carmen tost	D2
Stay thy rash steps and walk without the post	D2
	-
	-
When rosemary and bays the poet's crown	C
Are bawl'd in frequent cries through all the town	C
Then judge the festival of Christmas near	I
Christmas the joyous period of the year	I
Now with bright holly all your temples strow	G2
With laurel green and sacred mistletoe	G2
Now heav'n born Charity thy blessings shed	D2
Bid meagre Want uprear her sickly head	D2
Bid shiv'ring limbs be warm let plenty's bowl	H2
In humble roofs make glad the needy soul	H2
See see the heav'n born maid her blessings shed	D2
Lo meagre Want uprears her sickly head	D2
Cloth'd are the naked and the needy glad	D2
While selfish Avarice alone is sad	D2
	-
Proud coaches pass regardless of the moan	D
Of infant orphans and the widow's groan	D
While Charity still moves the walker's mind	D2
His lib'ral purse relieves the lame and blind	D2
Judiciously thy half pence are bestow'd	D2
Where the laborious beggar sweeps the road	D2
Whate'er you give give ever at demand	D2
Nor let old age long stretch his palsy'd hand	D2
Those who give late are importun'd each day	D2
And still are teas'd because they still delay	D2
If e'er the miser durst his farthings spare	F
He thinly spreads them through the public square	F
Where all beside the rail rang'd beggars lie	P
And from each other catch the doleful cry	P
With heav'n for two pence cheaply wipes his score	I2
Lifts up his eyes and hastes to beggar more	I2
	-
Where the brass knocker wrapt in flannel band	D2
Forbids the thunder of the footman's hand	D2
Th' upholder rueful harbinger of death	J2
Waits with impatience for the dying breath	J2
As vulture o'er a camp with hov'ring flight	D2
Snuff up the future carnage of the fight	D2
Here canst thou pass unmindful of a pray'r	K2
That heav'n in mercy may thy brother spare	F

John Gay

Trivia; Or, The Art Of Walking The Streets Of London (excer Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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