188
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread,
Bright with the gilded button tipt its head,
Then thron'd in glass, and nam'd it Caroline:[R 1]
410 Each Maid cry'd, charming! and each Youth, divine![I 1]
Did Nature's pencil ever blend such rays,
Such vary'd light in one promiscuous blaze?
Now prostrate! dead! behold that Caroline:
No Maid cries, charming! and no Youth, divine!
415 And lo the wretch! whose vile, whose insect lust
Lay'd this gay daughter of the Spring in dust.
Oh punish him, or to th' Elysian shades
Dismiss my soul, where no Carnation fades.
Bright with the gilded button tipt its head,
Then thron'd in glass, and nam'd it Caroline:[R 1]
410 Each Maid cry'd, charming! and each Youth, divine![I 1]
Did Nature's pencil ever blend such rays,
Such vary'd light in one promiscuous blaze?
Now prostrate! dead! behold that Caroline:
No Maid cries, charming! and no Youth, divine!
415 And lo the wretch! whose vile, whose insect lust
Lay'd this gay daughter of the Spring in dust.
Oh punish him, or to th' Elysian shades
Dismiss my soul, where no Carnation fades.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 409. and nam'd it Caroline:] It is a compliment which the Florists usually pay to Princes and great persons, to give their names to the most curious Flowers of their raising: Some have been very jealous of vindicating this honour, but none more than that ambitious Gardiner at Hammersmith, who caused his Favourite to be painted on his Sign, with this inscription, This is My Queen Caroline.
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 405. Fair from its humble bed, &c. ——— nam'd it Caroline:
Each Maid cry'd, charming! and each youth, divine!
Now prostrate! dead! behold that Caroline:
No Maid cries, charming! and no Youth, divine!These Verses are translated from Catullus, Epith.Ut flos in septis secretus nascitur hortis,
Quam mulcent auræ, firmat Sol, educat imber,
Multi illum pueri, multæ optavere puellæ:
Idem quum tenui carptus defloruit ungui,
Nulli illum pueri, nullæ optavere pullæ, &c.
