The First of April | Page 3

brawl?Of pealing Laughter, ecchoed round the Hall.?And strait a troop of dancing Youths appear'd,?Of rosy hue, by friendly BACCHUS chear'd.?The tinkling bells upon their feet they wore;?Each, in his hand, a rural Tabor bore,?Whose sides they frequent beat, and, at the sound,?Aloft in air, with, antic step, they bound.
Next came a blooming Boy in robe of green;?On his fair brow a flowery crown was seen,?Where the pale Primrose with the Cowslip vied,?And fragrant Violets shone in purple pride.?Upon a Bull he rode, whose horns were gay?With many a golden flower and budding spray.?Around him every vernal Songster fled,?While the Lark soar'd and whistled o'er his head.?And now he smil'd with joy, and now, apace,?The crystal tears bedew'd his alter'd face.?Like the young Fondling on his Mother's breast,?Who cries for absent joys, and thinks them best:?'Mid smiles, and tears, and frowns, he onward came,?With gentle pace,--and APRIL was his name.
To him succeeds a light and frolic Train?Of wanton Females, insolent and vain,?Whose cheeks, by Art encrimson'd, far outvie?The vivid hue of blushing Modesty.?Their auburn ringlets float not in the air;?No silken fillet binds their flowing hair;?But, plaister'd into form, the curls disgrace?Each animated feature of the face.?The gladsome Fair, in honour of the day,?With artificial flow'rets strew'd the way.
But in what language shall the Muse describe?The dancing, dressing Millinery Tribe,?Who, with their various emblems, next appear,?And joyful tell th' approach of FASHION near.
With mincing step the fickle Princess came:?Th' attending Crowds shout forth her empty name.?Strange was her form,--her look, her dress were strange; And yet each moment saw their sudden change.?Now her Locks soar aloft, and threat the sky;?Now shade the brightness of her rolling eye:?Awhile they on her wanton bosom break;?Then, upward forc'd, display th' uncover'd neck.?Ere the long train could spread its shady folds,--?Drawn up,--a knot the alter'd vestment holds.?Soon fade the glories of th' enormous Plume;?As soon the superseding Chaplets bloom.?The rigid Stay, whose daring height conceals?Those swelling charms where many a Cupid dwells,?Ere they can heave again,--no more appear;?But leave each vulgar eye to revel there.?As I look'd down, the dropping Silk denies?Her pretty feet to my intruding eyes:?Again I look'd,--th' according flounce updrew,?And gave the well-turn'd ankle to my view.?Now stiff,--now slouching in her gait she walk'd;?Now lisp'd, now mouth'd each sentence as she talk'd.?A form so changeful I had never seen;--?The red, the blue, the yellow, and the green,?In quick succession, o'er her figure past,?A moment loiter'd, but refus'd to last.?And as, in various pride, she mov'd along,?Now charm'd,--now angry with the shouting Throng,?Submissive _Eunuchs_ to their Mistress bend,?And in shrill warblings hail their _only_ Friend.
Now LUXURY advanc'd, a pamper'd Dame;?In these brave piping days a favourite name.?Tissues of gold her gorgeous robe compose;?In many a fold the shining vestment flows;?And far behind sends forth a sweeping Train,?Which _Dame Cornelys_ scarcely can sustain.?Gems bright as those which Eastern Monarchs wear,?Hang on her breast and sparkle in her hair.?She but commands, and lo!--submissive Art?Is proud its curious labours to impart.?She but commands,--and eager Nature brings?The best and fairest of her offerings.?The distant Climates with each other vie,?Whate'er she wants or wishes, to supply.?The _North_ before her spreads his furry store;?The _South_ his golden sands and silver ore;?The sumptuous _East_ is anxious to display?Gems of the brightest hue and purest ray;?The _West_, by arts to other climes unknown, }?For her gives lustre to th' unpolish'd stone, }?And shapes the rugged gold with cunning all his own. }?Th' obedient _Seasons_ bend to her controul,?Invert their course, and in new order roll.?The hoary _Winter_ to her wish doth bring?The scented blossoms of the balmy _Spring_;?The forward _Spring_ impatient doth disclose?The full-blown beauties of the _Summer_ Rose;?Th' encroaching _Summer_ robs th' _Autumnal_ fields?Of the rich fruitage which their bounty yields;?While _Autumn_ looks on _Winter_ with disdain,?And courts an union with the _Vernal Train_.?E'en _Time_ accords to her imperial sway;?She rules the Night, and she directs the Day.?But the glad Day affords her no delight;?She hates the Sun, and revels in the Night.?As she went on,--the gaudy carpet spread?Its velvet surface for her stately tread;?While the soft flute and animating lyre?Awake to rapture every fond desire.?_Profusion_ follow'd,--for whose single meal,?Whole Hecatombs receive the Butcher's steel.?Next _Drunkenness_ roar'd forth the beastly strain,?And _Waste_ and _Riot_ closed the glutted Train.
And yet methought I saw, to them unseen,?Wan _Ruin_ stalk behind, with haggard mien,?Expecting instant prey;--and with him came?The angry _Fever_, whose insatiate flame?Drinks up the pure and purple streams of Life;?And every Disease that harbours strife
With mortal Natures.--Pallid, pining Care, }
Pain, griping Penury, with black Despair, }
And agonizing Death, in all his sable pomp, were there. }
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