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  • April 1, 1795
  • Page 61
  • ODE TO AN ASS,
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The Freemasons' Magazine, April 1, 1795: Page 61

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Page 61

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ode To An Ass,

And though the laughing little elf Bade me devour it all myself , Yet , as thy sad necessity I see , Though much I love her , Jack , I'll give it thee . 'Sbobs ! how some folks I know would stare To see me slight the gifts of such a fair , Not long contempt they'd inly smother ; Butsmilingconscious of superior wit

, , , Would give thy poet such a thund ' ring hit — " Transfer'd from one ass to another !" Come , take it , Jack , and biess the day : Nay , prithee turn not . thus thy head away ! Thou ' st been so much abus'd , or so neglected , That Charity ' s sweet self were now suspected ; And had she offer'dlovely maid ! a thistle

, , 'Tis ten to one thou'dst bidden her— -go whistle i So when in London streets the rain Comes down impetuous and amain , Swelling the filthy gutter's pride , That threats a deluge with its tide , The pretty mantu ' -maker , with a'frown , jQuick snatches up the flowing gown

, And , standing on the Iess'ning brink , Kow she shall cross it dreads to think I Meantime a kind-soul'd gentleman appears , Anxious to dissipate her watry fears—• ' Don't be alarm'd , my dear , pray don't ! " Give me your hand , I'll help you over . " —< The nymnh , supposing him to be a lover ,

Plunges thro' thick and thin , and cries , I von't . > From London ' s noxious vapour flown , At morn I scale the breezy down ; And from great Neptune ' s blue domains See Phoebus steeds . with golden manes , Slashing the glitt'ring wave , ascend , And round the skies their journey bend .

To me 'tis glqrious , and my frame Of health's invigorating stream Drinks deep ; but , ah ! such scene as this To thee how destitute of bliss ! With Phoebus course thy course begun , Ends not but with the setting sun ; Whilst blows and , usage vile repay The toilsome labours of the day .

As these impair thy strength so stout , No wonder patience oft wears out , And docile man , with angry haste , Proclaim thee , Jack , a stubborn beast . For man 'tis almost natural to boast , Yet , when assail'd by any evil thing , Gods ! liow I've , seen them kick , and wince , and Sing , Rear upand snorttheir souls more hot than roast !

, , Nor can I easily decide Which greater is , man ' s cruelty or pride : By one tormented whilst alive , ' Refus'd by t ' other to survive Tlie grave so nasty , dark ,, and rotten . By man , thyself , and God forgotten 2 '

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1795-04-01, Page 61” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 15 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01041795/page/61/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, OR GENERAL AND COMPLETE LIBRARY' Article 1
TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, Article 1
ESSAY ON PRUDENCE. Article 2
Untitled Article 3
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY Article 8
THE FREEMASON. No. IV. Article 12
STORY OF URBAIN GRANDIER. Article 16
BASEM; OR, THE BLACKSMITH. AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE. Article 23
THOUGHTS ON SLEEP. Article 31
ACCOUNT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CHAPEL OF ROSLIN, &c. Article 32
AUTHENTIC ANECDOTE. Article 37
SUMMARY OF ALL THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST RICHARD BROTHERS. Article 38
ON THE DEPOPULATING INFLUENCE OF WAR. Article 42
ANECDOTE OF THE LATE KING OF PRUSSIA. Article 43
THE GREEN ASS. Article 44
ACCOUNT OF A CASK IN THE CASTLE OF KONIGSTEIN, Article 45
CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE ISLAND OF MALTA. Article 46
ON AVARICE. Article 47
THE HANDSOME MAN AND UGLY WIFE : Article 47
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Article 48
POETRY. Article 56
ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF BROTHER JOHN MILLS, COMEDIAN, OF THE THEATRE ROYAL, HULL. Article 57
THE KISS. Article 58
ON DESPAIR. Article 59
TO INDIFFERENCE : A RHAPSODY. Article 59
ODE TO AN ASS, Article 60
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 62
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 67
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 68
BANKRUPTS. Article 71
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ode To An Ass,

And though the laughing little elf Bade me devour it all myself , Yet , as thy sad necessity I see , Though much I love her , Jack , I'll give it thee . 'Sbobs ! how some folks I know would stare To see me slight the gifts of such a fair , Not long contempt they'd inly smother ; Butsmilingconscious of superior wit

, , , Would give thy poet such a thund ' ring hit — " Transfer'd from one ass to another !" Come , take it , Jack , and biess the day : Nay , prithee turn not . thus thy head away ! Thou ' st been so much abus'd , or so neglected , That Charity ' s sweet self were now suspected ; And had she offer'dlovely maid ! a thistle

, , 'Tis ten to one thou'dst bidden her— -go whistle i So when in London streets the rain Comes down impetuous and amain , Swelling the filthy gutter's pride , That threats a deluge with its tide , The pretty mantu ' -maker , with a'frown , jQuick snatches up the flowing gown

, And , standing on the Iess'ning brink , Kow she shall cross it dreads to think I Meantime a kind-soul'd gentleman appears , Anxious to dissipate her watry fears—• ' Don't be alarm'd , my dear , pray don't ! " Give me your hand , I'll help you over . " —< The nymnh , supposing him to be a lover ,

Plunges thro' thick and thin , and cries , I von't . > From London ' s noxious vapour flown , At morn I scale the breezy down ; And from great Neptune ' s blue domains See Phoebus steeds . with golden manes , Slashing the glitt'ring wave , ascend , And round the skies their journey bend .

To me 'tis glqrious , and my frame Of health's invigorating stream Drinks deep ; but , ah ! such scene as this To thee how destitute of bliss ! With Phoebus course thy course begun , Ends not but with the setting sun ; Whilst blows and , usage vile repay The toilsome labours of the day .

As these impair thy strength so stout , No wonder patience oft wears out , And docile man , with angry haste , Proclaim thee , Jack , a stubborn beast . For man 'tis almost natural to boast , Yet , when assail'd by any evil thing , Gods ! liow I've , seen them kick , and wince , and Sing , Rear upand snorttheir souls more hot than roast !

, , Nor can I easily decide Which greater is , man ' s cruelty or pride : By one tormented whilst alive , ' Refus'd by t ' other to survive Tlie grave so nasty , dark ,, and rotten . By man , thyself , and God forgotten 2 '

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