16.
And Mr. —, the bookseller,
Gave twenty pounds for some;—then scorning
A footman’s yellow coat to wear, _450
Peter, too proud of heart, I fear,
Instantly gave the Devil warning.
17.
Whereat the Devil took offence,
And swore in his soul a great oath then,
‘That for his damned impertinence _455
He’d bring him to a proper sense
Of what was due to gentlemen!’
PART 6.
DAMNATION.
1.
‘O that mine enemy had written
A book!’—cried Job:—a fearful curse,
If to the Arab, as the Briton, _460
’Twas galling to be critic-bitten:—
The Devil to Peter wished no worse.
2.
When Peter’s next new book found vent,
The Devil to all the first Reviews
A copy of it slyly sent, _465
With five-pound note as compliment,
And this short notice—‘Pray abuse.’
3.
Then seriatim, month and quarter,
Appeared such mad tirades.—One said—
‘Peter seduced Mrs. Foy’s daughter, _470
Then drowned the mother in Ullswater,
The last thing as he went to bed.’
4.
Another—‘Let him shave his head!
Where’s Dr. Willis?—Or is he joking?
What does the rascal mean or hope, _475
No longer imitating Pope,
In that barbarian Shakespeare poking?’
5.
One more, ‘Is incest not enough?
And must there be adultery too?
Grace after meat? Miscreant and Liar! _480
Thief! Blackguard! Scoundrel! Fool! hell-fire
Is twenty times too good for you.
6.
‘By that last book of yours WE think
You’ve double damned yourself to scorn;
We warned you whilst yet on the brink _485
You stood. From your black name will shrink
The babe that is unborn.’