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Poem
October 28, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Satirical epitaph by Dean Swift on John Partridge, a cobbler, astrologer, and quack, written in 1708. It mocks his customers and claims his grave holds predictive powers in medicine, theft, and love.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Dean Swift's Epitaph on John Partridge*, written in 1708.
A Cobler, Starmonger, and Quack,
Who to the stars, in pure good will,
Does to his best, look upward still.
Weep, all you customers that use
His pills his almanacks, or shoes :
And you that did your fortunes seek,
Step to his grave but once a week :
This earth, which bears his body's print,
You'll find has so much virtue in't,
That I durst pawn my ears 'twill tell
Whate'er concerns you full as well,
In physic, stolen goods, or love,
As he himself could, when above.
See Swift's prediction and account of his death,
which Partridge averred to be false, and the merry
Dean defended as true, vol. 5. Edinburgh edition.
A Cobler, Starmonger, and Quack,
Who to the stars, in pure good will,
Does to his best, look upward still.
Weep, all you customers that use
His pills his almanacks, or shoes :
And you that did your fortunes seek,
Step to his grave but once a week :
This earth, which bears his body's print,
You'll find has so much virtue in't,
That I durst pawn my ears 'twill tell
Whate'er concerns you full as well,
In physic, stolen goods, or love,
As he himself could, when above.
See Swift's prediction and account of his death,
which Partridge averred to be false, and the merry
Dean defended as true, vol. 5. Edinburgh edition.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epitaph
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Swift Epitaph
John Partridge
Satire Quack
Astrologer Cobbler
1708 Prediction
What entities or persons were involved?
Dean Swift
Poem Details
Title
Epitaph On John Partridge
Author
Dean Swift
Subject
On John Partridge
Key Lines
A Cobler, Starmonger, And Quack,
Who To The Stars, In Pure Good Will,
Does To His Best, Look Upward Still.
This Earth, Which Bears His Body's Print,
You'll Find Has So Much Virtue In't,