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Poem
April 28, 1774
The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Satirical poem narrating how Jove half-transforms monkeys back to humans, resulting in 'Macaronies'—foppish figures with monkey grins admired by women but scorned by men.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETS CORNER.
The Origin of Macaronies.
When angry Jove to Monkeys changed
A tribe of worthless Men,
Repenting soon, the erring race
Beseech the angry Power,
To give them back the human face,
And reason brook restore.
Jove pity'd and his ear inclin'd,
And granted half their pray'r;
The other half he bid the wind
Disperse in empty Air.
Soon as the Thunderer gave the nod,
That shook the vaulted Sky,
With haughtier air the creatures stood,
And stretch'd their wrinkled size;
Their hair in tresses luxuriant now
Around their temples spread;
Their tail which then did Monkey show,
Now dangle from their head.
The head remains unchanged within,
Nor alter'd much the same;
It still retains a Monkey's grin,
With all its old grimace.
Their hollow cheeks began to fill,
Yet meagre look and wan;
The mouth incessant chatters still,
And mocks the voice of man.
Thus half transform'd, and half the same,
Jove bids them take their place,
Restoring them their ancient claim
Among the human race.
Men with contempt the brutes survey'd,
Nor nam'd the silly TONIES;
But Women lik'd the Monkey breed,
And, call'd them MACARONIES.
The Origin of Macaronies.
When angry Jove to Monkeys changed
A tribe of worthless Men,
Repenting soon, the erring race
Beseech the angry Power,
To give them back the human face,
And reason brook restore.
Jove pity'd and his ear inclin'd,
And granted half their pray'r;
The other half he bid the wind
Disperse in empty Air.
Soon as the Thunderer gave the nod,
That shook the vaulted Sky,
With haughtier air the creatures stood,
And stretch'd their wrinkled size;
Their hair in tresses luxuriant now
Around their temples spread;
Their tail which then did Monkey show,
Now dangle from their head.
The head remains unchanged within,
Nor alter'd much the same;
It still retains a Monkey's grin,
With all its old grimace.
Their hollow cheeks began to fill,
Yet meagre look and wan;
The mouth incessant chatters still,
And mocks the voice of man.
Thus half transform'd, and half the same,
Jove bids them take their place,
Restoring them their ancient claim
Among the human race.
Men with contempt the brutes survey'd,
Nor nam'd the silly TONIES;
But Women lik'd the Monkey breed,
And, call'd them MACARONIES.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Macaronies
Jove
Monkeys
Transformation
Satire
Fashion
Women
Poem Details
Title
The Origin Of Macaronies.
Subject
Origin Of Macaronies
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Men With Contempt The Brutes Survey'd,
Nor Nam'd The Silly Tonies;
But Women Lik'd The Monkey Breed,
And, Call'd Them Macaronies.