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Literary
October 8, 1792
The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser
Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Berkeley County, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A satirical poem narrating the rapid rise and fall of a deceitful speculator who amasses wealth through scams, indulges in luxury with his wife, and ends imprisoned when his financial bubble bursts.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
SEAT OF THE MUSES.
THE SPECULATOR.
Spur'd on by hope, from town to town he flew,
The soldier's curse pursued him on his way,
Care in his eye, and anguish on his brow;
He seem'd a sea-hawk watching for his prey.
With soothing words the widow's mite he gain'd.
With piercing glance watch'd misery's dark abode,
Filch'd paper scraps while yet a scrap remain'd,
Bought where he must, and cheated where he could.
Vast loads amass'd of Scrip, and God knows what,
Potoff's wealth seem'd lodg'd within his clutch—
But wealth has wings (he knew) and instant bought
The prancing steeds, gay harness, and gilt coach.
One Sunday morn. to church I saw him ride
In glittering state—alack! and who but he,—
The following week, with Madam at his side,
To routs they drove—and drank Imperial tea.
In cards and fun the live long day they spent,
With songs and smut prolong'd the midnight feast
If plays were had, to plays they constant went
Where Madam's top-knot rose a foot at least.
Three weeks, and more, thus pass'd in airs of state,
The fourth beheld the mighty bubble burst—
And he, who countless millions own'd to late
Stopt short—and clos'd his triumphs in a Jail.
THE SPECULATOR.
Spur'd on by hope, from town to town he flew,
The soldier's curse pursued him on his way,
Care in his eye, and anguish on his brow;
He seem'd a sea-hawk watching for his prey.
With soothing words the widow's mite he gain'd.
With piercing glance watch'd misery's dark abode,
Filch'd paper scraps while yet a scrap remain'd,
Bought where he must, and cheated where he could.
Vast loads amass'd of Scrip, and God knows what,
Potoff's wealth seem'd lodg'd within his clutch—
But wealth has wings (he knew) and instant bought
The prancing steeds, gay harness, and gilt coach.
One Sunday morn. to church I saw him ride
In glittering state—alack! and who but he,—
The following week, with Madam at his side,
To routs they drove—and drank Imperial tea.
In cards and fun the live long day they spent,
With songs and smut prolong'd the midnight feast
If plays were had, to plays they constant went
Where Madam's top-knot rose a foot at least.
Three weeks, and more, thus pass'd in airs of state,
The fourth beheld the mighty bubble burst—
And he, who countless millions own'd to late
Stopt short—and clos'd his triumphs in a Jail.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Commerce Trade
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Speculator
Wealth
Bubble
Jail
Greed
Satire
Literary Details
Title
The Speculator
Key Lines
Vast Loads Amass'd Of Scrip, And God Knows What,
Potoff's Wealth Seem'd Lodg'd Within His Clutch—
But Wealth Has Wings (He Knew) And Instant Bought
The Prancing Steeds, Gay Harness, And Gilt Coach.
And He, Who Countless Millions Own'd To Late
Stopt Short—And Clos'd His Triumphs In A Jail.