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Poem
March 18, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A satirical poem listing the poor household items of Dr. Swift, Vicar of Laracor, Ireland, which he lends to a bishop until the bishop's house is built, humorously questioning why the bishop can't manage with them as well as Swift does.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POET'S CORNER.
A true and faithful Inventory of the Goods belonging to Dr. Swift, late Vicar of Laracor, in Ireland, upon lending his house to Bishop --, till his own was built.
No oaken broken elbow-chair:
A caudle-cup without an ear;
A batter'd, shatter'd ash-bedstead,
A box of deal, without a lid;
A pair of tongs, but out of joint,
A back-sword poker without point
A pot that's crack'd a-cross, around
With an old knotted garter bound:
An iron lock without a key,
A wig, with hanging, quite grown grey;
A curtain worn to half a stripe;
A pair of bellows without pipe;
A dish which might good meat afford once;
An Ovid and an old Concordance;
A bottle-bottom, wooden platter,
One is for meal, and one for water;
There likewise is a copper skillet,
Which runs as fast out as you fill it;
A candlestick, snuff-dish. and save-all:
And thus his household-goods you have all.
These to your Lordship as a friend,
Till you have built, I freely lend;
They'll serve your Lordship for a shift,
Why not as well as Doctor Swift?
A true and faithful Inventory of the Goods belonging to Dr. Swift, late Vicar of Laracor, in Ireland, upon lending his house to Bishop --, till his own was built.
No oaken broken elbow-chair:
A caudle-cup without an ear;
A batter'd, shatter'd ash-bedstead,
A box of deal, without a lid;
A pair of tongs, but out of joint,
A back-sword poker without point
A pot that's crack'd a-cross, around
With an old knotted garter bound:
An iron lock without a key,
A wig, with hanging, quite grown grey;
A curtain worn to half a stripe;
A pair of bellows without pipe;
A dish which might good meat afford once;
An Ovid and an old Concordance;
A bottle-bottom, wooden platter,
One is for meal, and one for water;
There likewise is a copper skillet,
Which runs as fast out as you fill it;
A candlestick, snuff-dish. and save-all:
And thus his household-goods you have all.
These to your Lordship as a friend,
Till you have built, I freely lend;
They'll serve your Lordship for a shift,
Why not as well as Doctor Swift?
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Dr Swift
Vicar Laracor
Household Inventory
Bishop Lending
Satirical Verse
Ireland Clergy
Poem Details
Title
A True And Faithful Inventory Of The Goods Belonging To Dr. Swift, Late Vicar Of Laracor, In Ireland, Upon Lending His House To Bishop , Till His Own Was Built.
Subject
Lending His House To Bishop , Till His Own Was Built
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
No Oaken Broken Elbow Chair:
A Caudle Cup Without An Ear;
A Pot That's Crack'd A Cross, Around
With An Old Knotted Garter Bound:
They'll Serve Your Lordship For A Shift,
Why Not As Well As Doctor Swift?