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Poem
February 4, 1737
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A satirical song deriding an amateur poet's inept writing and musical attempts, warning him that the Muse has tricked him and his work lacks true wit or sublimity.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A New S O N G.
HO good Sir, forbear! let me not be dispatch'd;
O hard is my Fate !----to be thus over match'd
Have pity on me, ----- or at least on your self,
Your Writing as yet, has but prov'd you an Elf.
Derry down, &c.
Tho' your Numbers are sweet, --- your Musick smells rank,
And by fatal mistake, --- the Muse has play'd you a Prank:
At once take Advice, and pray try her no more,
She only deign'd it to play you the Wh-----.
Derry down, &c.
Take this for a Truth, you must pick well your Ears,
Nay syringe them too, e'er your Song reach the Spheres;
The Tune you will leave to some other, if wise,
Or Midas's Lugs, will be thought your just Prize.
Derry down,&c.
The Sublime ! I well know, you fain wou'd essay,
But Grub, a pox on it, still comes in the way;
Bombast stands for Wit, and low Thoughts for a Jet,
Like an unseason'd Dish,----without the least Zest.
Derry down, &c.
HO good Sir, forbear! let me not be dispatch'd;
O hard is my Fate !----to be thus over match'd
Have pity on me, ----- or at least on your self,
Your Writing as yet, has but prov'd you an Elf.
Derry down, &c.
Tho' your Numbers are sweet, --- your Musick smells rank,
And by fatal mistake, --- the Muse has play'd you a Prank:
At once take Advice, and pray try her no more,
She only deign'd it to play you the Wh-----.
Derry down, &c.
Take this for a Truth, you must pick well your Ears,
Nay syringe them too, e'er your Song reach the Spheres;
The Tune you will leave to some other, if wise,
Or Midas's Lugs, will be thought your just Prize.
Derry down,&c.
The Sublime ! I well know, you fain wou'd essay,
But Grub, a pox on it, still comes in the way;
Bombast stands for Wit, and low Thoughts for a Jet,
Like an unseason'd Dish,----without the least Zest.
Derry down, &c.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
New Song
Satire Poetry
Derry Down
Bad Writing
Muse Prank
Midas Ears
Poem Details
Title
A New S O N G.
Subject
Mocking Poor Songwriting
Form / Style
Rhymed Verses With Refrain
Key Lines
Ho Good Sir, Forbear! Let Me Not Be Dispatch'd;
Tho' Your Numbers Are Sweet, Your Musick Smells Rank,
The Sublime ! I Well Know, You Fain Wou'd Essay,
Derry Down, &C.