Page:Trivia (John Gay) to which is added London (Samuel Johnson) (1809).djvu/11

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TRIVIA.



BOOK I

OF THE IMPLEMENTS FOR WALKING THE STREETS
AND SIGNS OF THE WEATHER.


Through winter streets to steer your course aright;
How to walk clean by day, and safe by night;
How jostling crowds, with prudence, to decline;
When to assert the wall, and when resign;
I sing: thou, Trivia! goddess, aid my song,5
Through spacious streets conduct thy bard along;
By thee transported, I securely stray
Where winding alleys lead the doubtful way,
The silent court and op'ning square explore,
And long perplexing lanes untrod before.10
To pave thy realm, and smooth the broken ways,
Earth from her womb a flinty tribute pays:
For thee the sturdy pav'or thumps the ground,
Whilst ev'ry stroke his lab'ring lungs resound;