The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 8/Verses Left With a Silver Standish

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To the Rev. Dr. Swift, by the Earl of Orrery
The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8
 (1732)
by Patrick Delany, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner
To the same, by Dr. Delany
The Answer by the Dean
→

The previous poem, To the Rev. Dr. Swift, by the Earl of Orrery, is on the same subject as this poem, and the following poem, The Answer by the Dean, is a response to both this and the previous poems.

1568265The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8
— To the same, by Dr. Delany1732Patrick Delany
​

VERSES LEFT WITH A SILVER STANDISH ON THE DEAN OF ST. PATRICK'S DESK, ON HIS BIRTHDAY.


BY DR. DELANY.


HITHER from Mexico I came,
To serve a proud Iernian dame:
Was long submitted to her will;
At length she lost me at quadrille.
​Through various shapes I often pass'd,
Still hoping to have rest at last;
And still ambitious to obtain
Admittance to the patriot dean;
And sometimes got within his door,
But soon turn'd out to serve the poor[1];
Not strolling Idleness to aid,
But honest Industry decay'd.
At length an artist purchas'd me,
And wrought me to the shape you see.
This done, to Hermes I apply'd;
"O Hermes! gratify my pride;
Be it my fate to serve a sage,
The greatest genius of his age;
That matchless pen let me supply,
Whose living lines will never die!"
"I grant your suit;" the God replied.
And here he left me to reside.


  1. ↑ Alluding to five hundred pounds lent by the dean, without interest, to poor tradesmen.
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