Macer : A Character poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period

When simple Macer, now of high renown,

First fought a Poet’s Fortune in the Town,

‘Twas all th’ Ambition his high soul could feel,

To wear red stockings, and to dine with Steele.

Some Ends of verse his Betters might afford,

And gave the harmless fellow a good word.

Set up with these he ventur’d on the Town,

And with a borrow’d Play, out-did poor Crown.

There he stopp’d short, nor since has write a tittle,

But has the wit to make the most of little;

Like stunted hide-bound Trees, that just have got

Sufficient sap at once to bear and rot.

Now he begs Verse, and what he gets commends,

Not of the Wits his foes, but Fools his friends.

So some coarse Country Wench, almost decay’d,

Trudges to town, and first turns Chambermaid;

Awkward and supple, each devoir to pay;

She flatters her good Lady twice a day;

Thought wond’rous honest, tho’ of mean degree,

And strangely lik’d for her Simplicity:

In a translated Suit, then tries the Town,

With borrow’d Pins, and Patches not her own:

But just endur’d the winter she began,

And in four months a batter’d Harridan.

Now nothing left, but wither’d, pale, and shrunk,

To bawd for others, and go shares with Punk.

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Poems in English 

• Иван Крылов – Ода, выбранная из псалма 14-го by Иван Крылов
• Иван Крылов – Лиса-строитель (Басня) by Иван Крылов
• Иван Крылов – Лев состаревшийся (Басня) by Иван Крылов
• Иван Козлов – Умирающая Эрменгарда by Иван Козлов
• Иван Коневской – Воскресение by Иван Коневской
• Иван Коневской – В небывалое by Иван Коневской
• Иван Елагин – Спрашивал ответа by Иван Елагин
• Иван Дмитриев – Сверчки by Иван Дмитриев
• Иван Дмитриев – Старик и трое молодых by Иван Дмитриев
• Иван Дмитриев – Смерть и Умирающий by Иван Дмитриев
• Иван Дмитриев – Слепец, Собака его и Школьник by Иван Дмитриев
• Иван Дмитриев – Шарлатан by Иван Дмитриев
• Иван Демьянов – Парикмахер рак-омар by Иван Демьянов
• Иван Демьянов – Одежкин домик by Иван Демьянов
• Иван Бунин – Норд-ост by Иван Бунин
• Иван Бунин – Ночного неба свод далекий by Иван Бунин
• Иван Бунин – Ночлег by Иван Бунин
• Иван Бунин – Ночь идет, и темнеет by Иван Бунин
• Иван Бунин – Никогда вы не воскреснете, не встанете by Иван Бунин
• Иван Бунин – Нет солнца, но светлы пруды by Иван Бунин

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