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The poetical works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.
The poetical works of Oliver Goldsmith MB Author:Oliver Goldsmith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE HAUNCH OF VENISON. A POETICAL EPISTLE. TO LORD CLARE. FIRST PRINTED IN 1765. THE HAUNCH OF VENISON. 1 HANKS, my Lord, for your ven'son, for fi... more »ner or fatter Never rang'd in a forest, or stnok'd in a platter; The haunch was a picture for painters to study, The fat was so white, and the lean was so ruddy; Though my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting To spoil such a delicate picture by eating: I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view, To be shown to my friends as a piece of virtu; As in some Irish houses, where things are so so, One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show: But, for eating a rasher of what they take pride in, They'd as soon think of eating the pan it is fry'd in. But hold....let me pause....don'tlhear you pronounce, This tale of the bacon's a damnable bounce? Well, suppose it a bounce....sure a poet may try, By a bounce now and then, to get courage to fly. But, my Lord, it's no bounce: I protest in my turn, It's a truth....and your Lordship may ask Mr. Burn. To go on with my tale....as I gaz'd on the haunch, I thought of a friend that was trusty and staunch; So I cut it, and sent it to Reynolds undrest, To paint it, or eat it, just as he lik'd best. Of the neck and the breast I had next to dispose; 'Twas a neck and a breast that might rival Monroe's; But in parting with these I was puzzled again, With the how, and the who, and the%'here, and the when. There's H....d, and C....y, and H....rth, and H....ff, I think they love ven'son....! know they love beef. There's my countryman Higgins....Oh! let him alone, For making a blunder or picking a bone. Lord Clare's nephew. But hang it....to poets who seldom can eat, Your very good mutton's a very good treat; Such dainties to them their ...« less