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EPICEDIUM - GOING OR GONE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fine merry franions
Last Line: Though proud once as juno!
Alternate Author Name(s): Elia


Fine merry franions,
Wanton companions,
My days are ever banyans
With thinking upon ye!
How Death, that last stinger,
Finis -- uriter, end-bringer,
Has laid his chill finger,
Or is laying on ye.
There's rich Kitty Wheatley,
With footing it featly
That took me completely,
She sleeps in the Kirk House;
And poor Polly Perkin,
Whose Dad was still firking,
The jolly ale firkin
She's gone to the Workhouse.
Fine gardener, Ben Carter,
(In ten counties no smarter)
Has ta'en his departure
For Proserpine's orchard;
And Lily, postilion,
With cheeks of vermilion,
Is one of a million
That fill up the churchyard;
And, lusty as Dido,
Fat Cleminton's widow
Flits now a small shadow
By Stygian hid ford;
And good Master Clapton
Has thirty years napt on,
The ground he last hapt on,
Intombed by fair Widford;
And gallant Tom Dockwra,
Of Nature's finest crockery,
Now but thin air and mockery,
Lurks by Avernus,
Whose honest grasp of hand
Still, while his life did stand,
At friend's or foe's command,
Almost did burn us.
Roger de Coverley
Not more good man than he;
Yet has he equally
Pushed for Cocytus,
With drivelling Worral,
And wicked old Dorral,
'Gainst whom I've a quarrel,
Whose end might affright me!
Kindly hearts have I known;
Kindly hearts, they are flown;
Here and there if but one
Linger yet uneffaced,
Imbecile tottering elves,
Soon to be wrecked on shelves,
These scarce are half themselves,
With age and care crazed.
But this day Amy Hutton
Her last dress has put on;
Her fine lessons forgotten,
She died, as the dunce died;
And prim Betsy Chambers,
Decayed in her members,
No longer remembers
Things, as she once did:
And prudent Mrs. Wither,
Not in jest now doth wither,
And soon must go -- whither
Nor I well, nor you know;
And flaunting Miss Waller,
That soon must befall her,
Whence none can recall her,
Though proud once as Juno!





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