Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LADY ACHESON WEARY OF THE DEAN, by JONATHAN SWIFT Poet's Biography First Line: The dean would visit market hill Last Line: Of this insulting tyrant dean! Variant Title(s): Dean Swift At Sir Arthur Acheson's, In The North Of Ireland Subject(s): Market Hill, Ireland | ||||||||
THE Dean would visit Market Hill, Our invitation was but slight; I said, "Why let him, if he will." And so I bade Sir Arthur write. His manners would not let him wait, Lest we should think ourselves neglected, And so we see him at our gate Three days before he was expected. After a week, a month, a quarter, And day succeeding after day, Says not a word of his departure, Though not a soul would have him stay. I've said enough to make him blush, Methinks, or else the devil's in 't; But he cares not for it a rush, Nor for my life will take the hint. But you, my dear, may let him know, In civil language, if he stays, How deep and foul the roads may grow, And that he may command the chaise. Or you may say, "My wife intends, Though I should be exceeding proud, This winter to invite some friends, And, sir, I know you hate a crowd." Or, "Mr. Dean, I should with joy Beg you would here continue still, But we must go to Aghnecloy, Or Mr. Moore will take it ill." The house accounts are daily rising; So much his stay doth swell the bills: My dearest life, it is surprising How much he eats, how much he swills. His brace of puppies, how they stuff! And they must have three meals a day, Yet never think they get enough; His horses too eat all our hay. O, if I could, how I would maul His tallow face and wainscot paws, His beetle brows, and eyes of wall, And make him soon give up the cause! Must I be every moment chid With Skinnybonia, Snipe, and Lean? O that I could but once be rid Of this insulting tyrant Dean! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE REVOLUTION AT MARKET HILL by JONATHAN SWIFT A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG NYMPH GOING TO BED by JONATHAN SWIFT A DESCRIPTION OF A CITY SHOWER by JONATHAN SWIFT A DESCRIPTION OF THE MORNING by JONATHAN SWIFT A GENTLE ECHO ON WOMAN (IN THE DORIC MANNER) by JONATHAN SWIFT A SATIRICAL ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A LATE FAMOUS GENERAL by JONATHAN SWIFT AN EPIGRAM ON SCOLDING by JONATHAN SWIFT CLEVER TOM CLINCH GOING TO BE HANGED by JONATHAN SWIFT DICK, A MAGGOT by JONATHAN SWIFT DRAPIER'S HILL by JONATHAN SWIFT HELTER SKELTER; OR, THE HUE AND CRY AFTER THE ATTORNEYS by JONATHAN SWIFT |
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