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Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745

"The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 2"


Well, that's but my outside, says Dan, with a vapour;
Say you so? says my lady; I've lined it with paper.
PATR. DELANY _sculpsit_.
[Footnote 1: See vol. i, p. 96. Dan Jackson's nose seems to have been a
favourite subject for raillery, as in this and some following
pieces.--_W. E. B._]

ON THE SAME PICTURE
Clarissa draws her scissars from the case
To draw the lines of poor Dan Jackson's face;
One sloping cut made forehead, nose, and chin,
A nick produced a mouth, and made him grin,
Such as in tailor's measure you have seen.
But still were wanting his grimalkin eyes,
For which gray worsted stocking paint supplies.
Th' unravell'd thread through needle's eye convey'd,
Transferr'd itself into his pasteboard head.
How came the scissars to be thus outdone?
The needle had an eye, and they had none.
O wondrous force of art! now look at Dan--
You'll swear the pasteboard was the better man.
"The devil!" says he, "the head is not so full!"
Indeed it is--behold the paper skull.
THO. SHERIDAN _sculp._

ON THE SAME
If you say this was made for friend Dan, you belie it,
I'll swear he's so like it that he was made by it.
THO. SHERIDAN _sculp._

ON THE SAME PICTURE

Dan's evil genius in a trice
Had stripp'd him of his coin at dice.


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