The Nose

       &nbspYe souls unus'd to lofty verse

       &nbsp       &nbspWho sweep the earth with lowly wing,

       &nbspLike sand before the blast disperse—

       &nbsp       &nbspA Nose! a mighty Nose I sing!

As erst Prometheus stole from heaven the fire

       &nbspTo animate the wonder of his hand;

Thus with unhallow'd hands, O Muse, aspire,

       &nbspAnd from my subject snatch a burning brand!

So like the Nose I sing—my verse shall glow—

Like Phlegethon my verse in waves of fire shall flow!





       &nbspLight of this once all darksome spot

       &nbsp       &nbspWhere now their glad course mortals run,

       &nbspFirst-born of Sirius begot

       &nbsp       &nbspUpon the focus of the Sun—

I'll call thee ——! for such thy earthly name—

       &nbspWhat name so high, but what too low must be?

Comets, when most they drink the solar flame

       &nbspAre but faint types and images of thee!

Burn madly, Fire! o'er earth in ravage run,

Then blush for shame more red by fiercer —— outdone!





       &nbspI saw when from the turtle feast

       &nbsp       &nbspThe thick dark smoke in volumes rose!

       &nbspI saw the darkness of the mist

       &nbsp       &nbspEncircle thee, O Nose!

Shorn of thy rays thou shott'st a fearful gleam

       &nbsp(The turtle quiver'd with prophetic fright)

Gloomy and sullen thro' the night of steam:—

       &nbspSo Satan's Nose when Dunstan urg'd to flight,

Glowing from gripe of red-hot pincers dread

Athwart the smokes of Hell disastrous twilight shed!





       &nbspThe Furies to madness my brain devote—

       &nbsp       &nbspIn robes of ice my body wrap!

       &nbspOn billowy flames of fire I float,

       &nbsp       &nbspHear ye my entrails how they snap?

Some power unseen forbids my lungs to breathe!

       &nbspWhat fire-clad meteors round me whizzing fly!

I vitrify thy torrid zone beneath,

       &nbspProboscis fierce! I am calcined! I die!

Thus, like great Pliny, in Vesuvius' fire,

I perish in the blaze while I the blaze admire.