The poems and essays 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 DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. A TALE. Seclcded from domestic strife, Jack Bookworm led a college life : A Fellowship at twenty-five Made him the happiest m... more »an alive : He drank his glass, and crack'd his joke, And Freshmen wonder'd as he spoke. Such pleasures, unallay'd with care, Could any accident impair ? Could Cupid's shaft at length transfix Our swain arriv'd at thirty-six ? O had the archer ne'er come down To ravage in a country town ! Or Flavia been content to stop At triumphs in a Fleet-street shop ! 62 THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. O had her eyes forgot to blaze! Or Jack had wanted eyes to gaze! O! But let exclamation cease,— Her presence banish'd all bis peace. So, with decorum all things carried, Miss frown'd,andblush'd,and then was-married. Need we expose to vulgar sight The raptures of the bridal night ? Need we intrude on hallow'd ground, Or draw the curtains clos'd around ? Let it suffice, that each had charms; He clasp'd a goddess in his arms ; And, though she felt his usage rough, Yet in a man 'twas well enough. The honey-moon like lightning flew, The second brought its transports too; A third, a fourth, were not amiss, The fifth was friendship mix'd with bliss l But when a twelvemonth pass'd away, Jack found his goddess made of clay ; Found half the charms that deck'd her face Arose from powder, shreds, or lace ; But still the worst remain'd behind, That very face had robb'd her mind- Skill'd in no other arts was she, But dressing, patching, repartee; And, just as humour rose or fell, By turns a slattern or a belle. 'Tis true she dress'd with modern grace, Half naked at a ball or race ; But when at home, at board or bed, Five greasy night-caps wrapt her head. Could so much beauty condescend To be a dull d...« less