Three spirits of most dreadful fame,
Fever, Gout, and War.
Death gave them welcome; for, of all
The ills that plague our earthly ball,
These most dreaded are.
Then Pest steps forward—all agree
That he too, has great potency.
Then comes a Doctor, at whose name
'Twas evident he had a claim,
Which caused e'en Death himself to doubt
How his selection must turn out.
But when the Vices all advance,
Death could no longer hesitate
Which most his service would enhance,
Or which was his true candidate:
Vice of all vice—Intemperance—
He chose prime minister of state.
FABLE LI.
THE JOURNEY.
To set out ere the dawn of day,
Groping in darkness for the way,
Caring for naught, nor making quest
If going North, South, East, or West;—
From fall to fall to stumble on
Till near one-third the course be run:
Then, as the dark clouds gather round,
To enter on unstable ground,
Yet pushing onwards, though quite lost,
'Midst thick'ning doubts, and tempest tost,
