Twice twenty Days shall Clouds their FleecesFleeces: wool shorn from a sheep, here used to describe snow or perhaps more general
precipitations.
drain,
And wash the Pavements with incessant Rain.
Let not such vulgar Tales debase thy Mind;
Nor Paul nor
Swithin
rules the Clouds and Wind.
If you the PreceptsPrecepts: divine commands. of the Muse despise,
And slight the faithful Warnings of the Skies,
Others you’ll see, when all the Town’s afloat,
Wrapt in th’ Embraces of a Kersey Coat,Kersey Coat: Kersey is a coarse/cheap material used here for a coat.Or double-button’d Frieze;Freize: a coarse type of warm cloth or fabric, perhaps originating in Friesland. their guarded Feet
Defie the muddy Dangers of the Street,
While you, with Hat unloop’d, the Fury dread
Of Spouts high-streaming, and with cautious Tread
Shun ev’ry dashing Pool; or idly stop,
To seek the kind Protection of a Shop.
But Bus’nessBus’ness: business. summons; now with hasty
ScudScud: to run away with precipitation (Johnson).
You jostle for the Wall; the spatter’d Mud
Hides
Hides all thy HoseHose: breeches or stockings. behind; in vain you
scow’r;
Thy Wig alas! uncurl’d, admits the Show’r.
So fierce
Alecto’sAlecto: one of the Furies in Greek mythology, notably, with snakes for hair.
snaky TressesTresses: knots, curls, or braids of hair. fell,
When
OrpheusOrpheus: a classical musician and prophet from Virgil’s Georgics and Greek
mythology. A renowned poet, Orpheus travelled with Jason and the Argonauts seeking the Golden Fleece,
and famously made a descent into the underworld to recover his lost wife, Eurydice.
charm’d the rig’rous Pow’rs of Hell.
Or thus hung
Glaucus’Glaucus: a Greek prophetic sea-god, born mortal but turned immortal after eating a magical herb.
It was believed that he came to the rescue of sailors and fishermen in storms, having earlier earned a
living from the sea himself.
Beard, with brinybriny: salty. Dew
Clotted and strait, when first his am’rous View
Surpris’d the bathing Fair; the frighted Maid
Now stands a Rock, transform’d by
Circe’sCirce: an enchantress and a minor goddess in ancient Greek mythology and religion. Circe was
renowned for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs and for connections to healing and nature. Through
the use of these and a magic wand or staff, she would transform her enemies, or those who offended her,
into animals.
Aid.
Implements proper for female Walkers.
Good Huswives all the Winter’s Rage despise,
Defended by the Riding-hood’s Disguise;
Or underneath th’ Umbrella’s oily Shed,Umbrella’s oily Shed: the umbrella is a shed, a temporary covering; it is oily because it has been treated with oils to make it waterproof.
Safe thro’ the Wet on clinking PattensPattens: shoes made of wood with an iron ring that women wore fastened around their regular shoes to keep them above the dirt and mud.
tread.
Let PersianPersian: a native or inhabitant of Persia, known today as Iran.
Dames th’ Umbrella’s Ribs display,
To guard their Beauties from the sunny Ray;
Or sweating Slaves support the shady Load,
When Eastern Monarchs shewShew: show. their State abroad;
Britain