Where Wheels ne’er shake the Ground; there pensive stray,
In studious Thought, the long uncrouded Way.
Here I remark each Walker’s diff’rent Face,
And in their Look their various Bus’ness trace.
The Broker here his spacious BeaverSpacious Beaver: a beaver hat that a business-man might have worn.
wears,
Upon his Brow sit Jealousies and Cares;
Bent on some Mortgage, to avoid Reproach,
He seeks bye Streets, and saves th’ expensive Coach.
Soft, at low Doors, old Letchers tap their Cane,
For fair Recluse, that travels
Drury-lane.fair Recluse, that travels Drury-lane: a prostitute. Drury Lane was infamous for its streetwalkers.
Here roams uncomb’d, the lavish Rake, to shun
His
Fleet-Street Draper’sDraper: one whose occupation is to sell cloth.
everlasting Dun.Dun: insistent demands that the rake pay his debt owing. — —
Inconveniences that attend those who are unacquainted with the Town.
Careful Observers, studious of the Town,
Shun the Misfortunes that disgrace the Clown.
Untempted, they contemn the Jugler’sJugler: a jester or conjurer, one who performs magic tricks by sleight of hand. Feats,
Pass by the
Meuse,Meuse: or Mews, a group of stables and carriage houses built around an open yard or alley to accommodate horses, carriages, etc. nor try the *A Cheat, commonly practic’d in the Streets, with three Thimbles and a little Ball. Thimble’s Cheats
When
When DraysDrays: also known as “draycarts.” Carts that carry beer.
bound high, they never cross behind,
Where bubbling YestYest: yeast. “The foam, spume, or flower of beer in fermentation” (Johnson).
is blown by gusts of wind:
And when up
Ludgate-hill
huge carts move slow,
Far from the straining Steeds, securely go,
Whose dashing Hoofs, behind them, fling the Mire,
And mark, with muddy Blots, the gazing ’Squire.
The ParthianParthian: native or inhabitant of Parthia, a region of the Achaemenid empire and later a kingdom
in modern-day Iran.
thus his Jav’lin backward throws,
And as he flies, infests pursuing Foes.
The thoughtless Wits shall frequent Forfeits pay,
Who ’gainst the Centry’s BoxCentry's Box: a small wooden structure where a guard can stand in bad weather.
discharge their Tea.Tea: in this case, urine.
Do thou some Court, or secret Corner seek,
Nor flush with Shame the passing Virgin’s Cheek.
Precepts vulgarly known.
Yet let me not descend to trivial Song,
Nor vulgar Circumstance my Verse prolong;
Why should I teach the Maid when Torrents pour,
Her Head to shelter from the sudden Show’r?
Nature