Or Wheels enclose the road; on either Hand,
Pent round with Perils, in the midst you stand,
And call for Aid in vain; the Coachman swears,
And Carmen drive, unmindful of thy prayers.
Where wilt thou turn? ah! whither wilt thou fly?
On ev’ry side the pressing Spokes are nigh.
So Sailors, while
Charybdis’Charybdis: a sea monster in Greek mythology. Charybdis, along with the sea monster Scylla, appears
as a challenge to sailors. Both monsters are encountered by such epic heroes as Oddysseus,
Jason, and Aeneas.
Gulphs they shun,
Amaz’d, on
Scylla’sScylla: sea monster. See “Charybdis” above. craggy Dangers run.
Be sure observe where brown
OstreaOstrea: an oyster wench, one who sells oysters. stands,
Of Oysters.
Who boasts her shelly Ware from
WallfleetWallfleet: a place in Essex, well-known for its oysters.
Sands;
There may’st thou pass, with safe unmiry Feet,
Where the rais’d Pavement leads athwartathwart: across the course of. the
Street.
If where Fleet-Ditch with muddy Current flows,
You chance to roam; where Oyster-TubsOyster-Tubs: tubs where oyster sellers put their wares while calling out to customers.
in Rows
Are rang’d beside the Posts; there stay thy Haste,
And with the sav’ry fish indulge thy Taste:
F
The
The Damsel’s knife the gaping Shell commands,
While the Salt Liquor streams between her Hands.
The Man had sure a Palate cover’d o’er
With Brass or Steel, that on the rocky Shore
First broke the oozy Oyster’s pearly Coat,
And risqu’d the living Morsel down his Throat.
What will not Lux’ry taste? Earth, Sea, and Air
Are daily ransack’d for the Bill of Fare.
Blood stuff’d in Skins is British Christian’s Food;
And
France robs marshes of the croaking brood;
SpungySpungy: like a sponge. MorellsMorells: mushrooms.
in strong RagoustsRagousts: ragouts, “meat stewed and highly seasoned” (Johnson).
are found,
And in the Soupe the slimy Snail is drown’d.
Observations concerning keeping the Wall.
When from high Spouts the dashing Torrents Fall,
Ever be watchful to maintain the Wall;
For