From an Old Book of Fables

A shattering poem from my "Accursed Wealth" chapbook.  Obviously unpublished in his day, and too honest for most in our own time too.

‘Gold is a general purchaser – buys all

‘From the high alter pallace bench & Hall

‘Down to the humble cottage hut or stall

‘Buys smiles or tears melts eyes or drys em – gold

‘Like Esops satire buys[1]breath hot and cold

‘Makes out all wants & all defects supplies

‘Een the old wrinkled hag young courtier buys

‘Can buy an ass a penegaric – build

‘A dog a monument[2]– vice with virtue gild

‘Nay buys a coward laurels -- & what not

‘Thus the proud Gaul[3]the stile of a great has got

‘That neer faced foe in reach of cannon shot

‘Buys knaves an office traitors power & trust

‘High & low fliers bought with shining dust

‘Buys villany a mask hypocrisy paint

‘Buys inside devil the out side face o’ saint

‘Buys tyrants champions – cut throats caps & knees

‘Buys lies & oaths buys souls & consiences

‘Buys prayers & curses buys both earth & hell

‘Nay buys heaven too at least if Rome can sell

‘What is it which that tempting ore cant buy

‘Buys everything but truth & honesty

MP II 192

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[1] Aesop has ‘blows’

[2] "Epitaph to a Dog" is a poem by Lord Byron.  It was written in 1808 in honour of his Newfoundland dog, Boatswain, who had just died of rabies.  The poem is inscribed on Boatswain's tomb, which is larger than Byron's, at Newstead Abbey, Byron's estate.

[3] Napoleon Bonaparte