Odes by Q. Horatius Flaccus, and the City Poet of
1788
.
To Dicky Gossip
.
While he thinks of tittle-tattle, not to forget
his wiggery
.
Do you see that stately caxon,
Which looks with all its whiteness,
Like a bush o’erlaid with snow ;
And the curls, which range below,
Stand stiff in frosty brightness.
Come, melt some sweet pomatum—
And, for powder do not stint us ;
Draw your irons from the stove ;
And, Dicky, quickly move,
To make my old wig as portentous,
Don’t ask of to-morrow’s matters,
Since them, nor you, nor I, know ;
Mind your shop, my boy, nor spurn
From customers, to earn,
For scraping their muzzles, their rhino.“rhino” is
slang for money (OED).
Show yourself a wise wig-maker,
For sure you’ve enough to handle,
As long as folks don’t wear
Their own untrimmed grey hair,
Without heeding the whispers of scandal.
Yet ah, those ears so itching !
My muse can not restrain ’em ;
Should a laugh come from the street,
Comb and razor you would quit,
Nor longer could your fingers retain ’em.