Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903.

Poems: 1718–27

Poems Suggested by Gulliver. I. Ode to Quinbus Flestrin

The Man Mountain, by Titty Tit, Poet Laureate to His Majesty of Lilliput. Translated into English

This ‘Ode’ and the three following poems, were written by Pope after reading Gulliver’s Travels, and first published in the Miscellanies of Pope and Swift, in 1727.

IN amaze

Lost I gaze!

Can our eyes

Reach thy size!

May my lays

Swell with praise,

Worthy thee!

Worthy me!

Muse, inspire

All thy fire!

Bards of old

Of him told,

When they said

Atlas’ head

Propp’d the skies:

See! and believe your eyes!

See him stride

Valleys wide,

Over woods,

Over floods!

When he treads,

Mountains’ heads

Groan and shake,

Armies quake;

Lest his spurn

Overturn

Man and steed:

Troops, take heed!

Left and right,

Speed your flight!

Lest an host

Beneath his foot be lost;

Turn’d aside

From his hide

Safe from wound,

Darts rebound.

From his nose

Clouds he blows!

When he speaks,

Thunder breaks!

When he eats,

Famine threats!

When he drinks,

Neptune shrinks!

Nigh thy ear

In mid air,

On thy hand

Let me stand;

So shall I,

Lofty poet! touch the sky.