heaven again, Or he'll infect hell's wide domain."     The god of pills, in sore surprise, A spring then backwards took:    "Is this his highness' usual guise?    'Tis in the brain, I see, that lies The mischief—what a look! See how his eyes in frenzy roll! The case is bad, upon my soul!     "A journey to Elysium The infectus would dissolve, Making the saps less tough become, As through the Capitolium And stomach they revolve. Provisionally be it so:    Let's start then—but incognito!"     "Ay, worthy sir, no doubt well meant! If, in these regions hazy, As with you folk, so charged with scent, You dapper ones who heaven frequent,     'Twere proper to be lazy, If hell a master needed not, Why, then I'd follow on the spot!     "Ha! if the cat once turned her back, Pray where would be the mice? They'd sally forth from every crack, My very mufti would attack, Spoil all things in a trice! Oddsbodikins! 'tis pretty cool! I'll let him see I'm no such fool!     "A pleasant uproar happened erst, When they assailed my tower! No fault of mine 'twas, at the worst, That from their desks and chains to burst Philosophers had power. What, has there e'er escaped a poet? Help, heaven! what misery to know it!     "When days are long, folks talk more stuff! Upon your seats, no doubt, With all your cards and music rough, And scribblings too, 'tis hard enough The moments to eke out. Idleness, like a flea will gnaw On velvet cushions,—as on straw.     "My brother no attempt omits To drive away ennui; His lightning round about him flits, The target with his storms he hits     (Those howls prove that to me), Till Rhea's trembling shoulders ache, And force me e'en for hell to quake.     "Were I grandfather Coelus, though, You wouldn't soon escape! Into my belly straight you'd go, And in your swaddling-clothes cry 'oh!'     And through five windows gape! First o'er my stream you'd have to come, And then, perhaps, to Elysium!     "Your steed you mounted, I dare say, In hopes to catch a goose; If it is worth the trouble, pray Tell what you've heard from me to-day, At shaving time, to Zeus. Just leave him then to swallow it; I don't care what he thinks a bit;     "You'd better now go homeward straight! Your servant! there's the door! For all your pains—one moment wait! I'll give you—liberal is the rate—     A piece of ruby-ore. In heaven such things are rareties; We use them for base purposes."          BOOK III. The god at once, then, said farewell, At small politeness striving; When sudden through the crowds of hell A flying courier rushed pell-mell, From Tellus' bounds arriving.    

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