1798
ENGLISH POETRY 1579-1830: SPENSER AND THE TRADITION
Thomas James Mathias
Anonymous, "The Pursuits of Literature. To whom it may concern" The True Briton (13 April 1798).
Commentary for
Thomas James Mathias:
1779 ca.: William Cole
1796: Charles Lamb
1796: Frances Burney
1797: George Steevens
1797: Thomas Green
1798: Philomathes
1798: Anonymous
1798: Anonymous
1798: George Steevens
1798: Occident
1799: George Chalmers
1799: Dr. John Aikin
1799: Anonymous
1799: Anonymous
1800: Dr. Nathan Drake
1800: Anonymous
1801: Alexander Thomson
1803: William Roscoe
1804: Rev. William Herbert
1811: Lord Byron
1814: John Taylor Esq.
1815: William Henry Ireland
1817: Frances Burney
1826: Charles MacFarlane
1832: John Taylor Esq.
1834: Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges
1856: Samuel Rogers
1887: P. W. Clayden
To tremble to avow a name
Which to the purpose seems so pat,
Yet th' imputation not disclaim,
Betrays the shuffling Jesuit MAT!
In MACBETH'S speech, that dame of slaughter,
We find th' allusion to the Cat;
Who liked the fish, but fear'd the water;
The Puss resembles Jesuit MAT!
The Lies that bear him company,
The Wit so oft extremely flat,
False Learning's bloated Tympany,
All prove against the Jesuit MAT!
His spleenful, peevish, busy zeal,
Is like the buzzing of a Gnat;
Religion with a gory steel,
Proclaims the gloomy minded MAT!
Beneath the cautious veil of night
Comes forth the shard-born musky Bat;
So veil'd, steps forth, that Imp of Spite,
The sneaking, circumspective MAT!
Say, 'mid the Fiends must we enrol
This thing of literary chat!
Say, can this under working mole,
Be the soft manner'd Jesuit MAT!
Still to your face so very civil,
His arm descending with his hat;
"Oh, oh," exclaims aloud the devil,
"'Tis sure my little Jesuit MAT!"