Fable XLII. The Juggler
A juggler long through all the town
Had raised his fortune and renown;
You'd think (so far his art transcends)
The devil at his fingers' ends.
Vice heard his fame, she read his bill;
Convinced of his inferior skill,
She sought his booth, and from the crowd
Defied the man of art aloud:
'Is this, then, he so famed for sleight?
Can this slow bungler cheat your sight!
Dares he with me dispute the prize?
I leave it to impartial eyes.'
Provoked, the juggler cried, “tis done.
In science I submit to none.'
Thus said, the cups and balls he played;
By turns, this here, that there, conveyed.
The cards, obedient to his words,
Are by a fillip turned to birds.
His little boxes change the grain:
Trick after trick deludes the train.
He shakes his bag, he shows all fair;
His fingers spreads, and nothing there;
Then bids it rain with showers of gold,
And now his ivory eggs are told.
But when from thence the hen he draws,
Amazed spectators hum applause.
Vice now stept forth, and took the place
With all the forms of his grimace.
'This magic looking-glass,' she cries,
(There, hand it round) 'will charm your eyes.'
Each eager eye the sight desired,
And every man himself admired.
Next to a senator addressing:
'See this bank-note; observe the blessing,
Breathe on the bill.' Heigh, pass! 'Tis gone.
Upon his lips a padlock shone.
A second puff the magic broke,
The padlock vanished, and he spoke.
Twelve bottles ranged upon the board,
All full, with heady liquor stored,
By clean conveyance disappear,
And now two bloody swords are there.
A purse she to a thief exposed,
At once his ready fingers closed;
He opes his fist, the treasure's fled;
He sees a halter in its stead.
She bids ambition hold a wand;
He grasps a hatchet in his hand.
A box of charity she shows,
'Blow here;' and a churchwarden blows,
'Tis vanished with conveyance neat,
And on the table smokes a treat.
She shakes the dice, the boards she knocks,
And from all pockets fills her box.
She next a meagre rake address'd:
'This picture see; her shape, her breast!
What youth, and what inviting eyes!
Hold her, and have her.' With surprise,
His hand exposed a box of pills,
And a loud laugh proclaimed his ills.
A counter, in a miser's hand,
Grew twenty guineas at command.
She bids his heir the sum retain,
And 'tis a counter now again.
A guinea with her touch you see
Take every shape, but charity;
And not one thing you saw, or drew,
But changed from what was first in view.
The juggler now in grief of heart,
With this submission owned her art:
'Can I such matchless sleight withstand?
How practice hath improved your hand!
But now and then I cheat the throng;
You every day, and all day long.'
Related quotes
Fame And Fortune
Sittin' in the back of a limousine, feelin' just like a king
All the girls come runnin' to you, you're the latest thing
Sittin' up there at the top of the charts, lookin' like Mr. Cool
You take all the money, steal their hearts, they'll come runnin' to you
Your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
All your fame and your fortune, you better take a look around
With your fame and your fortune, careful who you talk to
Or the fame and your fortune, watch it all tumble down, yeah, oh listen now
Now you're lookin' for inspiration, somethin' to say
When you find that it don't come easy, you find them running away
You had it all in the palm of your hand, and let it slip away
You made it big, ooh so big, and then you threw it all away
All your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
Fame and your fortune, hey you better take another look
At your fame and your fortune, it set you up, then it caught you
Fame and your fortune, surely gonna let you down, hey tell me now
(Solo)
All your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
Take your fame and your fortune, wait and take a look around
For your fame and your fortune, who do you talk to
'Bout your fame and your fortune, as it all comes tumbling down
Fame and your fortune, fame and your fortune, yes all come tumbling down
Fame and your fortune, fame and your fortune, all comes tumbling down...
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song performed by by Bad Company
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Juggler of God
Back in the age of faith
when most lived in homes of sod
There lived a humble man
They called the juggler of God.
He was just a simple juggler
He could not read or write.
He performed his simple tricks
for children’s laughter and delight.
In return for food and shelter-
for he had little use for gold-
He travelled from town to town
until he at last grew old.
When arthritis swelled his joints
He grew stooped, his fingers cold
When at last his gifts had failed him
He turned attention to his soul.
In the order of Saint Benedict
The kind Abbot gave him place
Though he barely knew the prayers
His simple mind was full of grace.
In the chapel of Our Lady
The Juggler prayed there in the Aisle
Bemoaning his inability
to entertain the holy child.
He felt warmth in his fingers
A quick release from pain
He reached into his leather sack
for the objects of his trade.
There before the altar
The brother juggled for the Lord
It was to be his last performance
with a heavenly reward.
Back in the age of faith
when most lived in homes of sod
There lived a humble man
They called the juggler of God.
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fame & Fortune
Sittin in the back of a limousine, feelin just like a king
All the girls come runnin to you, youre the latest thing
Sittin up there at the top of the charts, lookin like mr. cool
You take all the money, steal their hearts, theyll come runnin to you
Your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
All your fame and your fortune, you better take a look around
With your fame and your fortune, careful who you talk to
Or the fame and your fortune, watch it all tumble down, yeah, oh listen now
Now youre lookin for inspiration, somethin to say
When you find that it dont come easy, you find them running away
You had it all in the palm of your hand, and let it slip away
You made it big, ooh so big, and then you threw it all away
All your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
Fame and your fortune, hey you better take another look
At your fame and your fortune, it set you up, then it caught you
Fame and your fortune, surely gonna let you down, hey tell me now
(solo)
All your fame and your fortune, look what it brought you
Take your fame and your fortune, wait and take a look around
For your fame and your fortune, who do you talk to
bout your fame and your fortune, as it all comes tumbling down
Fame and your fortune, fame and your fortune, yes all come tumbling down
Fame and your fortune, fame and your fortune, all comes tumbling down...
song performed by by Bad Company
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fame
As recorded by david bowie
Fame, makes a man take things over.
Fame, let's him lose, hard to swallow.
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow.
Fame.
Fame,
It's not your brain, it's just a flame,
That burns your change to keep you insane.
Fame.
Fame, what you like is in the limo.
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow.
Fame, what you need you have to borrow.
Fame.
Fame,
Now it's mine, it's just his line
To bind your time it drives you to crime.
Fame.
Is it any wonder
I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame.
Is it any wonder
You are too cool to fool?
Fame.
Fame,
Bully for you,
Chilly for me,
Got to get a raincheck on pain.
Fame.
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
Fame, fame, fame, - fame.
What's your name?
(fame, fame)
(fame, fame)
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fame
As recorded by david bowie
Fame, makes a man take things over.
Fame, let's him lose, hard to swallow.
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow.
Fame.
Fame,
It's not your brain, it's just a flame,
That burns your change to keep you insane.
Fame.
Fame, what you like is in the limo.
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow.
Fame, what you need you have to borrow.
Fame.
Fame,
Now it's mine, it's just his line
To bind your time it drives you to crime.
Fame.
Is it any wonder
I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame.
Is it any wonder
You are too cool to fool?
Fame.
Fame,
Bully for you,
Chilly for me,
Got to get a raincheck on pain.
Fame.
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
Fame, fame, fame, - fame.
What's your name?
(fame, fame)
(fame, fame)
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Completing Cycles
The Juggler throws
his batons at the sun.
The sky throws them back again
like rain,
each and every one.
Surely by now he knows
what it is he’s gaining?
Come Mr. Juggler,
look at it from your point of view,
just how long has it been raining?
On you?
poem by Brian Taylor
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Find My Fortune
Backwoods killer from a river town
A mixed up kid that let his hair hang down
High school rebel, hes always been bad
And his poor old mans still wondring bout the lad
But hes gone, gone away to find his fortune.
Theres a long-haired lady lookin for a home
With her young son, hed left them both alone
And his black-haired lovers got a broken heart
cause her lonely boy just wont play the part
cause hes gone, gone away to find his fortune.
And its been a long, long way
From that little town to l.a.
And I cant turn around
Ladies, Im gone, gone away to find my fortune.
A restless nature fed my crazy dreams
So I packed my bags in a big limousine
Laughed at the people who were laughin at me
Laughed and said Im gonna be what I be
And Im gone, gone away to find my fortune.
song performed by by Reo Speedwagon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fame And Fortune
Fame and fortune
how empty they can be
But when I hold you in my arms
That's heaven to me
Who cares for fame and fortune
They're only passing things
But the touch of your lips on mine
Makes me feel like a king
Your kind of love
is a treasure I hold
It's so much greater
than silver or gold
I know that I have nothing
If you should go away
But to know that you love me
Brings fame and fortune my way
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Little Town Girls Dream
she was a litle town girl with a common name
a little town girl seeking fortune and fame.
she would do what ever her agent said
including with him going to bed.
she said that nothing would get in her way
and to an audience she would play.
she had the voice of an angel so rare
and with the world she wanted to share.
she was a little town singer
a MARILYN MONROE ringer.
her beauty like her voice
would capture the hearts of men
and take her to her journeys end.
realizing that there are so many who
would abuse, which one should she choose?
starting to feel hurt, lonely, depressed
she went to a church that she heard
voices of beauty filling the air
walked in and started to stare.
for in the church no one was there.
but the voices continued to sing
and filled her heart with strange emotions
and she raised her voice in devotion.
her voice so beautiful
that it resouded through out the town
that people left their homes to follow the sound.
then they saw this girl with her back to the crowd
looking up at the cross, with her
arms outstretched to her sides.
singing HALELUJAH ON HIGH.
her voice touching all that stood there
a voice which was beyond compare.
the people joined in and started to sing
startled and in dismay, she turned and tried to run away.
but the people stopped her at the door
and begged her to stay
and fell to their knees and began to pray.
seeing this she got choked up inside.
for now the choice was no longer hers
but of the LORD, who gave her this voice
for the world to see.
that in GOSPEL, she was meant to be.
she raised her voice once again.
now who do you think this is my friend?
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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O. R. R.
(gary rossington -- johnny vanzant -- hughie thomasson -- rickey medlocke)
Theres a story to tell about days of old
A man and his gun, a street fighter Im told
Theres one in every town, tryin to make himself a name
If hes quicker on the draw, comes glory and fame
They say hes always alone, he rides a horse with no name
His only friend was the devil by his side but it caused him so much pain
If his guns could talk, oh, the stories they would tell
Of all the men who tried and lost, all the ones he sent to hell
(chorus)
They are outlaws, renegades, rebels on the run
They pay the price every day they live like the wrong end of a gun
Move around from town to town cant stay in any place to long
Outlaws, renegades... rebels on the run
Things havent changed much these days
Faces are younger, but still they keep playing the deadliest game
Brothers and sisters, what are we fightin for
Its not for the fame or the glory anymore
I hear the mothers cryin
Too many children dyin
How many tears have to fall to bring this to an end
They are outlaws, renegades, rebels on the run
They pay the price every day they live like the wrong end of a gun
Move around from town to town cant stay in any place to long
Outlaws, renegades... oh
Theyre all outlaws, renegades, rebels on the run
They pay the price every day they live like the wrong end of a gun
Move around from town to town cant stay in any place to long
Outlaws, renegades... rebels on the run
song performed by by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fame & Fortune
(words & music by fred wise - ben weisman)
Fame and fortune
How empty they can be
But when I hold you in my arms
Thats heaven to me
Who cares for fame and fortune
Theyre only passing things
But the touch of your lips on mine
Makes me feel like a king
Your kind of love
Is a treasure I hold
Its so much greater
Than silver or gold
I know that I have nothing
If you should go away
But to know that you love me
Brings fame and fortune my way
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fame
Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (fame)
Fame, its not your brain, its just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane (sane)
Fame (fame)
Fame, (fame) what you like is in the limo
Fame, (fame) what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, (fame) what you need you have to borrow
Fame (fame)
Fame, nien! its mine! is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to, crime
Fame (fame)
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Could it, babe? , could it, babe?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool
Fame (fame)
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain check on pain (pain)
(fame)
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame ,fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame
Whats your name?
Feeling so gay, feeling gay
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Truth In Thomas Gray
Long years ago I had this dream of fame
That mine would live on as remembered name
That people would remember me and say
A legend once a legend still today.
But I think quite different now than I thought then
That I'd know fame and outlive other men
And now I know it matters none at all
Before we walk we have to learn to crawl.
And who could disagree with Thomas Gray
His elegy alive and well today
'Those paths of glory still lead to the grave'
And man to immortality still a slave.
It matters little to you when you die
Your fame that lives on you cannot enjoy
So enjoy life why worry about fame
And treat all people equal all the same.
Longfellow wrote 'It is not always May'
And the fairest rose in garden yesterday
Today it's petals scattered on the ground
And other roses blooming all around.
In my younger years just west of Millstreet Town
I yearned for fame and riches and renown
But now I see the truth in Thomas Gray
And I look at life in quite a different way.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Three Gods Best Avoided
Power, pleasure and fame are three Gods best avoided
Power for leading only to its own corruption
And denial of death where power ends.
Pleasure for its involution upon the self
Where freedom lies in finding others
The self a false center.
Fame for ephemeral lure
To those deprived of love's true nourishing milk
Easily forgetting that ax murderers
Have fame to no avail.
Power, pleasure and fame are three Gods best avoided.
poem by Bill Grace
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Red Is The Blood
You are one who is born to lead
A very fine person indeed
And great things we hear of you and read
Though red is the blood we all bleed.
Your name is sir and your wife's name is dame
And you are not strangers to fame
And despite the title in your name
Your blood it is red just the same
As those in the poor side of town
Poor strangers to wealth and renown
The blood that flow through their heart to their head
Than your blood is no less a red.
You are a World renowned athlete
And the best of all Nations you've beat
You stride out so graceful and tall
Though your blood it is red after all.
The royal one wears a diamond crown
As in a horse drawn carriage she is driven through the town
But to live food and water she need
And red is the blood that she bleed.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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What He Did....
what he did, he did his best,
when asked to sing, he sang
when asked to jump, he jumped
he did not only become a singer
he became a juggler as well,
this is because he wants,
and all he wanted was to please them
not just her
but all of them,
i pity him, he became a clown at the end
of those crazy years of yearning to please
the people that he loves
specially, that woman
because he loves her that much
but what about her? she becomes the
devil,
his devil that consumes every flesh on him
every bone she scraped
for seasoning
and sometimes i ask myself
upon looking at this ghastly situation
how did he become a clown
and how did she turn herself into a devil?
i don't think love was the reason.
i think, it is something else,
and we still did not know it.
until now, accurately.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fame '90 (Gass Remix)
Fame 90
David Bowie
words and music by David Bowie, John Lennon and Carlos Alomar
Fame, makes a man take things over
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow
Fame
Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane
Fame
Fame-f-fame
Fame, what you like is in the limo
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
Fame
Fame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime
Fame
(What's your name?)
Fame
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it babe?
Really, really?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool
Fame
Fame-f-fame
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain check on pain
Fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame
Fame
What's your name?
(whispered)
Feeling so gay, feeling gay
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Macer : A Character
When simple Macer, now of high renown,
First fought a Poet's Fortune in the Town,
'Twas all th' Ambition his high soul could feel,
To wear red stockings, and to dine with Steele.
Some Ends of verse his Betters might afford,
And gave the harmless fellow a good word.
Set up with these he ventur'd on the Town,
And with a borrow'd Play, out-did poor Crown.
There he stopp'd short, nor since has write a tittle,
But has the wit to make the most of little;
Like stunted hide-bound Trees, that just have got
Sufficient sap at once to bear and rot.
Now he begs Verse, and what he gets commends,
Not of the Wits his foes, but Fools his friends.
So some coarse Country Wench, almost decay'd,
Trudges to town, and first turns Chambermaid;
Awkward and supple, each devoir to pay;
She flatters her good Lady twice a day;
Thought wond'rous honest, tho' of mean degree,
And strangely lik'd for her Simplicity:
In a translated Suit, then tries the Town,
With borrow'd Pins, and Patches not her own:
But just endur'd the winter she began,
And in four months a batter'd Harridan.
Now nothing left, but wither'd, pale, and shrunk,
To bawd for others, and go shares with Punk.
poem by Alexander Pope
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Dreams of Poetry
Some men dream for fortune,
others dream for fame.
Some to go where none have been,
most dreams are all the same.
Some men dream of lovers,
so do some for hate.
Many dream to die in peace,
and be let inside GODS gates.
Men do dream for peace on earth,
a son born first in birth.
Many still do dream has children,
and want their moneys worth,
But me I dream of pleasure,
for men who read my words.
I dream to be poet,
a poet whom is heard.
Heard and loved and wanted for,
what lies inside my heart.
When I dream of anything,
poetry is where it starts...
poem by Ken Bennight
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Satire #1
Lord, take this makeup of off of me.
I said, lordy, lordy, lordy, take this makeup offa me.
Its bad enough on the beach,
But its worse in the sea.
Because Im knockin on heavens door.
Because Im lookin for my ma.
I said, ma, take these guns away from me.
I said, ma, take these guns away from me.
I got so thin now, theyre draggin me down to my knees.
Oh yeah, man, do you mr. jones?
Town,
Now Ive been here so long, I almost forgot my name.
I said, lord I been here so long I almost forgot my name.
But as long as I keep touring,
Ill always be in the game, fame, brain, shame and fame and game, fame, fame....
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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