Poetry · Chapter
To the Goddess of Fame explained
The speaker addresses the Goddess of Fame as a drunken barmaid, mocking her for giving a halo on credit to Napoleon and for associating with kings and the Tsar.
What happens
The speaker addresses the Goddess of Fame as a drunken barmaid, mocking her for giving a halo on credit to Napoleon and for associating with kings and the Tsar. He invites her to lodge with him, seeking her smile and shelter under her wings despite her lowly manners.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Hypocrisy
The poem satirizes the goddess Fame as a drunken barmaid who dispenses haloes on credit, mocking the hypocrisy of fame and honor.
Social Injustice and Class
The speaker contrasts the lowly, drunken barmaid with kings and the Tsar, highlighting class disparities and the vulgarity of power.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who addresses the Goddess of Fame, inviting her to lodge with him.
Key passages
“Was it on credit thou gavest one To the thief of Versailles, that Corsican?”
Did you give a halo on credit to Napoleon, the thief from Versailles?
The speaker accuses Fame of bestowing honor on Napoleon undeservedly.
“Come then awhile with me to lodge, Fondly, together, trouble we’ll dodge.”
Come stay with me for a while; we'll avoid trouble together in fondness.
The speaker invites Fame to share his company and escape life's difficulties.