Dialogue II

Whale. I Am the bold Whale. (Herring:)—And the brisk Herring I.
Whale. Thro' the Ocean I roll. (Herring.) O're the Shallows I fly.
Whale. Per fidem be gone from my presence! How dare
The ridiculous Mouse with the Mountain compare?
Herring. Take my Honour, take my Life! to my Post I'll abide,
Now I find such Authority plain o' my side,
Tho' you swell, yet, unless the Rehearsal do's lie,
There's ten times more Beauty and Shape in a Fly.
Whale. Tho' with ease I could breath thee to nothing again
Or spout thee a Mile, to thy Enemies, Men;
Like Phaebus I'll stoop from my glittering Throne,
And even descend to dispute for my own;
A couple we'll chuse, who the Umpires shall be,
The Dolphin is mine. (Herring)—The Shrimp my Referee.
Whale. When in the Abyss I no longer did sleep,
But kind Mother Nature call'd me out of the deep;
What a Gulph did I leave i' the space whence I came?
What a Canle of Chaos was spent i' my frame!
When Nature the Whale into Being did bring,
She smil'd, and she cry'd—He is made for a King.
Herring. Tho' a World of dull Bullion your essence do's hold,
Scarce an Atom of Soul was cast into the Mould,
Room enough, and to spare lavish Nature allows,
But provides not a Tenant to suit with the House:
As for me, tho' she veils me with Flesh, and with Skin,
Yet my Form's little else but pure Spirit within:
And in vain you your Bulk for your Monarchy bring,
For if the Ocean were Goth-land who but I should be King.
Whale. Not alone on my Bulk I intend to rely;
My Strength, and my Courage with my Magnitude vye:
My side is too thick for a Spear or a Dart;
Huge Rafters of Ribs barricado my Heart.
Even Neptune himself is afraid when I roar,
And his quiv'ring Court dive away to the Shore.
With a courage undaunted I'll a Navy assail,
And disorder whole Squadrons by a brust with my Tail.
Herring. Your strength and your Valour must needs be Divine,
When you 're caught, like a Gudgeon with a Hook, and a Line:
When spite of Dame Luna, at Ebb 'twill be flood,
And you make a Spring-tide all around with your Blood.
Whale. The Laws of hard Nature forbid to withstand,
That Forreigner Man, the fierce Tyrant o'th' Land:
'Tis the Sea is my Kingdom, and the Waters must own,
At home I have ever been Monarch alone.
Herring. Yes, as oft, as the Sword-fish, and Thrasher will please
To leave off their Sport, and allow you som ease:
On your Noddle and under your Paunch they are set,
While one Reyns you in, 'tother makes you Curvet;
Then Neptune indeed may shake when you roar,
Tho' you 're Nine-mile at Sea, they can hear you ashore.
Dolphin. All to Arms! all to Arms! while we scolding sit here,
Look! look where the Enemyes fleet do's appear:
The Fishermans Navy with sail, and with Oar,
That has often among us made Havock before.
Shrimp, Herring. I boyl—and I broyl till my Ierkin do's crack.
Whale. And I feel barbed Irons like a Grove on my back:
'Tis in vain with such Odds for the Combat to stay,
All shift for your selves, and I'll lead you the way.