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Swift's "A Description of the Morning," lines 5-6. (Jonathan Swift's poem)

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From: ANQ
Date: 19940101
Author:Clark, John R.

Jonathan Swift's poem 'A Description of the Morning' portrays indolence in London, as in lines five and six concerning an apprentice. Critics have assumed that the lines describe him sprinkling water on a floor to clean it, but he is rather sprinkling the dirt that he has swept, to give the appearance of working. The poem is a satire on city life, showing the affectation and false posturing of city dwellers.

The Slipshod Prentice from his Masters Door,

Had par'd the Dirt, and Sprinkled round the Floor.

(Swift, I, 124)

A ...

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