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Three warnings to John Bull

Posted Sun, 13/09/2009 - 22:19 by David Thrale

Originally entitled ’Three warning to John Bull before he dies, by an old acquaintance of the Public’. Written by Hester whilst staying at Warren’s Hotel in the winter of 1797 and published anonymously in the Spring of 1798. It retells Sir Charles Wager’s story of the Three Warnings, and then applies the fable to John Bull.1

The tree of deepest root is found
Least willing still to quit the ground:
’T was therefore said by ancient sages,
That love of life increased with years
So much, that in our latter stages,
When pain grows sharp and sickness rages
The greatest love of life appears.

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale, whilst staying at Warren’s Hotel in the winter of 1797 and published anonymously in the Spring of 1798.

  1. 1. John Bartlett, comp. (1820-1905). Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. 1901. First published in Anna Williams, Miscellanies in Prose and Verse. (London: Davies, 1766), pp. 74-80. Later published separately as The Three Warnings (Kidderminster: John Gower, 1792).
Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout. More writings by her »
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