Risk is the Hair that holds the Tun 1
Seductive in the Air－
That Tun is hollow－but the Tun－
With Hundred Weights－to spare－
Too ponderous to suspect the snare 5
Espies that fickle chair
And seats itself to be let go
By that perfidious Hair－
The "foolish Tun" the Critics say－9
While that delusive Hair
Persuasive as Perdition,
Decoys its Traveller.
Seductive in the Air－
That Tun is hollow－but the Tun－
With Hundred Weights－to spare－
Too ponderous to suspect the snare 5
Espies that fickle chair
And seats itself to be let go
By that perfidious Hair－
The "foolish Tun" the Critics say－9
While that delusive Hair
Persuasive as Perdition,
Decoys its Traveller.
(F.1253/J.1239)
[1] Hair, Tun:: an air balloon with a passenger car.
[2] Air:: a hint on air balloon.
[6] fickle chair:: the air balloon travel seems dangerous.
Montgolfier, of France, may be considered as the inventor of the air-balloon. To an elliptical bag of silk, 74 feet in length, and 48 in breadth, he attached a car for aerial travelers; and succeeded in raising this immense balloon by means of air, heated by burning combustibles in a grate, below the silk bag. ─ Natural Philosophy for Schools (1848)
The Air Balloon. Whilst Mr. Dalben and Henry were employed with their books, on the following afternoon, little Maurice ran into the room out of breath, crying out, "Oh! sir, sir, master, and little master, there's a ship in the sky, sir, there's a ship in the sky, and its coming this way; indeed it is; I saw it with my own eyes, and I am all in a tremble; sure, master, the world is not coming to an end?" ─ The History of Henry Milner (1835)