His muzzle, formed of opposition stuff, So kept it-laughing at the steel and suds: Vowing the direst vengeance, with clenched claws, Hodge sought the fellow-found him—and begun: That people flay themselves out of their lives: To cry up razors that can't shave." "Friend," quoth the razor-man, "I'm not a knave: As for the razors you have bought, Upon my soul I never thought That they would shave." "Not think they'd shave!" quoth Hodge, with wond'ring eyes, And voice not much unlike an Indian yell; "What were they made for then, you dog?" he cries: "Made !" quoth the fellow, with a smile-" to sell." THE SAILOR BOY AT PRAYERS. PETER PINDAR. A GREAT law Chief, whom God nor demon scares, Patting the angry lawyer on the shoulder, Admiring such a novel mode of sinning: Like this, a subject would be reckoned rare, Which proves what blood game infidels can dare; Which to my memory brings a fact, Which nothing but an English tar would act. In ships of war, on Sunday's, prayers are given; Where, if they find no brandy to get drunk, Then vow they to th' Almighty to reform, In calms, indeed, or gentle airs, They ne'er on weekdays pester heaven with prayers; For 'tis among the Jacks a common saying, "Where there's no danger, there's no need of praying." One Sunday morning all were met To hear the parson preach and pray, All but a boy, who, willing to forget That prayers were handing out, had stolen away, And, thinking praying but a useless task, Had crawled to take a nap, into a cask. The boy was soon found missing, and full soon Gave him a clawing to some tune This cat's a cousin Germain to the Knout. "Come out, you skulking dog," the boatswain crie 1, "And save your d-d young sinful soul." He then the moral-mending cat applied, And turned him like a badger from his hole. Sulky the boy marched on, and did not mind him, BIENSEANCE. THERE is a little moral thing in France, Called by the natives bienseance; PETER PINDAR. Much are the English mob inclined to scout it, To bienseance 'tis tedious to incline, In many cases; To flatter, par example, keep smooth faces When kicked, or suffering grievous want of coin. To vulgars, bienseance may seem an oddity— A sort of magic wand; Which, if 'tis used with ingenuity, In place of something solid, it will stand. For verily I've marveled times enow Bows are a bit of bienseance Much practiced too in that same France: THE PETIT MAITRE, AND THE MAN ON THE WHEEL. At Paris some time since, a murdering man, A German, and a most unlucky chap, The bungler was condemned to grace the wheel, His limbs secundum artem to be broke A flippant petit maitre skipping by, Stepped up to him, and checked him for his cry "Boh!" quoth the German, "an't I 'pon de wheel? D'ye tink my nerfs and bons can't feel?" 'Sir," quoth the beau, “don't, don't be in a passion ; I've naught to say about your situation; But making such a hideous noise in France, KINGS AND COURTIERS. How pleasant 'tis the courtier clan to see! So prompt to drop to majesty the knee; PETER PINDAR. And, if expectant of some high employ, How rich the incense to the royal nose! How liquidly the oil of flattery flows! But should the monarch turn from sweet to sour, How altered instantly the courtier clan! How faint! how pale! how woe-begone, and wan! Thus Corydon, betrothed to Delia's charms, In maddening fancy, cheeks, eyes, lips devours; In rich luxuriance o'er a breast of snow, Night, too, entrances-slumber brings the dream- But if his nymph unfortunately frowns, Sad, chapfallen, lo! he hangs himself or drowns! Oh, try with bliss his moments to beguile: Strive not to make your sovereign frown-but smile: Sublime are royal nods-most precious things!- To have him lean familiar on one's shoulder, A heart of very stone must grow quite glad. The excess of joy would nearly make me mad! Blessed, I should make this coat my coat of arms, And show my children's children o'er and o'er; "Here"-pointing to the shoulder-I should say, "Here majesty's own hand so sacred lay”— Then p'rhaps repeat some speech the king might utter; As-"Peter, how go sheep a score? what? what? What's cheapest meat to make a bullock fat? Ha? he? what, what's the price of country butter ?" Then should I, strutting, give myself an air, And deem myself adorned with immortality: Poor lost America, high honors missing, Knows naught of smile, and nod, and sweet hand-kissing; Knows naught of golden promises of kings; Knows naught of coronets, and stars, and strings; In solitude the lovely rebel sighs! But vainly drops the penitential tear— Deaf as the adder to the woman's cries, We suffer not her wail to wound our ear: For food we bid her hopeless children prowl, And with the savage of the desert howl. |