And he thought that all the world over The Devil then he prophesied It would one day be matter of talk, And with wit moreover being happily bitten, A pretty mistake, quoth the Devil; I have put many ill thoughts in his mouth, And whoever shall say that to Porson And if seeking an illicit connection with fame, In this comical competition; That excellent poem will prove A man-trap for such foolish ambition, Where the silly rogue shall be caught by the leg, And exposed in a second edition. Now the morning air was cold for him For he had some morning calls to make So thought he I'll step into a gaming-house, But just before he could get to the door A wonderful chance befell For all on a sudden, in a dark place, He came upon General -'s burning face; And it struck him with such consternation, CHURCH AND STATE. THOMAS MOORE. WHEN Royalty was young and bold, If 't is not civil to say old At least, a ci-devant jeune homme. One evening, on some wild pursuit, And took him in his vis-à-vis. This said Religion was a friar, "I say"-quoth Royalty, who rather Enjoy'd a masquerading joke "I say, suppose, my good old father, You lend me, for a while, your cloak." The friar consented-little knew What tricks the youth had in his head; Besides, was rather tempted, too, By a laced coat he got in stead. Away ran Royalty, slap-dash, Scampering like mad about the town; Broke windows-shiver'd lamps to smash, And knock'd whole scores of watchmen down. While naught could they whose heads were broke, Learn of the "why" or the "wherefore," Except that 't was Religion's cloak The gentleman, who crack'd them, wore. Meanwhile, the Friar, whose head was turn'd Dealt much in pompous oaths and curses- As work like this was unbefitting, And flesh and blood no longer bore it, Where, after hours in wrangling spent And Royalty pack'd off to Bridewell: With this proviso-Should they be They both must give security In future, against such offenses Religion ne'er to lend his cloak, Seeing what dreadful work it leads to; And Royalty to crack his joke But not to crack poor people's heads, too. LYING. I DO confess, in many a sigh, THOMAS MOORE. My lips have breath'd you many a lie, Nay-look not thus, with brow reproving: If half we swear to think and do, And now, my gentle hints to clear, THE MILLENNIUM. SUGGESTED BY THE LATE WORK OF THE REVEREND MR. IRV-NG CC ON PROPHECY." THOMAS MOORE. MILLENNIUM at hand!—I'm delighted to hear it— Only think, Master Fred, what delight to behold, Sound bullion throughout, from the roof to the flags A city where wine and cheap corn shall abound A celestial Cocaigne, on whose butterfly shelves We may swear the best things of this world will be found, As your saints seldom fail to take care of themselves! Thanks, reverend expounder of raptures elysian, Thanks, thanks for the hopes thou hast given us, that we Which so long has been promised by prophets like thee, There was Whiston, who learnedly took Prince Eugene There was Counsellor Dobbs, too, an Irish M.P., A Millennium break out in the town of Armagh! There was also-but why should I burden my lay To the last new Millennium of Orator Irv-ng. Go on, mighty man-doom them all to the shelf And, when next thou with prophecy troublest thy sconce, Oh, forget not, I pray thee, to prove that thyself Art the Beast (chapter 4) that sees nine ways at once! |