Volume Iv Part 26 (1/2)
Now, see, where, focused on one head, The race's glories s.h.i.+ne: The head gets narrow at the top, But mark the jaw--how fine!
Don't call it satyr-like; you'd wound Some scores, whose honest pates The self-same type present, upon The Carabas estates!
Look at his skin--at four-score years How fresh it gleams and fair: He never tasted ill-dressed food, Or breathed in tainted air.
The n.o.ble blood glows through his veins Still, with a healthful pink; His brow scarce wrinkled!--Brows keep so That have not got to think.
His hand 's ungloved!--it shakes, 'tis true, But mark its tiny size, (High birth's true sign) and shape, as on The lackey's arm it lies.
That hand ne'er penned a useful line, Ne'er worked a deed of fame, Save slaying one, whose sister he-- Its owner--brought to shame.
They ye got him in--he's gone to vote Your rights and mine away; Perchance our lives, should men be scarce, To fight his cause for pay.
We are his slaves! he owns our lands, Our woods, our seas, and skies; He'd have us shot like vicious dogs, Should we in murmuring rise!
Chapeau bas!
Chapeau bas!
Gloire au Marquis de Carabas!
Robert Brough [1828-1860]
A MODEST WIT
A supercilious nabob of the East-- Haughty, being great--purse-proud, being rich-- A governor, or general, at the least, I have forgotten which--
Had in his family a humble youth, Who went from England in his patron's suit, An una.s.suming boy, in truth A lad of decent parts, and good repute.
This youth had sense and spirit; But yet with all his sense, Excessive diffidence Obscured his merit.
One day, at table, flushed with pride and wine, His Honor, proudly free, severely merry, Conceived it would be vastly fine To crack a joke upon his secretary.
”Young man,” he said, ”by what art, craft, or trade, Did your good father gain a livelihood?”-- ”He was a saddler, sir,” Modestus said, ”And in his time was reckoned good.”
”A saddler, eh! and taught you Greek, Instead of teaching you to sew!
Pray, why did not your father make A saddler, sir, of you?”
Each parasite, then, as in duty bound, The joke applauded, and the laugh went round.
At length Modestus, bowing low, Said (craving pardon, if too free he made), ”Sir, by your leave, I fain would know Your father's trade!”
”My father's trade! by heaven, that's too bad!
My father's trade? Why, blockhead, are you mad?
My father, sir, did never stoop so low-- He was a gentleman, I'd have you know.”
”Excuse the liberty I take,”
Modestus said, with archness on his brow, ”Pray, why did not your father make A gentleman of you?”
Selleck Osborn [1783-1826]
JOLLY JACK
When fierce political debate Throughout the isle was storming, And Rads attacked the throne and state, And Tories the reforming, To calm the furious rage of each, And right the land demented, Heaven sent us Jolly Jack, to teach The way to be contented.