No.8,1915
Harvard University
Child Memorial Library
YEAR, most propitious, to our earthly leaven!
The eighteenth century, and twenty-seven!
For ever, may, thy fame be kept, in mind,
By all the vot'ries of that urchin, blind,
Whose barbed darts, promiscuously, bold,
Without distinction, pierce the young, and old:
In ev'ry class, his trade is sure to thrive,
And witless fifteen weds with ninety-five!
Long had, together, pac'd Brighthelmstone's sands
Long talk'd of love, and Hymen's silken bands-
Long trod the streets-long scour'd the dusty roads,
From Town, to Brighton-eyed those blest abodes,
Where Florizel enjoy'd Perditta's charms,
And fat, fair, forty sunk, in George's arms :—
Long, Harriet, wistful view'd the ducal crown,
Long, practis'd smiles displac'd her temper's frown-
Long, Beauclerc sigh'd for Coutts' exhaustless bag,
Deplor❜d its price;-yet would not lose the swag.
Again, a respite, to that fatal day,
When she, her cash, and he, his fame, must pay.
The sighing dolts, once more, their wits, apply,
To chace their fears-and, once more, travel try.
Their gaudy trains, now, hasten to set forth,
From murky London, to the keener North
Attract all eyes, in ev'ry place they pass
She, a rich
, he, a half-bred ass:
Doubting, between two hay-stacks, there he stands,
Until his feet exclaim, pray, help us, hands!
O'er England's borders, onward, still they tour-
"Tis pleasant trav'ling, in a chaise and four,
With money, plenty-all the world attends-
All strive to grace their list of honor'd friends.
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