Song LIV. the Demirfp; or, I Know Who

Cleopatra the gay, as old stories declare, Put Mark Anthony oft to the rout: That the Lover was fond, and the Lady was fair, No modern among us will doubt. But yet I insist Our own Times are the best. Antiquity! what can that do, Sir? Cou'd Livia, or Lais, Faustinia, or Thais, Compare to the fine — I know who, Sir?

Let Placemen receive, and let Patriots oppose, And raise unforgiving dissentions; A Mistress's Arms is the Post I wou'd chuse, A Bottle and Friend are my Pensions. Preferments at Court Are Ministers sport, When they see what to gain them folks do, Sir; They may Boroughs command, I wish only to stand As Member for fine — I know who, Sir.

Possessors, Assessors, envelope the mind With Ethics of old Aristotle; The Lesson of Nature, to tutor Mankind, Is—Beauty sublim'd by a Bottle. The best in the College, Who boast of their Knowledge, The Science supreme never knew, Sir, Unless they can prove, That a Lecture of Love They have had with the fine — I know who, Sir.

You this or that system embrace or reject, As Philosophy's fashion is ruling; But look in her face and you'll find an effect Beyond Electricity's fooling. Tho' sparks there arise, What are they to her eyes? And as to what touching can do, Sir, It is all but a joke, When compar'd to the stroke That is given by fine — I know who, Sir.

The Atoms of Cartes Sir Isaac destroy'd; Lebnitz pilfer'd our Countryman's Fluxions; Newton found out Attraction, and prov'd Nature's void, Spite of prejudic'd Plenum's constructions. Gravitation can boast, In the form of my Toast, More power than all of them knew, Sir; What FELLOW, or SOPH, Will in Tangents fly off From the Center of fine — I know who, Sir?

Ye sensible Socials who dare, now and then, To laugh at some Folks in this Nation, 'Tis Beauty which sculptures us Blocks into Men, To Beauty then make a Libation. Poor Lovers may prize, Lips, Legs, Arms, and Eyes, Such piece-meal pretensions won't do, Sir? No Part shall be lost When I mention my Toast,— "Here's the WHOLE of the fine — I know who, Sir."