English poem
EDWIN'S PILLS, &c, SONG
by John O'Keeffe (1747–1833)
The world is all nonsense and noise, Fantoccini, or Ombres Chinoises, Mere Pantomime mummery, Puppet-shew flummery, A magical lanthorn confounding the sight; Like players, or puppets, we move, On the wires of ambition and love, Poets write wittily, Maidens look prettily, 'Till Death drops the curtain—all's over—good night!