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FROM AN OLD GERMAN POET

That France has put us oft to rout With powder, which ourselves found out; And laughs at us for fools in print, Of which our genius was the Mint; All this I easily admit, For we have genius, France has wit. But 'tis too bad, that blind and mad To Frenchmen's wives each travelling German goes, Expands his manly vigour by their sides, Becomes the father of his country's foes And turns their warriors oft to parricides.

First published in Morning Post, Oct. 11, 1802. Adapted from Wernicke's Epigrams (Bk. VIII, No. 4), Auf die Buhlerey der Deutschen in Frankreich.

'Dass Frankreich uns pflegt zu verwunden Durch Pulver, welches wir erfunden.'