Versos English Thomas Moore Extracts

English poem

Extracts

by

Listen in the reader

FROM THE DIARY OF A POLITICIAN.

Wednesday.

Thro' Manchester Square took a canter just now-- Met the old yellow chariot and made a low bow. This I did, of course, thinking 'twas loyal and civil, But got such a look--oh! 'twas black as the devil! How unlucky!--incog. he was travelling about, And I like a noodle, must go find him out. Mem.--when next by the old yellow chariot I ride, To remember there is nothing princely inside.

Thursday.

At Levee to-day made another sad blunder-- What can be come over me lately, I wonder? The Prince was as cheerful as if all his life He had never been troubled with Friends or a Wife-- "Fine weather," says he--to which I, who must prate, Answered, "Yes, Sir, but changeable rather, of late." He took it, I fear, for he lookt somewhat gruff, And handled his new pair of whiskers so rough, That before all the courtiers I feared they'd come off, And then, Lord, how Geramb would triumphantly scoff!

Mem.--to buy for son Dicky some unguent or lotion To nourish his whiskers--sure road to promotion!

Saturday.

Last night a Concert--vastly gay-- Given by Lady Castlereagh. My Lord loves music, and we know Has "two strings always to his bow." In choosing songs, the Regent named "Had I a heart for falsehood framed." While gentle Hertford begged and prayed For "Young I am and sore afraid."

The incog. vehicle of the Prince.

Baron Geramb, the rival of his R. H. in whiskers.

England is not the only country where merit of this kind is noticed and rewarded. "I remember," says Tavernier, "to have seen one of the King of Persia's porters, whose mustaches were so long that he could tie them behind his neck, for which reason he had a double pension."

A rhetorical figure used by Lord Castlereagh, in one of his speeches.

EPIGRAM.

What news to-day?--"Oh! worse and worse-- "Mac is the Prince's Privy Purse!"-- The Prince's Purse! no, no, you fool, You mean the Prince's Ridicule.

Colonel M'Mahon.

KING CRACK AND HIS IDOLS.

WRITTEN AFTER THE LATE NEGOTIATION FOR A NEW MINISTRY.

King Crack was the best of all possible Kings, (At least, so his Courtiers would swear to you gladly,) But Crack now and then would do heterodox things, And at last took to worshipping Images sadly.

Some broken-down Idols, that long had been placed In his father's old Cabinet, pleased him so much, That he knelt down and worshipt, tho'--such was his taste!-- They were monstrous to look at and rotten to touch.

And these were the beautiful Gods of King Crack!-- But his People disdaining to worship such things Cried aloud, one and all, "Come, your Godships must pack-- "You'll not do for us, tho' you may do for Kings."

Then trampling these images under their feet, They sent Crack a petition, beginning "Great Caesar! "We're willing to worship; but only entreat "That you'll find us some decenter godheads than these are."

"I'll try," says King Crack--so they furnisht him models Of better shaped Gods but he sent them all back; Some were chiselled too fine, some had heads stead of noddles, In short they were all much too godlike for Crack.

So he took to his darling old Idols again, And just mending their legs and new bronzing their faces, In open defiance of Gods and of man, Set the monsters up grinning once more in their places.

One of these antediluvian Princes, with whom Manetho and Whiston seem so intimately acquainted. If we had the Memoirs of Thoth, from which Manetho compiled his History, we should find, I dare say, that Crack was only a Regent, and that he, perhaps, succeeded Typhon, who (as Whiston says) was the last King of the Antediluvian Dynasty.