426 Satan and his Satellites. [OcT. 



Now the Devil began to ponder hard 



For a fine revenge on the libellous bard j 



" Though ignorant now," he was heard to cry, 



" He'll know me better by and by." 



Then over his face there came a smile, 



That widened his mouth almost a mile. 



He smiled to remember that, during his flight 

 Through earth, he had stumbled against a wight, 

 A critic obscure, whom he viewed with scorn, 

 Yet one that seemed for absurdities born ; 

 A dreary drudge, upon whom some dark son 

 Of malice inflicted the name of C n. 



This scribbler, as sparks are struck from flint, 

 Had forced a few paragraphs into print ; 

 And flourished his Latin, with fierce intent, 

 Till he almost fancied he knew what it meant ; 

 But he had, above every earthly thing, 

 A glorious talent for blundering. 



And the Devil knew well, if he could but hook 



Such a personage in to puff the book, 



To praise the poet, and liken his line 



To Milton's, 'twould be a revenge divine ! 



And he said, " I'll throw my spells about, 



And spur him to bring a pamphlet out !" 



Right joyously then did he chuckle and sing, 

 When he found how his schemes were triumphing- 

 When he saw such a critic sit down to puff 

 A bard who could never be puffed enough ; 

 And the frog-like poet, at every word, 

 Grew more inflated and more absurd ! 



And he felt, when he heard how the laughter ran, 



No longer an ill-used gentleman ; 



" For," said he, " 'tis a kind of infernal bliss 



To ruin one's foe with a friend like this ; 



If as lights of the world they affect to shine, 



We shall see how they like the lights of mine. 



Then he thought that if fools should multiply thus, 

 'Twould be well to establish an Omnibus, 

 To run to the earth ; but he felt rather shocked 

 Lest his kingdom should soon be overstocked; 

 And he sent Mr. Malthus a warm invitation 

 To come and survey the increased Population. 



" Though editors now are by no means few," 

 He said " I'll become an Editor too, 

 I'll start such a work as hath seldom been seen, 

 For I'll call it * The Gunpowder Magazine !' 

 And blow up the earth till I leave not an ember- 

 No. I. to appear on the fifth of November." 



