296 SQUABBLES IN THE COMMON. 



X. 



See, as he plants his fist upon the nose 

 Of the first belted guardian that advances, 



How the astounded ruffian reels, and goes 



Round and round spinning, as a Dervish dances, 



And flings against the skies his hands and toes, 



While his thick skull against the pavement glances. 



If you have seen all this, then you can feel 



Th' effect of this announcement upon Shell. 



XI. 



Poor Richard ! 'twas a trying hour that found him 

 Standing alone within the Commons' house, 



With some five hnndred haughty sneerers round him, 

 With eyes that glared like cats' upon a mouse ; 



The novelty seem'd somewhat to astound him, 

 But he contrived his energies to rouse, 



And with a long-drawn deep rhetoric swell, 



Vow'd 'twas a falsehood dug from depths of hell ! 



XII. 

 Here was an issue tendered, whose demands, 



In Erin's days of senatorial glory, 

 Had placed cock'd pistols in some fifty hands, 



And made materials for a tragic story ; 

 Ahd some such feeling ran along the bands 



Of listening senators, both Whig and Tory, 

 For they inquir'd what measures lay beyond ; 

 But Sheil was dumb says Althorp " I'll respond !" 



XIII. 



Now this was awful and sublime, and fate 

 Seem'd big with horrible events, when, lo ! 



Advancing from the door, with wand of state, 

 Such as Talthybius flourish'd long ago 



'Twixt rival heroes at the Trojan gate 

 A Serjeant begged to be allow'd to show 



Both heroes up to Bellamy's retail, 



To cool their ardour with a pot of ale. 



XIV. 



Now this was in the compromising way 

 " A half-way house of diplomatic rest " 



Nor did our heroes venture to gainsay 

 A proposition so politely pressed ; 



And so to Bellamy's they took their way, 



And quaffed their heavy wet with such a zest, 



That when they were led back again, they swore 



'Twas all damu'd stuff, and Hill was a great bore! 



