376 



Ode to an Exalted Personage. C^ct. 



IX. 



If so, for Heaven's sake bait with haunch 

 Of venison, fit to fill my paunch, 



- Old wine, rich soup, and cod-iisn ; 

 Spread well your nets, and, sure as fate, 

 I'll nibble at the tempting bait, ■ 



And you will hook an odd-tish. 

 X. 

 If this you deem unmeet to place 

 Before me, send some fairy grace 



From far Morea's coast, 

 Some dainty girl, with deep blue eye 

 Plump form, pale Grecian face, and 1 

 Will win her though I roast. 

 XI. 

 I supped off pork the other night, 

 And woke in a disastrous plight, 

 Like Richard, from my bed ; 

 For sore with starUing dreams opprest. 

 The cursed pig upon my chest 

 Lay like a pig of lead. 

 XII. 

 With every start I gave a whine ; 

 And knowing, Nick, that Canaan s swnie 



Once made a meal of thee, 

 Egad, I thought, and feared the mmute. 

 The pork had still the devil m it, 

 Transferred of course to me. 

 XIII. 

 Despotic fiend ! all earth is tliine ; _ 

 Wit— beauty— genius— wealth and wme— 



From thee derive their weight ; 

 While virtue starves in roofless garret, 

 Or prates, unheeded, like a parrot. 

 Thou rul'st in kingly state. 

 XIV. 

 Sometimes in full lawn sleeves arrayed, 

 Thou preachest peace, demure and staul ; 



And sometimes, for a rare 

 Frolic, thou praiscst Church, and Kuig, 

 And State, and all that sort of thing. 

 Beside the Speaker's chair. 

 XV. 

 Sometimes thou tak'st a quaker's shape. 

 Or prim attired in saintly crape, 

 Adorn'st a widow's dome ; 

 Though oftener far in wig and gown 

 Attired, thou aid'st the law's renown- 

 Here thou art most at home. 

 XVI. 

 But now farewell !— for, hark ! I hear 

 Enjoyment's truest chanticleer. 



The sweet-toned dinner chime ! 

 So here's your Honour's health ! and when. 

 Most puissant Prince, we meet again. 



It will not be in— rhyme. ^^ 



