FLORA S PARTY. 23 



But the Monk s-hood scowPd dark, and in 



utterance low, 

 Declared &quot; t was high time for good Christians 



to go ;&quot; 



He d heard from the pulpit a sermon sublime, 

 Where t was proved from the Vulgate &quot; To 



dance was a crime.&quot; 



So, wrapping a cowl round his cynical head, 

 He snatch d from the side-board a bumper, 



and fled. 



A song was desired, but each musical flower 



Had &quot; taken a cold, and t was out of her 

 power ;&quot; 



Till sufficiently urged, they burst forth in a 

 strain 



Of quavers and trills, that astonished the tram. 



Mimosa sat shrinking, and said, with a sigh, 



&quot; Twas so fine, she was ready with rapture, 

 to die ;&quot; 



And Cactus, the grammar-school tutor, de 

 clared 



&quot;It might be with the gamut of Orpheus com 

 pared.&quot; 



But Night-shade, the metaphysician, com 

 plained 



That &quot; the nerves of his ears were excessively 

 pained ; 



