12 HASTY-PUDDING. 



Where the strong labial muscles must embrace, 

 The gentle curve, and sweep the hollow space. 

 With ease to enter and discharge the freight, 

 A bowl less concave but still more dilate, 

 Becomes the pudding best. The shape, the size, 

 A secret rests unknown to vulgar eyes ; 

 Experienc'd feeders can alone impart 

 A rule so much above the lore of art. 

 These tuneful lips, that thousand spoons have tried, 

 With just precision could the point decide, 

 Tho' not in song ; the muse but poorly shines 

 In cones and cubes, and geometric lines. 

 Yet the true form, as near as she can tell, 

 Is that small section of a goose egg-shell, 

 Which in two equal portions shall divide 

 The distance from the centre to the side. 



Fear not to slaver; 'tis no deadly sin, 

 Lake the free Frenchman, from your joyous chin 

 Suspend the ready napkin ; or, like me, 

 Poise with one hand your bowl upon your kn& ; 

 Just in the zenith your wise head project, 

 Your full spoon, rising in a line direct, 

 Bold as a bucket, heeds no drops that fall, 

 The wide-mouth'd bowl will surely catch them ftil. 



