CONNECTION WITH ASTROLOGY, ETC. 159 



VALENTINES FOE 1854. 



THE FISHERMAN. 

 Thou monster of the salt-sea shore 

 Shark- snouted fisherman, what cheer ? 

 You'll cast your nets for me no more, 

 Loves-boat hook won't hitch me 'tis clear ; 

 And plainly as your own jack-boots, 

 You'r king of all salt-water brutes. 

 No, by the wideness of thy grins, 

 And by thy pins and scabby hide 

 You may catch haddocks, plaice, or gulls ; 

 But you'll never catch a Bride. 

 Gro sea-gull, go I'll ne'er incline 

 To such a cod's-head valentine. 1854. 



FROM A FISHMONGER. 

 Thy skin is as whiting, thy eyes 



As bright as the scales of my fish, 

 My turtle, my sole, thee I prize, 



Accede then, I pray to my wish ; 

 Nay fish not for compliments, for, 



Sprat-like, I am void of all grace, 

 Your etiquette ways I abhor, 



To grandeur I always give plaice. 



ANSWER. 

 Sir, as a flounder, I am flat, 



And have been so through all my life ; 

 So flatly tell you worthless sprat, 



I'll never become your wife ; 

 If you would wish to meet a kind one, 

 Perhaps at Billingsgate you'll find one. 



