 | The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake |  |
352
THE KING OF THE DOCTORS.
How stately yon palace uplifts its proud head,
Where Broadway and Barclay Street meet;
Abhorring its old-fashioned tunic of red,
It shines in the lustre of chromate of lead,
And its doors open—into the street!
Where Broadway and Barclay Street meet;
Abhorring its old-fashioned tunic of red,
It shines in the lustre of chromate of lead,
And its doors open—into the street!
No longer it rings to the merry sleigh-bells,
The steeds' gallant neighings are o'er;
Instead of the pitchfork, we meet with scalpels,
And the throne of his medical majesty dwells
Where the horse-trough resided before.
The steeds' gallant neighings are o'er;
Instead of the pitchfork, we meet with scalpels,
And the throne of his medical majesty dwells
Where the horse-trough resided before.
Oh, David! how dreadful and dire was the note,
When Rebellion beleaguered the place,
When the bull-dog of discord unbolted his throat,
And the hot Digitalis unbuttoned his coat,
And doubled his fist in your face!
When Rebellion beleaguered the place,
When the bull-dog of discord unbolted his throat,
And the hot Digitalis unbuttoned his coat,
And doubled his fist in your face!
Then Syncope seized thee; all wild with affright
The Lord Chamberlain cried “God defend ye!”
Mac swung his shillelah in hopes of a fight,
While the brave Surgeon-General exclaimed in delight,
“Pugnatum est arte medendi.”
The Lord Chamberlain cried “God defend ye!”
Mac swung his shillelah in hopes of a fight,
While the brave Surgeon-General exclaimed in delight,
“Pugnatum est arte medendi.”
353
But your wars are all ended, you're now at your ease,
The Regents are bound for your debts;
You may fleece your poor students as much as you please,
Tax boldly, matriculate, double your fees,
You can pay off all scores in brevets.
The Regents are bound for your debts;
You may fleece your poor students as much as you please,
Tax boldly, matriculate, double your fees,
You can pay off all scores in brevets.
So a health to your highness, and long may you reign,
O'er subjects obedient and true;
If the snaffle won't hold them, apply the curb-rein;
And if ever they prance, or go backward again,
May you horsewhip them all black and blue!
O'er subjects obedient and true;
If the snaffle won't hold them, apply the curb-rein;
And if ever they prance, or go backward again,
May you horsewhip them all black and blue!
D.
| The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake | |