All the talents' garland or, A few rockets let off at a celebrated ministry. Including Elijah's mantle, the Uti Possidetis, and other poems of the same author. By eminent political characters. The third edition, greatly enlarged [by E. A. Barrett] |
 |
A GOSSIP'S STORY. |
 |
 | All the talents' garland |  |
42
A GOSSIP'S STORY.
When Miss Catholic Bill, All the Talents' sweet child,
For her godfather's blessing at Court was presented,
He thought that she look'd rather froward and wild;
But they said she was innocent, docile, and mild;
So he gave—with reluctance—a kiss, and consented.
For her godfather's blessing at Court was presented,
He thought that she look'd rather froward and wild;
But they said she was innocent, docile, and mild;
So he gave—with reluctance—a kiss, and consented.
A little while after, he found his adopted
Had been sent by the Pope for the Talents to nurse;
He had reason to think that some dæmon had dropp'd it,
It was whelp'd with two horns, but the gossips had cropp'd it;
So he took back his blessing, and gave it his curse.
Had been sent by the Pope for the Talents to nurse;
He had reason to think that some dæmon had dropp'd it,
It was whelp'd with two horns, but the gossips had cropp'd it;
So he took back his blessing, and gave it his curse.
At this the two gossips went growling away,
Revenge in their bosom, and rage on their brow.
The first was a lady all clothed in Grey;
The next was a matron, converted, they say,
To the Catholic faith, by an Abbess at Stowe.
Revenge in their bosom, and rage on their brow.
The first was a lady all clothed in Grey;
The next was a matron, converted, they say,
To the Catholic faith, by an Abbess at Stowe.
43
All the Talents were now in a terrible fret,
Told their beads, cross'd themselves, and the dear little Lass:
The Abbess had promis'd to make her a pet,
Dame Moira to drill her, a she martinet,
Dame Windham to raise her a Levy en Mass.
Told their beads, cross'd themselves, and the dear little Lass:
The Abbess had promis'd to make her a pet,
Dame Moira to drill her, a she martinet,
Dame Windham to raise her a Levy en Mass.
When, lo! on a sudden, 'midst horrible din,
The nurs'ry was fill'd with a smoke and a smell,
And who but the Devil himself should come in:
He had borrow'd black L*d*rd*l*'s whiskers and grin:
Says he, “My dear gossips, the child is my kin,
“She'll be d---d in old England—I'll take her to ------.”
[Exit in fumo, et exeunt omnes.
The nurs'ry was fill'd with a smoke and a smell,
And who but the Devil himself should come in:
He had borrow'd black L*d*rd*l*'s whiskers and grin:
Says he, “My dear gossips, the child is my kin,
“She'll be d---d in old England—I'll take her to ------.”
| All the talents' garland | |