 | Songs, comic and satyrical |  |
13
ENGLISH LITANY.
To a Stage-Coach we aptly may liken this Nation,
Where Passengers seldom are pleas'd with their station;
But wrangling, and jangling, and jostling, and jumbling.
The Inside-folks grin, and the Outsides are grumbling.
Where Passengers seldom are pleas'd with their station;
But wrangling, and jangling, and jostling, and jumbling.
The Inside-folks grin, and the Outsides are grumbling.
The Inns they are in, and the Outs they are out;
To be in is the Riddle, which makes all this route.
The Outs call the Ministry infamous elves;
And the Inns, when they're out, say the same things themselves.
To be in is the Riddle, which makes all this route.
The Outs call the Ministry infamous elves;
And the Inns, when they're out, say the same things themselves.
It is cunning Credulity ever enslaves;
The world is a Hot-bed, to raise Fools and Knaves:
They pull this and that way, sometimes pull together;
But Common-sense scorns to go partners with either.
The world is a Hot-bed, to raise Fools and Knaves:
They pull this and that way, sometimes pull together;
But Common-sense scorns to go partners with either.
My Country, my Freedom, and oh, my Religion!
These tickle the ear, faith, like Mahomet's pigeon:
'Tis the time's cant, the farce, the finesse of all ages,
For what the best actors of, get the best wages.
These tickle the ear, faith, like Mahomet's pigeon:
'Tis the time's cant, the farce, the finesse of all ages,
For what the best actors of, get the best wages.
Oh my Country! but hold, sir, on which side the Tweed?
Wa worth tul your words, if ye dinna tak hede.
We give praise to one side, the other abuse,
Can the unborn their place of nativity chuse?
Wa worth tul your words, if ye dinna tak hede.
We give praise to one side, the other abuse,
Can the unborn their place of nativity chuse?
Off Prejudice, off, to Oblivion's cave;
We boast we are Britons, as Britons behave:
Can this, or that side of a stream alter nature?
No,—wash those reflections away in the water.
We boast we are Britons, as Britons behave:
Can this, or that side of a stream alter nature?
No,—wash those reflections away in the water.
Get, get, is the cry now, and get all ye can;
If ye can get, get honestly; get, though's the plan.
Get one thing, and ev'ry thing else you'll obtain:
For Honours are now humble servants to Gain.
If ye can get, get honestly; get, though's the plan.
Get one thing, and ev'ry thing else you'll obtain:
For Honours are now humble servants to Gain.
The African Slave-dealers some may think base;
But what must they think—if at home 'tis the case?
The Guinea Trade, here keeps a market 'tis certain;
And Yes and No bought and sold; more's the misfortune.
But what must they think—if at home 'tis the case?
The Guinea Trade, here keeps a market 'tis certain;
And Yes and No bought and sold; more's the misfortune.
14
When a Beauty's enjoy'd by a Man of the Town,
What he doated last week on, this week he'll disown.
The self-sellers thus, become those people's scoff,
Who first turn'd them prostitutes, then turn'd them off.
What he doated last week on, this week he'll disown.
The self-sellers thus, become those people's scoff,
Who first turn'd them prostitutes, then turn'd them off.
May all be turn'd off, who those dealings befriended,
Where honester folks have been sometimes suspended;
May they die as they liv'd, by all good men abhorr'd,
We Britons Beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Where honester folks have been sometimes suspended;
May they die as they liv'd, by all good men abhorr'd,
We Britons Beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
| Songs, comic and satyrical | |