The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore Collected by Himself. In Ten Volumes |
 | I, II. |
| III, IV. |
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| VI, VII. |
 | VIII, IX. |
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| X. |
 | The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore |  |
208
REINFORCEMENTS FOR LORD WELLINGTON.
Suosque tibi commendat Troja Penates
Hos cape fatorum comites.
Virgil.
Hos cape fatorum comites.
Virgil.
1813.
As recruits in these times are not easily got,
And the Marshal must have them—pray, why should we not,
As the last and, I grant it, the worst of our loans to him,
Ship off the Ministry, body and bones to him?
There's not in all England, I'd venture to swear,
Any men we could half so conveniently spare;
And, though they've been helping the French for years past,
We may thus make them useful to England at last.
C*stl*r---gh in our sieges might save some disgraces,
Being us'd to the taking and keeping of places;
And Volunteer C*nn---g, still ready for joining,
Might show off his talent for sly undermining.
Could the Household but spare us its glory and pride,
Old H---df---t at horn-works again might be tried,
And the Ch---f J---st---e make a bold charge at his side:
While V---ns---tt---t could victual the troops upon tick,
And the Doctor look after the baggage and sick.
And the Marshal must have them—pray, why should we not,
As the last and, I grant it, the worst of our loans to him,
Ship off the Ministry, body and bones to him?
There's not in all England, I'd venture to swear,
Any men we could half so conveniently spare;
And, though they've been helping the French for years past,
We may thus make them useful to England at last.
C*stl*r---gh in our sieges might save some disgraces,
Being us'd to the taking and keeping of places;
And Volunteer C*nn---g, still ready for joining,
Might show off his talent for sly undermining.
209
Old H---df---t at horn-works again might be tried,
And the Ch---f J---st---e make a bold charge at his side:
While V---ns---tt---t could victual the troops upon tick,
And the Doctor look after the baggage and sick.
Nay, I do not see why the great R*g---t himself
Should, in times such as these, stay at home on the shelf:
Though through narrow defiles he's not fitted to pass,
Yet who could resist, if he bore down en masse?
And though oft, of an evening, perhaps he might prove,
Like our Spanish confed'rates, “unable to move ,”
Yet there's one thing in war of advantage unbounded,
Which is, that he could not with ease be surrounded.
Should, in times such as these, stay at home on the shelf:
Though through narrow defiles he's not fitted to pass,
Yet who could resist, if he bore down en masse?
And though oft, of an evening, perhaps he might prove,
Like our Spanish confed'rates, “unable to move ,”
Yet there's one thing in war of advantage unbounded,
Which is, that he could not with ease be surrounded.
In my next I shall sing of their arms and equipment;
At present no more, but—good luck to the shipment!
At present no more, but—good luck to the shipment!
| The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore | |