Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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THE PUBLIC DINNER. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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THE PUBLIC DINNER.
Ye men of feeling and of sense combin'd,
Who boast your cultivation of the mind,
Who, long have been the civiliz'd and great,
The pride of England, and of England's state:—
Tell me what think ye? would the savage race,
Admire our Dinner, where the strangest trace,
Of talent, wit, barbarity, and noise,
Is seen so steady in its equipoise?
What would the wildest upon Afric's coast,
Who join in war-hoop, think of English toast?
The Chairman rises, “Gentlemen fill high,
“Your smiling glasses, let no light of sky
“Be seen within them. I shall give with glee,
“The ladies in a bumper, three times three!”
No sooner said, then one and all arise,
And, hip! hip! hip! hurrah! their joy implies,
Such rappings, tappings, screamings, roarings, yells,
One burst of tumult their affection tells.
Who ever sees with contemplative eye,
Such gentle, elegant, festivity,
And does not join it! Sure the ladies must
Be highly flatter'd, with the noise and dust
On such occasions rais'd. But, lady fair,
Some men of state and fashion, true there are,
Who fond of bustle at a dinner shine,
I fear me they will murmur at the line,
And ask what business can such man as I
Have thus to satirize. Now let me try,
To smoothe them down. Great Gentlemen, believe
I do not mock ye; but I sadly grieve
To think how nearly savages, and we
Of Christian countries, in our forms agree.
I say no more, yet very much might say.—
Your pardon then, good Gentlemen, I pray;
Custom and Fashion so retain their force,
A Christian must not, dare not, stop their course.
'Twould not be prudent:—Down to earth that man,
A saint! a hypocrite! a Puritan!
Who dares pretend to censure what the voice
Of England's nation, has proclaim'd her choice.
Who boast your cultivation of the mind,
Who, long have been the civiliz'd and great,
The pride of England, and of England's state:—
Tell me what think ye? would the savage race,
Admire our Dinner, where the strangest trace,
Of talent, wit, barbarity, and noise,
Is seen so steady in its equipoise?
What would the wildest upon Afric's coast,
Who join in war-hoop, think of English toast?
The Chairman rises, “Gentlemen fill high,
“Your smiling glasses, let no light of sky
“Be seen within them. I shall give with glee,
“The ladies in a bumper, three times three!”
No sooner said, then one and all arise,
And, hip! hip! hip! hurrah! their joy implies,
Such rappings, tappings, screamings, roarings, yells,
One burst of tumult their affection tells.
Who ever sees with contemplative eye,
Such gentle, elegant, festivity,
And does not join it! Sure the ladies must
Be highly flatter'd, with the noise and dust
54
Some men of state and fashion, true there are,
Who fond of bustle at a dinner shine,
I fear me they will murmur at the line,
And ask what business can such man as I
Have thus to satirize. Now let me try,
To smoothe them down. Great Gentlemen, believe
I do not mock ye; but I sadly grieve
To think how nearly savages, and we
Of Christian countries, in our forms agree.
I say no more, yet very much might say.—
Your pardon then, good Gentlemen, I pray;
Custom and Fashion so retain their force,
A Christian must not, dare not, stop their course.
'Twould not be prudent:—Down to earth that man,
A saint! a hypocrite! a Puritan!
Who dares pretend to censure what the voice
Of England's nation, has proclaim'd her choice.
But Lady tho' this dinner may proclaim,
How much the ladies are respected. Fame
Is not so small, the Poet must not dare,
At other times to celebrate the fair,
In other way. Your health I shall propose,
In quiet measure, tho' it be not prose;—
“The Poet wishes all the English Fair,
“Long life, good husbands, health, and little care.”
How much the ladies are respected. Fame
Is not so small, the Poet must not dare,
At other times to celebrate the fair,
In other way. Your health I shall propose,
In quiet measure, tho' it be not prose;—
“The Poet wishes all the English Fair,
“Long life, good husbands, health, and little care.”
| Valentine Verses | |