The Age Reviewed A Satire: In two parts: Second edition, revised and corrected [by Robert Montgomery] |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
 | The Age Reviewed |  |
Now leave the country, for an upstart scene,
Ignobler far than all the past hath been:
To see a pack of mongers swell so great,
So good and wise, as to uphold the state!
So patriotic as to shut up shop,
And make the money-tinking till to stop!
Burdened with fate, Sir Punch to London goes,
“Noes” in his eyes, and “ayes” upon his nose;—
Room for Sir Punch!—Reporters, nib your pens!
And listen to the “hows,” and “wheres,” and “whens.”
Hark! how his leathern lungs, like bellows, pant,
Heave the big speech, and puff it out in cant;
See how he licks his tooth, and screws his eye,
And twists and twirls his thumbs, he can't tell why;
Like Pythia, perched upon the Delphic stool,
He writhes and wriggles till his mouth is full,
And then unloads a heap of stubborn stuff,
Till coughs proclaim the House has had enough;
Then down he sits, with aching sides and bones,
Just like a hog, convulsed with grins and groans.
Ignobler far than all the past hath been:
To see a pack of mongers swell so great,
So good and wise, as to uphold the state!
So patriotic as to shut up shop,
And make the money-tinking till to stop!
88
“Noes” in his eyes, and “ayes” upon his nose;—
Room for Sir Punch!—Reporters, nib your pens!
And listen to the “hows,” and “wheres,” and “whens.”
Hark! how his leathern lungs, like bellows, pant,
Heave the big speech, and puff it out in cant;
See how he licks his tooth, and screws his eye,
And twists and twirls his thumbs, he can't tell why;
Like Pythia, perched upon the Delphic stool,
He writhes and wriggles till his mouth is full,
And then unloads a heap of stubborn stuff,
Till coughs proclaim the House has had enough;
Then down he sits, with aching sides and bones,
Just like a hog, convulsed with grins and groans.
| The Age Reviewed | |