The political and occasional poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed Edited, with notes, by Sir George Young |
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 | The political and occasional poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed |  |
201
XXIV. A CABINET CAROL.
“The statesman shews little practical wisdom, who obstinately
adheres to his old opinions, when the circumstances which justified
them exist no longer.”—Speech of Lord Palmerston.
There was a time when I could sit
By Londonderry's side,
And laugh with Peel at Canning's wit,
And hint to Hume he lied;
Henceforth I run a different race,
Another soil I plough,
And though I still have pay and place,
I'm not a Tory now.
By Londonderry's side,
And laugh with Peel at Canning's wit,
And hint to Hume he lied;
Henceforth I run a different race,
Another soil I plough,
And though I still have pay and place,
I'm not a Tory now.
202
I've put away my ancient awe
For mitre and for crown;
I've lost my fancy for the law
Which keeps sedition down;
I think that patriots have a right
To make a little row;
A town on fire's a pretty sight:
I'm not a Tory now.
For mitre and for crown;
I've lost my fancy for the law
Which keeps sedition down;
I think that patriots have a right
To make a little row;
A town on fire's a pretty sight:
I'm not a Tory now.
When Howick damns with bitter sneer
The friends of that vile war,
I whisper into Grant's dull ear
“How just his strictures are!”
When Burdett storms about expense,
A smile comes o'er my brow:
Sir Francis is a man of sense.
I'm not a Tory now.
The friends of that vile war,
I whisper into Grant's dull ear
“How just his strictures are!”
When Burdett storms about expense,
A smile comes o'er my brow:
Sir Francis is a man of sense.
I'm not a Tory now.
I learn to be extremely shy
With all my early cons;
I'm very cold at Trinity,
And colder at St. John's;
But then, my Falmouth friends adore
My smile, and tone, and bow;
Don't tell them what I was before—
I'm not a Tory, now!
With all my early cons;
I'm very cold at Trinity,
And colder at St. John's;
But then, my Falmouth friends adore
My smile, and tone, and bow;
Don't tell them what I was before—
I'm not a Tory, now!
203
I'm always pleased with Jeffrey's prose,
And charmed with Little's rhymes;
I'm quite convinced the nation owes
Its welfare to the Times.
When people write the K--- a fool,
And call the Q--- a frow,
I'm philosophically cool;
I'm not a Tory now.
And charmed with Little's rhymes;
I'm quite convinced the nation owes
Its welfare to the Times.
When people write the K--- a fool,
And call the Q--- a frow,
I'm philosophically cool;
I'm not a Tory now.
If Harvey gets Brougham's seals and seat,
My friend will Harvey be;
If Cobbett dines in Downing Street,
He'll have my three times three;
If Hunt in Windsor Castle rules,
I'll take a house at Slough;
Tories were always knaves and fools.
I'm not a Tory, now!
My friend will Harvey be;
If Cobbett dines in Downing Street,
He'll have my three times three;
If Hunt in Windsor Castle rules,
I'll take a house at Slough;
Tories were always knaves and fools.
I'm not a Tory, now!
| The political and occasional poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed | |