The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke ... In Four Volumes Octavo. Revised and corrected by the Original Manuscript With a Portrait of the Author, and His Life By Miss Brooke. The Third Edition |
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THE PATRIOTISM OF IRELAND,
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 | The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke |  |
384
THE PATRIOTISM OF IRELAND,
AN HISTORICAL BALLAD.
I
In the year, do you see,Of fifty and three,
A year of facetious renown;
A conjurer came,
Old R---r by name,
For the pastime of country and town!
II
At once to surprizeAnd cozen our eyes,
He shew'd us of Courtiers ten brace;
All Courtiers, as true
To the Minister's Cue,
As ever took Pension or Place!
385
III
But R---r, anon,Cries, “Pass and be gone!”
The coast it is instantly clear;
And straight, in the place
Of Prostitutes base,
Ten Brace of good Patriots appear!
IV
The rabble and routClap, caper, and shout;
The multitude see and believe:
They hail, with acclaim,
Each Patriot Name!
But the Knowing-ones laugh in their sleeve.
V
For R---r, once moreOur wits to restore,
Repeats his charm backwards—and then,
On this Patriot-Host,
He throws Powder of Post,
And he shews them all Rascals again!
| The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke | |