University of Virginia Library

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III. LETTERS TO ILLUSTRIOUS CHARACTERS.

I.—A COMPLIMENTARY EPISTLE TO THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

Great Sire, since Princes sometimes ask—
For Princes are but men—
Respite from table and from task,
From Petersburg's enlivening flask
And Pozzo's patent pen,

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Don't give your Royal brain the vapours
By opening Opposition papers;
Leave Prince and Parliament alone,
To squabble for their barren bone;
While Pittites pout and Foxites fume,
And Mr. Peel drubs Mr. Hume,
Mind only how your Guards are laced,
And pinch your subjects, and your waist,
And put embroidery on your breeches,
And read no more of Tierney's speeches.

Philip and Paul, your sire and his,
Both found a gory bier;
He shed the murderers' blood for this,
And you—the mourner's tear;

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He rooted up, you down—the weed;
And sage was your adviser,
For his might be the holier deed,
But yours was far the wiser;
Your boasting, like his bowl, mounts high;
He poured his long libations
As quickly as your Majesty
Can pour your protestations;
And Greece was ever fond of whim,
And fond of falsehood too,
And, as she swallowed wine for him,
She swallows lies for you.
Both made a bonfire in the land,
For love's—or glory's lures;
Sweet Thais lit the Grecian brand,
And sour Rostopchin yours.
Your torch was dipped in grief and gore,
And his in mirth and laughter;
He drank a drop or two before,
You wept as many after.
You both were swift in letting blood,
And both were swift in swearing,
And, if he passed Granicus' flood,
Why, you have passed all bearing;
So both have made a monstrous fuss,
And made the barbers prate,
And you are dubbed Magnanimous,
And he was voted Great.

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And lauded and bespattered thus
By gazers and by gapers,
He lies in his sarcophagus,
And you—in your state-papers.