University of Virginia Library


143

AMATORY COLLOQUY BETWEEN BANK AND GOVERNMENT.

1826.
Bank.
Is all then forgotten? those amorous pranks
You and I, in our youth, my dear Government, play'd;
When you call'd me the fondest, the truest of Banks,
And enjoy'd the endearing advances I made!
When left to ourselves, unmolested and free,
To do all that a dashing young couple should do,
A law against paying was laid upon me,
But none against owing, dear helpmate, on you.
And is it then vanish'd?—that “hour (as Othello
So happily calls it) of Love and Direction?”

144

And must we, like other fond doves, my dear fellow,
Grow good in our old age, and cut the connexion?

Government.
Even so, my belov'd Mrs. Bank, it must be;
This paying in cash plays the devil with wooing :
We've both had our swing, but I plainly foresee
There must soon be a stop to our bill-ing and cooing.
Propagation in reason—a small child or two—
Even Reverend Malthus himself is a friend to;
The issue of some folks is mod'rate and few—
But ours, my dear corporate Bank, there's no end to!
So—hard though it be on a pair, who've already
Disposed of so many pounds, shillings, and pence;
And, in spite of that pink of prosperity, Freddy ,
So lavish of cash and so sparing of sense—

145

The day is at hand, my Papyria Venus,
When—high as we once us'd to carry our capers—
Those soft billet-doux we're now passing between us,
Will serve but to keep Mrs. Coutts in curl-papers:
And when—if we still must continue our love,
(After all that has pass'd)—our amour, it is clear,
Like that which Miss Danäe manag'd with Jove,
Must all be transacted in bullion, my dear!

February, 1826.
 
------ “An hour
Of love, of worldly matter and direction.”

It appears, however, that Ovid was a friend to the resumption of payment in specie:—

------ “finem, specie cæleste resumtâ,
Luctibus imposuit, venitque salutifer urbi.”

Met. l. 15. v. 743.

Honourable Frederick R*b*ns*n.

So called, to distinguish her from the “Aurea” or Golden Venus.