The Works of John Hall-Stevenson ... Corrected and Enlarged. With Several Original Poems, Now First Printed, and Explanatory Notes. In Three Volumes |
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 | The Works of John Hall-Stevenson |  |
205
A ROYAL EPITAPH.
The champion of scholastic heroes,
Solomon James, foully bewrayed,
Whose mother was as chaste as Nero's,
And fiddling was his father's trade,
Solomon James, foully bewrayed,
Whose mother was as chaste as Nero's,
And fiddling was his father's trade,
Lies here, and with him lie his tools,
His king-craft, and his conjuror's staff;
His logic, chopp'd small, for the schools,
Was blown away before like chaff.
His king-craft, and his conjuror's staff;
His logic, chopp'd small, for the schools,
Was blown away before like chaff.
Happy the youths kept far from court,
To virtue trained, by parents fond;
Blest the old women that could sport,
And swim like otters in a pond.
To virtue trained, by parents fond;
Blest the old women that could sport,
And swim like otters in a pond.
For all young men that came near him
Were spoiled, within that magic ground,
And all old maids that could not swim
Must swim; or else, like cats, be drowned.
Were spoiled, within that magic ground,
And all old maids that could not swim
Must swim; or else, like cats, be drowned.
207
May he now meet his just reward,
May he each night come from the shades,
And toil all night and labour hard,
An incubus upon old maids.
May he each night come from the shades,
And toil all night and labour hard,
An incubus upon old maids.
And when the witches saboth comes,
May he attend the witches call,
Mumbling their spells with toothless gums,
And be the ram that rides them all.
May he attend the witches call,
Mumbling their spells with toothless gums,
And be the ram that rides them all.
| The Works of John Hall-Stevenson | |