The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore Collected by Himself. In Ten Volumes |
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| VI, VII. |
 | VIII, IX. |
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| 2. |
A RECENT DIALOGUE. |
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 | The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore |  |
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A RECENT DIALOGUE.
1825.
A bishop and a bold dragoon,
Both heroes in their way
Did thus, of late, one afternoon,
Unto each other say:—
“Dear bishop,” quoth the brave hussar,
“As nobody denies
“That you a wise logician are,
“And I am—otherwise,
“'Tis fit that in this question, we
“Stick each to his own art—
“That yours should be the sophistry,
“And mine the fighting part.
“My creed, I need not tell you, is
“Like that of W---n,
“To whom no harlot comes amiss,
“Save her of Babylon ;
“And when we're at a loss for words,
“If laughing reasoners flout us,
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“The sole thing sharp about us.”—
“Dear bold dragoon,” the bishop said,
“'Tis true for war thou art meant;
“And reasoning—bless that dandy head!
“Is not in thy department.
“So leave the argument to me—
“And, when my holy labour
“Hath lit the fires of bigotry,
“Thou'lt poke them with thy sabre.
“From pulpit and from sentry-box,
“We'll make our joint attacks,
“I at the head of my Cassocks,
“And you, of your Cossacks.
“So here's your health, my brave hussar,
“My exquisite old fighter—
“Success to bigotry and war,
“The musket and the mitre!”
Thus pray'd the minister of heaven—
While Y---k, just entering then,
Snor'd out (as if some Clerk had given
His nose the cue) “Amen.”
T B.
| The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore | |