 | The poetical works (1906) |  |
THE GADFLY
FROM A LETTER TO TOM KEATS
I
All gentle folks who owe a grudgeTo any living thing
Open your ears and stay your t[r]udge
Whilst I in dudgeon sing.
II
The Gadfly he hath stung me sore—O may he ne'er sting you!
But we have many a horrid bore
He may sting black and blue.
III
Has any here an old grey MareWith three legs all her store,
O put it to her Buttocks bare
And straight she'll run on four.
IV
Has any here a Lawyer suitOf Seventeen-Forty-Three,
Take Lawyer's nose and put it to 't
And you the end will see.
329
V
Is there a Man in ParliamentDum[b-]founder'd in his speech,
O let his neighbour make a rent
And put one in his breech.
VI
O Lowther how much better thouHadst figur'd t'other day
When to the folks thou mad'st a bow
And hadst no more to say
VII
If lucky Gadfly had but ta'enHis seat [OMITTED]
And put thee to a little pain
To save thee from a worse.
VIII
Better than Southey it had been,Better than Mr. D---,
Better than Wordsworth too, I ween,
Better than Mr. V---.
IX
Forgive me pray good people allFor deviating so—
In spirit sure I had a call—
And now I on will go.
X
Has any here a daughter fairToo fond of reading novels,
Too apt to fall in love with care
And charming Mister Lovels,
XI
O put a Gadfly to that thingShe keeps so white and pert—
I mean the finger for the ring,
And it will breed a wort.
330
XII
Has any here a pious spouseWho seven times a day
Scolds as King David pray'd, to chouse
And have her holy way—
XIII
O let a Gadfly's little stingPersuade her sacred tongue
That noises are a common thing,
But that her bell has rung.
XIV
And as this is the summum bo-num of all conquering,
I leave “withouten wordes mo”
The Gadfly's little sting.
| The poetical works (1906) | |