Fables for the Holy Alliance, Rhymes on the Road, &C., &C

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823. Excerpt: ... A JOKE VERSIFIED. "Come, come," said Tom's father, "at your time of life, "There's no longer excuse for thus playing the rake--"It is time you should think, boy, of taking a wife"--"Why, so it is, father,--whose wife shall I take?" ON Like a snuffers, this loving old dame, By a destiny, grievous enough, Though so oft she has snapp'd at the flume, Hath never caught more than the snuff. FRAGMENT OF A CHARACTER. Hebe lies Factotum Ned at last--Long as he breath'd the vital air, Nothing throughout all Europe pass'd, In which he had n't some small share. Whoe'er was in, whoe'er was out, Whatever statesmen did or said, If not exactly brought about, Was all, at least, contriv'd by Ned. With Nap if Russia went to war, 'Twas owing, under Providence, To certain hints Ned gave the Czar--(Vide his pamphlet--price, sixpence.) If France was beat at Waterloo--As all, but Frenchmen, think she was--To Ned, as Wellington well knew, Was owing half that day's applause. Then, for his news--no envoy's bag E'er pass'd so many secrets through it--Scarcely a telegraph could wag Its wooden finger, but Ned knew it. Such tales he had of foreign plots, With foreign names, one's ear to buzz in--From Russia, chefs and oft in lots, From Poland, orvskis by the dozen. When George, alarm'd for England's creed, Turn'd out the last Whig ministry, And men ask'd--who advis'd the deed?. Ned modestly confess'd 'twas he. For though, by some unlucky miss, He had not downright seen the King, He sent such hints through Viscount This, To Marquis That, as clench'd the thing. The same it was in science, arts, The Drama, Books, MS. and printed--Keau learn'd from Ned his cleverest parts, And Scott's last work by him was hinted. Childe Harold in the proofs he read, And, here and there, infus'd some soul i...