The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

389
Tuscan and French are in my head,
LATIN I write, and GREEK--I read.
If you should ask, what pleases best?
To get the most, and do the least.
What fittest for?--You know, I'm sure;
I'm fittest for--a SINE-CURE.
THE FRIEND OF HUMANITY AND THE KNIFE GRINDER.
[Footnote: Some stanzas of the original poem, by Southey, are here
subjoined:]
ANTI-JACOBIN.
FRIEND OF HUMANITY.
[Footnote: The "Friend of Humanity" was intended for Mr. Tierney, M.P.
for Southwark, who in early times was among the more forward of the
Reformers. "He was," says Lord Brougham, "an assiduous member of the
Society of Friends of the People, and drew up the much and justly
celebrated Petition in which that useful body laid before the House of
Commons all the more striking particulars of its defective title to
the office of representing the people, which that House then, as now,
but with far less reason, assumed.]
"Needy Knife-grinder! whither are you going?
Rough is the road, your wheel is out of order--
Bleak blows the blast; your hat has got a hole in't,
So have your breeches!"
THE WIDOW.
SAPPHIOS
Cold was the night wind; drifting fast the snows fell:
Wide were the downs, and shelterless and naked;
When a poor wand'rer struggled on her journey,
Weary and way-sore.
Drear were the downs, more dreary her reflections;
Cold was the night wind, colder was her bosom: