The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

394
VI.
Sun, moon and thou, vain world, adieu,
That kings and priests are plotting in;
Here doom'd to starve on water gru--
--el, never shall I see the U--
--niversity of Gottingen--
--niversity of Gottingen.
[During the last stanza ROGERO dashes his head repeatedly against the
walls of his prison; and, finally, so hard as to produce a visible
contusion; he then throws himself on the floor in an agony. The
curtain drops; the music still continuing to play till it is wholly
fallen.]
THE AMATORY SONNETS OF ABEL SHUFFLEBOTTOM.
ROBERT SOUTHEY.
I.
DELIA AT PLAY.
She held a CUP AND BALL of ivory white,
LESS WHITE the ivory than her snowy hand!
Enrapt, I watched her from my secret stand,
As now, intent, in INNOCENT delight,
Her taper fingers twirled the giddy ball,
Now tost it, following still with EAGLE SIGHT,
Now on the pointed end INFIXED its fall.
Marking her sport I mused, and musing sighed.
Methought the BALL she played with was my HEART;
(Alas! that sport like THAT should be her pride!)
And the KEEN POINT which steadfast still she eyed
Wherewith to pierce it, that was Cupid's DART;
Shall I not then the cruel Fair condemn
Who ON THAT DART IMPALES my BOSOM'S GEM?
II.
THE POET PROVES THE EXISTENCE OF A SOUL FROM HIS LOVE FOR DELIA.