The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

492
Large was his fortune, but he bought it dear;
When he won foully he did freely spend.
He plundered no one knows how much a-year,
But Chancery o'ertook him in the end.
No further seek his frailties to disclose:
For many of his sins should share the load:
While he kept rising, who asked how he rose?
While we could reap, what cared we how he sowed?
THE BOA AND THE BLANKET.
[Footnote: A few days before this burlesque of Warren appeared, a
boa-constrictor in the London Zoological Gardens swallowed the blanket
that had served as its bed.]
AN APOLOGUE OF THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.--[AFTER WARREN.]
PUNCH.
It is talked of Now! Was talked of Yesterday!
May be muttered to-morrow! What?--
THE BOA THAT BOLTED THE BLANKET,
Speckled Enthusiast!
It was full moon's full moonlight! The Shilling
I had paid down at the Gate
Seem'd hung in Heaven. To NEWTON'S EYE
(As Master of the Mint).
A Splendid, yea, Celestial Shilling!
I was alone, with Nothing to Speak of
But Creation!
Yes! Gigantic NOAH'S Ark of twenty times her tonnage,
Lay crouch'd, and purring, and velvety, and fanged
About me!
Cane-colored tigers--rug-spotted Leopards--
Snakes (ah, CUPID!) knit and interknit--to true love knots
Semblable!
Striped Zebra--Onager Calcitrant--Common Ass,
And I--and all were there!