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The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

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529<br />

II.<br />

TARQUIN AND THE AUGUR.<br />

Gingerly is good King Tarquin shaving,<br />

Gently glides <strong>the</strong> razor o'er his chin,<br />

Near him stands a grim Haruspex raving,<br />

And with nasal whine he pitches in,<br />

Church Extension hints,<br />

Till <strong>the</strong> monarch squints,<br />

Snicks his chin, and swears--a deadly sin!<br />

"Jove confound <strong>the</strong>e, thou bare-legged impostor!<br />

From my dressing table get <strong>the</strong>e gone!<br />

Dost thou think my flesh is double Glo'ster?<br />

<strong>The</strong>re again! That cut was to <strong>the</strong> bone!<br />

Get ye from my sight;<br />

I'll believe you're right<br />

When my razor cuts <strong>the</strong> sharping hone!"<br />

Thus spoke Tarquin with a deal <strong>of</strong> dryness;<br />

But <strong>the</strong> Augur, eager for his fees,<br />

Answered--"Try it, your Imperial Highness,<br />

Press a little harder, if you please.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re! <strong>the</strong> deed is done!"<br />

Through <strong>the</strong> solid stone<br />

Went <strong>the</strong> steel as glibly as through cheese.<br />

So <strong>the</strong> Augur touched <strong>the</strong> tin <strong>of</strong> Tarquin,<br />

Who suspected some celestial aid:<br />

But he wronged <strong>the</strong> blameless Gods; for hearken!<br />

Ere <strong>the</strong> monarch's bet was rashly laid,<br />

With his searching eye<br />

Did <strong>the</strong> priest espy<br />

RODGER'S name engraved upon <strong>the</strong> blade.<br />

REFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDESTRIAN.<br />

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

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