The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

571
In Clon, the town of monks and bones,
And pavements fanged with murderous stones,
And rags, and hags, and hideous wenches,
I counted two-and-seventy stenches,
All well defined and separate stinks!
Ye nymphs that reign o'er sewers and sinks,
The river Rhine, it is well known,
Doth wash your city of Cologne.
But tell me, nymphs, what power divine
Shall henceforth wash the river Rhine?
TO A LADY,
Offended by a sportive observation that women have no souls.
Nay, dearest Anna, why so grave?
I said you had no soul,'tis true,
For what you ARE you can not HAVE;
'Tis _I_ that have one since I first had you.
AVARO.
[STOLEN FROM LESSING.]
There comes from old Avaro's grave
A deadly stench--why sure they have
Immured his SOUL within his grave.
BEELZEBUB AND JOB.
Sly Beelzebub took all occasions
To try Job's constancy and patience.
He took his honor, took his health,
He took his children, took his wealth,
His servants, oxen, horses, cows--
But cunning Satan did not take his spouse.
But Heaven, that brings out good from evil,
And loves to disappoint the devil,