Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

214 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
At first high-seated in his old pavilion,
Fain scorn the unwonted foe the fiendish quack would,
And pass for pride before the subject Million,
The fear that made him shun the wrath of Blackwood.
But soon, I knew, thou'dst strip the thin disguise
I knew—not long so crovse the Tyrant crack would,
Exposed in batter'd plight to vassal eyes.
All bleeding from the vulture beak of Blackwood.
VI.
VII.
The coxcombries of their blaspheming cant.
Full soon I knew to earth he hew and hack would,
And on the ruins of the unrighteous plant
The godly trophies of the march of Blackwood.
VIII.
I knew thy thumps to queU the vauntings priggish,
Of pert and impious upstarts find the knack would,
And paleness mantle every visage whiggish.
At the bare echo of the name of Blackwood.
IX.
I knew the weight of thy o'ermastering digs.
Soon teach the pompous swells to shout alack ! would,
I knew they soon, (these infidels and Whigs),
Not blue and yellow look, but blue and black would.
X.
I knew thou wouldst run Leslie such a rig,
That he no more, like some fierce Don Cossack, would
Against the tongue of Moses shake his wig,
Cow'd into reverence by the rod of Blackwood.
XI.
I knew thou'dst find a whip for such a pig,
I knew full soon he stop his impious clack would.
And be constrained to dye his whitening wig.
By chemic tricks disguising dread of Blackwood.
;