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Moore: Tory Pledges
TORY PLEDGES
I pledge myself through thick and thin,
To labour still, with zeal devout,
To get the Outs, poor devils, in,
And turn the Inns, the wretches, out.
I pledge myself, though much bereft
Of ways and means of ruling ill,
To make the most of what are left,
And stick to all that's rotten still.
Though gone the days of place and pelf,
And drones no more take all the honey,
I pledge myself to cram myself
With all I can of public money;
To quarter on that social purse
My nephews, nieces, sisters, brothers,
Nor, so we prosper, care a curse
How much 'tis at th' expense of others.
I pledge myself, whenever Right
And Might on any point divide,
Not to ask which is black or white,
But take, at once, the strongest side.
For instance, in all Tithe discussions,
I'm/or the Reverend encroachers:—
I loathe the Poles, applaud the Russians,—
Am for the Squires against the Poachers.
Betwixt the Corn-Lords and the Poor
I've not the slightest hesitation,—
The people must be starv'd to insure
The Land its due remuneration.
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