The Jews

XXXV.

a wand'ring host!- who will confine?

Who's he that would an Israelite restrain?

No regulations, human or divine,

Can circumvent their feverish lust of gain:
But I excuse the tribe eight times in nine;
I can't in Christian charity complain,

When they, in every week, can play their tricks
In five short days and nights, whilst we take six.

XXXVI.

Of instrumental music quite forlorn,

Except, indeed, at half-past four or five, When the blithe panyer-man doth wind his horn (12) In cheerful mood, the students to revive;

Who quit their books, and close the tedious morn, Which they've hard spent, till they're half dead

Resolv'd to smack of mutton or of beef,

To pond'rous hum-drum thoughts a sure relief.

XXXVII.

Bold panyer's trump a joyful sound doth make,
When to his lips the merry horn he places;
The students, to relieve the stomach ache,
Assemble then, O dear! with smirking faces;
Giving each other's hands the friendly shake,
(The mode in which an Englishman embraces).
Alone in pairs-and arm in arm-like cousins, -
You'll see them scrambling to the hall by dozens.

XXXVIII.

The law for lack of appetite's a cure;

I never knew a lawyer in

my life

Upon my life 'tis true - but he was sure

To be an adept at the fork and knife.

A lawyer now and then 's an epicure:

And the said tools he handleth so rife

In skill that seeing him in active bustle,

I've oft exclaim'd, with Matthews, "Zounds, what

muscle!" (13)

XXXIX.

We'll leave these gentry to their undertaking – Namely," to eat their way up to the bar" (14) And those who've done it : tho' no merry-making Is us'd, as formerly -- lest it should mar

The studies of the young; or be the means of shaking The dignity of gentlemen, who're far

From anxious, after they've themselves been filling, To stir their stumps in waltzing and quadrilling.

XL.

I said we've little music.

but forgot

See, see that vessel how it back recoils!

That packet of steam and pleasure smoking hot!
"Like a hell broth, it bubbles and it boils:" (15)'
Hear, hear the fiddlers!-now they think they've got
Some passengers in sight-who furnish all the oils
That set the wheels in motion, to poison our olfactories,
And cause more stinking smoke than forty manufac

tories.

XLI.

And we have discord, when some stupid fellow,

Half clerk, half scrub, (who always should be mute,) Left to himself, does not forget to bellow Practising, moreover, the violin and flutePerpetual, hopeless learner!- Punchinello I'd rather hear, and little sweep to boot, Than be annoy'd with whining, piping, scraping The efforts of a monkey, music aping.

XLII.

Reader, prepare! The muse is going to be
Brimful of sorrow and of deploration.
The tears now shedding do not drop for me,

But are the effects of others' lamentation.
and see,

The crest of Pegasus is lower'd

XLIII.

The muse and I bemoan there was occasion

For Alfred Clifford's letter, that I've seen;

He grievously complains of an invasion

Of privileges-that has never been

Made on solicitors of this free nation,

(16)

Since Philip and Mary were king and queen: As Lincoln's men serv'd " gemmen of the press," Excluding them from dining at their mess.

XLIV.

Then Sheridan declar'd, it was a shame

That a great body had so small a spirit;

Thus shutting up the avenue to fame,

And blocking up the great high road for merit

To travel fairly in, to gain a name :

'Twas shocking cruelty! - he could not bear it! And so this spirit

littler than a woman's

Rais'd the great spirits of the House of Commons.