His trousers were nankeen so fine,
His buttons bright as gold,—
‘May I,’ said little George, ‘go out
My pretty clothes to show?
May I, papa? May I, mamma? ’
The answer was—‘No, no!’”
Here, retribution is foreshadowed in the first stanza, if a second glance be given at the title.
In another mood. Lamb could sit patient under his reverend predecessor, or give new life to an old text:
“In your garb and outward clothing
A reserved plainness use;