“From all that mongrel chivalry
“That such a nauseous dish is
“Of Gothic fancies and modern deceit,
“And neither flesh nor fish is.
“The troops of Comedians drive away,
“And close the theatres sickly,
“Wherein they parody former times,—
“O Emperor, come thou quickly!”
CAPUT XVIII.
The town of Minden’s a fortress strong,
With arms and stores well provided;
But Prussian fortresses, truth to say,
I never have abided.
We got there just as evening fell;
The planks of the drawbridge sadly
Beneath us groan’d, as over we roll’d,
And the dark moat gaped on us madly.
The lofty bastions on me gazed
With threat’ning and sulky wonder;
The heavy gate open’d with rattling loud,
And closed with a noise like thunder.
Alas! my soul felt as sad as the soul
Of Odysseus, the world-renown’d warrior,
When he heard Polyphemus rolling a rock
In front of the cave as a barrier.
A Corporal came to the door of the coach
For our names; I replied to this latter act:
“I’m Nobody call’d; I an oculist am,
“Who couch the giants for cataract!”
At the inn I found my discomfort increase,
My victuals fill’d me with loathing;
I straight went to bed, but slept not a wink,
So heavy I found the bed-clothing.
The bed was a large, broad featherbed,
Red damask curtains around it,
The canopy wrought with faded gold,
While a dirty tassel crown’d it.