See [T——], with the front of Jove!
But not like Jove with thunder grac’d[1],10
In Westminster’s superb alcove
Like the unhappy Theseus plac’d[2].
Day after day indignant swells
His generous breast, while still he hears
Impeachment’s fierce relentless yells,15
Which stir his bile and grate his ears.
And what a dull vain barren shew
St. Stephen’s luckless Chapel fills;
Our notions of respect how low,
While fools bring in their idle Bills.20
Noodles[3], who rave for abolition
Of th’ African’s improv’d condition[4],
At your own cost fine projects try;
Dont rob—from pure humanity.
Go, W———, with narrow scull,25
Go home, and preach away at Hull,
No longer to the [Senate][5] cackle,
In strains which suit the Tabernacle;
I hate your little wittling sneer,
Your pert and self-sufficient leer,30
Mischief to Trade sits on thy lip,
Insects will gnaw the noblest ship;
Go, W———, be gone, for shame,
Thou dwarf, with a big-sounding name.
Poor inefficient [B——], we see35
No capability in thee,
Th’ immortal spirit of thy Sire
Has borne away th’ æthereal fire,
And left thee but the earthy dregs,—
Let’s never have thee on thy legs;40
’Tis too provoking, sure, to feel,
A kick from such a puny heel.
Pedantick pupil of old Sherry,
Whose shrugs and jerks would make us merry,
If not by tedious languor wrung—45
Hold thy intolerable tongue.
Drawcansir Dolben would destroy
Both slavery and licentious joy;
Foe to all sorts of planters[6], he
Will suffer neither bond nor free.50
Go we to the Committee room,
There gleams of light conflict with gloom,
While unread rheams in chaos lye,
Our water closets to supply.
What frenzies will a rabble seize55
In lax luxurious days, like these;
The People’s Majesty, forsooth,
Must fix our rights, define our truth;
Weavers[7] become our Lords of Trade,
And every clown throw by his spade,60
T’ instruct our ministers of state,
And foreign commerce regulate:
Ev’n bony Scotland with her dirk,
Nay, her starv’d presbyterian kirk[8],
With ignorant effrontery prays65
Britain to dim the western rays,
Which while they on our island fall
Give warmth and splendour to us all.
See in a stall three feet by four,
Where door is window, window door,70
Saloop a hump-back’d cobler drink;
“With him the muse shall sit and think;”
He shall in sentimental strain,
That negroes are oppress’d, complain.
What mutters the decrepit creature?75
The Dignity of Human Nature[9]!