Whole shoals of constables in line
We galloped o’er in style so fine,
By orders of the SAPIENT NINE—
First friends, then foes, laid flat.
By Richardson’s best grinding skill
Our blades were set with right good will,
That we these rogues might bleed or kill,
And “give them of Reform their fill!”
And what d’ye think of that?
And so on the satire ran, in mock-bravura style, through the whole course of piano, sotto voce, pianissima-mento, and con baldanza, with foot-notes to strengthen or elucidate the text. And that the writer remained undiscovered and unprosecuted spoke loudly for the re-action which had taken place in men’s minds.