The politicians, in a nook apart,

Discuss’d the world, and settled all the spheres:

The wits watch’d every loophole for their art,

To introduce a bon mot, head and ears.

Small is the rest of those who would be smart.

A moment’s good thing may have cost them years

Before they find an hour to introduce it;

And then, even then, some bore may make them lose it.

But all was gentle and aristocratic

In this our party; polish’d, smooth, and cold,