VERSES ON SEEING THE SPEAKER
ASLEEP IN HIS CHAIR DURING
ONE OF THE DEBATES OF THE
FIRST REFORMED PARLIAMENT

SLEEP, Mr. Speaker; ’tis surely fair,

If you mayn’t in your bed, that you should

in your chair;

Louder and longer still they grow,

Tory and Radical, Aye and No;

Talking by night and talking by day.

Sleep, Mr. Speaker—sleep while you may!

Sleep, Mr. Speaker; slumber lies

Light and brief on a Speaker’s eyes;