“The humble holy heart that holds of new-born pride no spice!
He’s just the saint to choose for Pope!” Each adds, “’Tis my advice.”
So Pope he was: and when we flocked—its sacred slipper on—
To kiss his foot, we lifted eyes, alack, the thing was gone—
That guarantee of lowlihead,—eclipsed that star which shone!
Each eyed his fellow, one and all kept silence. I cried “Pish!
I’ll make me spokesman for the rest, express the common wish.
Why, Father, is the net removed?” “Son, it hath caught the fish.”
Frederick Locker-Lampson, though following in the footsteps of Praed, was a more famous writer of the rhymes known as Vers de Société.
There is no English equivalent for the French term, and attempts to coin one are usually failures. Society verse, Familiar Verse, Occasional verse,—each lacks somewhat of the real implication.