“Childers, Spare that Coin.”
[The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to abolish the old half-sovereign and issue a new one, which should be worth only nine shillings in gold.]
Childers, spare that coin,
Historically grand,
Thou wouldst its tenth purloin,
But, prithee, stay thy hand.
It aye has held for me
A pure ten-shilling joy.
So, Childers, let it be,
Nor mix it with alloy.