J. R. Lowell, A Fable for Critics.
Casey mentioned to me a parody of his on two lines in the "Veiled Prophet":—
"He knew no more of fear than one who dwells
Beneath the tropics knows of icicles."
The following is his parody, which, bless my stars, none of my critics were lively enough to hit upon, for it would have stuck by me:—
"He knew no more of fear than one who dwells
On Scotia's mountains knows of shoe-buckles."
Thomas Moore, Diary.
HY mourns my Eugene? In his dark eye of blue
Why trembles the tear-drop to sympathy due?
Ah, why must a bosom so pure and refin'd
Thus vibrate, all nerve, at the woes of mankind?
Like a sunbeam the clouds of the tempest between,
A smile lights the eye of the pensive Eugene;
And thus, in soft accents, the mourner replies,
"Hang your mustard! it brings the tears in my eyes!"