The Comic Almanack, Volume 1 / An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities

by William Makepeace Thackeray; Gilbert Abbott À Beckett; Henry Mayhew; Horace Mayhew; Albert Smith

I saw HER ply her sybil art, and pick up cash like fun,

For heads and tails she gave them hearts, and pleasur'd every one.

"I saw HER at the Masquerade," along with Nimming Ned,

Achieve those feats, where fingers light work nimbler than the head.

I saw HER too at All-Max once (not Almack's in the west),

"'Twas in a crowd,"—her voice was loud: I mustn't tell the rest.

I saw HER at the "Central Court," (it gave me quite a shock,)

Surrounded by her body guard, she stood within the dock.

And then I heard a little man with solemn voice proclaim,

('Twas rue to me, and wormwood too), that Alias was her name!