It may be as well also to state, for the information of those critics, who attack with the hope of being answered, and of being thereby brought into notice, that it is the rule of this Society to return no other answer to such assailants, than is contained in three words "Non curat Hippoclides," (meaning, in English, "Hippoclides does not care a fig,") which were spoken two thousand years ago by the first founder of Poco-curantism, and have ever since been adopted as the leading dictum of the sect. THOMAS BROWN. FABLE I. THE DISSOLUTION OF THE HOLY ALLIANCE. A DREAM. I'VE had a dream that bodes no good Unto the Holy Brotherhood. I may be wrong, but I confess As far as it is right or lawful A dome of frost-work, on the plan In this said Palace, furnished all And lighted as the best on land are, Those holy gentlemen, who've shown a At Troppau, Laybach, and Verona. The thought was happy-and designed And all were pleased, and cold, and stately, Nor gave one thought to the foundation. * "It is well known that the Empress Anne built a palace of ice on the Neva, in 1740, which was fifty-two feet in length, and when illuminated had a surprising effect."-Pinkerton. Much too the Czar himself exulted, To all Plebeian fears a stranger, For, Madame Krudener, when consulted, Thinking himself extremely clever, As if the Frost would last for ever. Just fancy how a bard like me, Who reverence monarchs, must have trembled, To see that goodly company, At such a ticklish sport assembled. Nor were the fears, that thus astounded Could scarce get on for downright stumbling; And Prussia, though to slippery ways So used, was cursedly near tumbling. Yet still 'twas, who could stamp the floor most, This precious brace would, hand in hand, go; Now-while old Louis, from his chair, Intreated them his toes to spare Called loudly out for a Fandango. And a Fandango, 'faith, they had, Never were Kings (though small the expense is So out of all their princely senses. But, ah, that dance-that Spanish dance-- When, glaring red, as 'twere a glance Who, bursting into tears, exclaimed, "A thaw, by Jove-we're lost, we're lost! Run, France-a second Waterloo Is come to drown you-sauve qui peut!" Why, why will monarchs caper so Crowns, fiddles, sceptres, decorations- Cut out in the resplendent ice- With double heads for double dealings- And not alone rooms, ceilings, shelves, Some word, like "Constitution"-long In short, I scarce could count a minute, Happy as an enfranchised bird, In simple grandeur to the sea, Such is my dream-and, I confess, That Spanish dance-that southern beam- FABLE II. THE LOOKING-GLASSES. PROEM. WHERE Kings have been by mob-elections Some, liking monarchs large and plumpy, The Easterns in a Prince, 'tis said, So that their Kings had not red hair— Touching the acquired or natural right FABLE. There was a land-to name the place What was the cut legitimate Of these great persons' chins and noses, But so it was-a settled case Some Act of Parliament, passed snugly, Had voted them a beauteous race, And all their faithful subjects ugly. *The Goths had a law to choose always a short, thick man for their King.— Munster, Cosmog. lib. iii. p. 164. "In a Prince Jolter-head is invaluable."-Oriental Field Sports. As rank, indeed, stood high or low, Some change it made in visual organs; Your Peers were decent-Knights, so soBut all your common people, gorgons! Of course, if any knave had hinted That the King's nose was turned awry, But rarely things like this occurred, The people to their King were duteous, And took it, on his Royal word, That they were frights, and He was beauteous. The cause whereof, among all classes, And, therefore, did not know themselves. Sometimes, indeed, their neighbours' faces Besides, howe'er we love our neighbour, As when the face attacked's our own. So, on they went-the crowd believing- But jokes, we know, if they too far go, 'Twas said, some Radicals, somewhere, However this might be, the freight The downfall of the Race of Beauties. The looking-glasses got about, And grew so common through the land, That scarce a tinker could walk out, Without a mirror in his hand. |