As grafted rocks do meet the flood,
So fast, so firm the Luddite stood;
As floods oppos'd do backwards dash,
So back the Watch and Ward did crash.
O! that my lyre had ne'er been strung,
Or only to the wild winds sung,
Ere it had tun'd with wail and woe,
The gallant Warder's overthrow.
But now a dreadful cry and roar,
The slumbering echoes wak'd once more,
As many a Warder prostrate lay,
Or crept on hands and knees away.
A halberdier so fierce in fight,
Made charge with all his gathered might,
When from the foe rebounding back
He tumbled over tailor Jack.
Then Jack arose with angry frown And knock'd the gallant Doctor down; The Doctor by old Galen swore,
He'd ne'er be Watch and Warder more.
Limping upon his bruised thigh,
Poor Collop-Joseph loud did cry;
And Whiffling-Johnny wish'd for light
That he could better see to fight.
Hard was the fate of Mister S- -ls,
Beneath both B- -tr―wth and W—-ls ; Tom T-yl-r got a woeful squeeze
Beneath the paunch of bulky L
Meanwhile at distance stood the chief,
With looks that spoke his inward grief,
To see his brave combatants fall
Before the warrior stout and tall.
For still the foe did bravely stand,
Nor warded blow, nor wielded brand,
Nor couched lance, nor fixed targe,
But steadfast brav'd the sweeping charge.
But ah! the brightest day must end,
To fate the bravest heroes bend;
And falling midst thy fallen foes,
Thy glory, gallant Ludd, must close.
The blacksmith pois'd his hammer high,
And swift as bolt from louring sky,
With Vulcan's force and fury swung,
Upon the Luddite's helm it rung.
Loud was the crash and wild the roar,
The mighty Ludd is now no more;
The broad hill trembled when he fell,
His fate the sighing breeze did tell.
But cloudless rode the moon on high,
Revealing to each Warder's eye
The dreaded foe, the mighty Ludd,
Was figure made from lump of wood.
Some waggish youths a stump had drest
With buckler, halbert, helm, and crest,
And nailed firmly 'gainst the wall,
It seem'd a warrior stout and tall.
His helm an iron pot, his hand
Held Luddite pike for burnish'd brand,
A boiler-lid, both large and strong,
Before him as his buckler hung.
"To Gath let not the tidings go, "In Askalon let no one know ;" Lest they should wake the merry string Of Watch and Warder's shame to sing.
O, the gallant Watch and Ward,
Sleepy England's wakeful guard,
With larum, rattle, pike, and hook,
Owd Ludd at Cabbage Ho' they took.
THE PETITION OF JAMMY'S HEN.(14)
YE Middletonian ladies fair,
To me extend your tender care,
And save me from the wicked snare,
Oh! listen to the mournful prayer
Of Jammy's hen.
For in the morning I must die,
And I must either roast or fry,
And on the spit be carried high;
Poor Jammy's hen!
The scorn, the scoff, the mockery
Of cruel men,
Unless some generous friend so kind,
A nobler sacrifice do find,
To satisfy the public mind,
And over England with the wind
Shall waft the deed.
A good fat scot would more befit
A public roast, a public spit,
'Twould give each hungry maw a bit ;
I pray you then,
To buy a scot and offer it,
Good gentlemen!
And Mister Bownas, I dare say, Has scots enow that he would slay, you would be so kind to pay;
Then Jammy's hen
As long as life did last would lay
For ladies and for gentlemen.
O'ER lofty Grange I once did range,
When sullen storms were sweepin',
A maiden fair wi' gowden hair
Came o'er the moorlands weepin':
I sooth'd her, I caress'd her;
And tenderly bless'd her;
And wrapp'd within my winter's cloak
The gowden-haired Hester.
|