You haven't got a rhyming phiz, GOLIGHTLY. "Oh! Charles!-who said you were a dunce? I heard you read a sonnet once, With all you said, and all you chaunted, SONNET TO MR. BELLAMY. "Oh! I am weary of thy minstrelsy; Thou claw'st the chords with such a clumsy gripe, Evermore drawling a dull sleepy air, Like that the old Cow died of. Cruel Bard! What have I done, that thou would'st have me share CHORUS. BURTON. "Bravo! the Sonnet of Sonnets!-oh never Talk now of your Orpheus and Linus!" "I vow and declare that it's almost as clever As mine on the Pons Asininus!" CHORUS. NESBIT. CHORUS. BELLAMY. GOLIGHTLY. BELLAMY. "Bravo-Golightly's the poet to please :" "Libel and felony!" "Zounds! Mr. Bellamy!" "How can I sit with this base charlatan ?" GOLIGHTLY. "Lord! I'm afraid that his sisters he'll tell BELLAMY. o' me!" "Mr. Golightly shall find I'm a man!" O'CONNOR. "Murder and turf!" BELLAMY. O'CONNOR. BELLAMY. 66 "How I'll cut and assassinate! Mr. Golightly shall smart for it soon!" "Nate Mr. Bellamy, don't be so passionate!" Ignorant blockhead! I'll write a Lampoon!" (Exit in a passion! —All the Members much appalled.) COURTENAY. My friends! your spirits seem indeed GOLIGHTLY. COURTENAY. 66 In most unusual excitation; To cool them, I'll proceed to read ARTICLES IN PREPARATION. Two bits of prose from F. Golightly; 'Remarks upon the Fight of Ramillies ;' And Stanzas on Caernarvon Castle;' By Bellamy, our departed friend; 'The Power of Steam;' 'A Tale of Bradgelah!' Lastly some Greek and Roman stories.- CHORUS. NESBIT. And there are pretty verses in 't; "And bless'd with this ale OAKLEY. "While the Club's in such good humour, I'm very sorry to shock it; But I've received an insult, which I really can't possibly pocket : Mr. Swinburne himself will allow that I've good reason HIGH TREASON. Mr. Gerard, you've got a smile on your face, as much as to tell That I'm but an indifferent rhymer, but that I know very well, And I should be glad to tell my story in prose, if I might, Only, as there's nothing of the kind to be spoken here to night, I must say what I have to say in verse, as well as I am able ; Well then, here's Mr. Swinburne a-spilling all the tea upon my table, And making a mess and a slop with his impertinent hand, Because he wants to paint the situation where Troy used to stand; And though I care a great deal more about my butter and toast, Than about avat avopov and all his abominable host, Yet here he persists in spurting hot water upon my cheek, And, which is my detestation, quoting a bushel of Greek. And, here's the river Simois, and here's Xanthus,' says he, As if either of them ever ran with Mr. Weight's best tea; And here's 'Achilles and his Myrmidons.' I think it's very harsh To clap Achilles and all his soldiers into a great boiling marsh; And though I tell him to be quiet, as loud as I can bawl, It seems that he thinks me a blockhead, (Hear, hear,) for he don't mind me at all. Therefore, as I don't like to be in this manner defied, I pray that the President will immediately decide, Whether the rights of Members are to be protected, or whether Mr. Swinburne is to go on upsetting propriety, tea-cups, and Trojans, all together." SWINBURNE. "Larga quidem, Drance, semper tibi copia fandi--" OAKLEY. "If you talk any more lingo, you'll be fined and that won't be so handy." Swinburne. "I scorn to talk English where Latin won't be heard, And if I mayn't answer him classically, I won't answer a single word." COURTENAY. "Guilty, guilty, the case is clear." MUSGRAVE. "The Swinburne coach is upset, I fear." COURTENAY. "To give the Judges no defence Argues or guilt or insolence; CHORUS. Be it the first, or be it the last, Dread is the doom that must now be pass'd." "Guilty, guilty, the case is clear." "Mr. Courtenay, and Gentlemen, I think you're decidedly wrong here, I differ from you in nigst matters, and I differ from you in this; You say Mr. Swinburne is guilty;-now what if I don't think he is?" CHORUS (testifying astonishment.) "Oh! Lord! did you ever? Oh Lord! no I never! OAKLEY. CHORUS. The culprit was caught, the indictment drawn ! Mr. Oakley grows mild, Peregrine's mock'd, and the charge withdrawn!" "Chairman and King, I meant no such thing; Whence is this shouting and tumult drawn?” CHARGE WITHDRAWN." OAKLEY. "I don't wish or intend to transgress any proper rules, But I can't help observing that you're altogether a parcel of fools." (Exit in the sullens.-Members testify congratulation.) COURTENAY. "It's very late!" O'CONNOR. "Let's have another cup!" MONTGOMERY. "And sing a song," BURTON. CHORUS. "By way of summing up?" "Late is the evening! hush'd is the song, Friendly Etonians-health, and good night! your fame and your 'Articles'equally long! Be your Ale and your Genius equally bright." The Members shouted carmen hoc, Be As sweet as linnet or canary; (Signed) RICHARD HODGSON, Secretary. |