Classic Poem

I.

When as Corruption hence did go,
And left the Nation free;
When Ay said Ay , and No said No .
Without or Place or Fee;
Then Satan , thinking Things went ill,
Sent forth his Spirit call'd Quadrille .
Quadrille, Quadrille , &c.

II.

Kings, Queens and Knaves, made up his Pack,
And four fair Sutes he wore;
His Troops they were with red and black
All blotch'd and spotted o're;
And ev'ry House, go where you will,
Is haunted by this Imp Quadrille , &c.

III.

Sure Cards he has for ev'ry Thing,
Which well Court-cards they name,
And Statesman-like, calls in the King,
To help out a bad Game;
But if the Parties manage ill,
The King is forc'd to lose Codille , &c.

IV.

When two and two were met of old,
Tho' they ne'er meant to marry,
They were in Cupid 's Books enroll'd,
And call'd a Party Quarree;
But now, meet when and where you will.
A Party Quarree is Quadrille, &c .

V.

The Commoner, the Knight, and Peer,
Men of all Ranks and Fame,
Leave to their Wives the only Care
To propagate their Name;
And well that Duty they fulfil,
When the good Husband's at Quadrille, &c .

VI.

When Patients lie in piteous Case,
In comes the Apothecary;
And to the Doctor cries, Alas!
Non debes Quadrillare:
The patient dies without a Pill,
For why? the Doctor's at Quadrille, &c .

VII.

Should France and Spain again grow loud,
The Muscovite grow louder;
Britain to curb her Neighbours proud,
Would want both Ball and Powder;
Must want both Sword and Gun to kill;
For why? The General's at Quadrille, &c .

VIII.

The King of late drew forth his Sword,
(Thank God 'twas not in Wrath)
And made, of many a Squire and Lord,
An unwash'd Knight of Bath :
What are their Feats of Arms and Skill?
They're but nine Parties at Quadrille, &c .

IX.

A Party late at Cambray met,
Which drew all Europe 's Eyes
'Twas call'd in Post-Boy and Gazette
The Quadruple Allies ;
But some-body took something ill,
So broke this Party at Quadrille, &c .

X.

And now, God save this noble Realm.
And God save eke Hanover ;
And God save those who hold the Helm,
When as the King goes over;
But let the King go where he will,
His Subjects must play at Quadrille .
Quadrille, Quadrille, &c.