Classic Poem

To an Excellent Italian Tune

Let's sing the new ministry's praise
With hearts most thankful and glad,
For the statesmen of these our days
Are the wisest that ever we had.

But not to wander too far
In the maze of their endless merit,
I'll give you an instance most rare
Of their vigilance, wisdom, and spirit.

They heard on Queen Bess's birthday
The 'prentices had an intent
Th' old Protestant gambol to play,
Which churchmen, they thought, should prevent.

The frolic, it seems, was no less
Than to carry about in procession
A pope in ridiculous dress
And to burn it by way of diversion.

Besides these turbulent folk
(Than their ancestors much more uncivil)
To their pageant had added the joke
Of a Perkin and eke of a devil,

With cardinals, Jesuits, friars,
A cartload together at least,
Intended to crown their bonfires,
A very unseas'nable jest.

For sure there could be no sense,
When a peace is coming upon us,
T' affront such a powerful prince
As the pope; why it might have undone us.

Then if the most Christian king
Should have taken it ill at our hand,
Such a very unmannerly thing
Might have put the peace to a stand.

The Jacobites next, to be sure,
Would have risen to defend their master;
And who could have told where a cure
Could be found for such a disaster?

Besides it would bear a doubt,
Whether burning the pope and the devil
Might not be designed to flout
At high-church and Dr. Sacheverell.

Furthermore in these days of sin,
'Twas feared by folks that were hearty,
A numerous mob might have been
Even raised for the devil and's party.

'Twas therefore expedient found
To send the footguards on the scout,
To search all the suburbs around,
And find the bold pageant out.

They took it, and as it was fit,
A magistrate wise and great
The criminals straight did commit,
That the law might determine their fate.

Then for fear of a rescue by night,
At which we should all have been troubled,
'Twas ordered (and sure that was right)
That the guards should be everywhere doubled.

Besides that no harm might come nigh us,
The bands so well trained were drawn out,
And as long as those heroes stand by us
The devil himself we may rout.

What though some people did sneer,
And call 'em the pope's life guard;
They stood to their arms and their beer
All night, and kept watch and ward.

So God save our gracious queen,
And her ministers every one,
And he that don't say amen,
Is a churl, and may let it alone.

The Hanover house God preserve,
And blast the pretender's hope,
The Protestant cause let's serve,
And give to the devil the pope.