Classic Poem

[To John Murray, March 25, 1817.]

To hook the reader, you, John Murray,
 Have publish'd Anjou's Margaret ,
Which won't be sold off in a hurry
 (At least, it has not been as yet);
And then, still further to bewilder 'em,
Without remorse you set up Ilderim ;
 So mind you don't get into debt,
Because as how, if you should fail,
These books would be but baddish bail.
And mind you do not let escape
 These rhymes to Morning Post or Perry,
 Which would be very treacherous— very ,
And get me into such a scrape!
For, firstly, I should have to sally,
All in my little boat, against a Galley ,
And, should I chance to slay the Assyrian wight,
Have next to combat with the female knight.
And prick'd to death expire upon her needle,
A sort of end which I should take indeed ill!