Classic Poem

Requête des chiens de qualite.

Let your Chamberlain, please you, decree
That to-morrow we dogs may obtain
Entrance into the Tuileries, free —
We who're from the Faubourg St Germain
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go

'Tis our collar our difference shows
From the dogs who the pavement frequent;
For such vulgar plebeians as those
Royal honors could never be meant
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go

Though as long as we bowed to his yoke,
The usurper aye drove us away,
When a host of importunate folk
Would be barking — we never said nay!
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go.

Of his reign should you memoirs indite,
Be not hard on some changeable brutes,
Who to-day at his heels snap and bite,
Though for years they were licking his boots.
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go.

Tiny spaniels and terriers mean,
Something better than fleas having met,
Fawn on Russians and Germans, I ween,
Who with blood, that is French, are still wet
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go.

What, if, sure her vast profits to net,
England boast of her victories high;
Lumps of sugar again we can get,
And the cats lick the coffee cups dry.
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go.

Since our dames in such haste retrograde,
As their pinners and lappets will show;
Since again holy water is made,
Pray, replace us in our statu quo
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go.

We agree in return for this grace,
All except a few scrupulous poodles,
That we'll fawn on the holders of place,
That we'll bite all unfortunate noodles
Now we are sure that the tyrant's laid low,
Hinder us not; we would frolicking go