Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/531
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The Negro's Retort.
As lately returned from the Isles of the West,
Lorenzo, with health and prosperity blest,
And surrounded by friends, at his table presided,
Where all the good things of the world were provided,
A domestic, with Africa's hue on his skin,
A basket of apples and chestnuts brought in.
Lorenzo, with wine and good fellowship warm,
To laugh at poor Mungo conceived it no harm;
And exclaimed, as he held up the fruit to his view,
"This apple's a white man, this chestnut is you."
"Ah! Massa," said Mungo, "acknowledge I must
The connexion is good, the comparison just;
But negro, like chestnut, though dark is his skin,
Is white, firm, and sound, as the kernel within;
While though beauteous, like apple, is Buckra, so smart,
He has oft many little black grains at his heart."
Lorenzo, with health and prosperity blest,
And surrounded by friends, at his table presided,
Where all the good things of the world were provided,
A domestic, with Africa's hue on his skin,
A basket of apples and chestnuts brought in.
Lorenzo, with wine and good fellowship warm,
To laugh at poor Mungo conceived it no harm;
And exclaimed, as he held up the fruit to his view,
"This apple's a white man, this chestnut is you."
"Ah! Massa," said Mungo, "acknowledge I must
The connexion is good, the comparison just;
But negro, like chestnut, though dark is his skin,
Is white, firm, and sound, as the kernel within;
While though beauteous, like apple, is Buckra, so smart,
He has oft many little black grains at his heart."
The Turbot.
A Tale.
Lord Endless walking to the hall,
Saw a fine turbot on a stall.
"How much d'ye ask, my friend, for this fish?"
"Two guineas, sir."—"Two guineas! tush!"
He paused, he thought, "Two guineas! zounds!"
"Few fish to-day, sir."—"Come, take pounds.
Send it up quick to Bedford Square,
Here's a pound note;—now mind, when there,
Ask for one pound, and say that's all—
My Lady's economical."
The fish was sent, my Lady thought it
Superfluous, but—my Lord had bought it.
She paid one pound and cried "O drat it!"
Yet could not think the fish dear at it.
A knock announcing Lady Tatter,
Come for an hour to sit and chatter;
At length,—"My darling Lady E.
I'm so distressed—you know Lord T.
Can't dine without fish, and 'tis funny
There's none to-day for love or money."
"Bless us!" cried Lady E., "two hours
Ago, a turbot came, 'tis yours,
Saw a fine turbot on a stall.
"How much d'ye ask, my friend, for this fish?"
"Two guineas, sir."—"Two guineas! tush!"
He paused, he thought, "Two guineas! zounds!"
"Few fish to-day, sir."—"Come, take pounds.
Send it up quick to Bedford Square,
Here's a pound note;—now mind, when there,
Ask for one pound, and say that's all—
My Lady's economical."
The fish was sent, my Lady thought it
Superfluous, but—my Lord had bought it.
She paid one pound and cried "O drat it!"
Yet could not think the fish dear at it.
A knock announcing Lady Tatter,
Come for an hour to sit and chatter;
At length,—"My darling Lady E.
I'm so distressed—you know Lord T.
Can't dine without fish, and 'tis funny
There's none to-day for love or money."
"Bless us!" cried Lady E., "two hours
Ago, a turbot came, 'tis yours,
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