In this said Palace, furnish'd all And lighted as the best on land are, Those holy gentlemen, who've shown a The thought was happy — and design'd Nor gave one thought to the foundation. To all plebeian fears a stranger, For, Madame Krudener, when consulted, Thinking himself extremely clever, As if the Frost would last for ever. Just fancy how a bard like me, Who reverence monarchs, must have trembled To see that goodly company, At such a ticklish sport assembled. Nor were the fears, that thus astounded Were seiz'd with an ill-omen'd dripping,. Could scarce get on for downright stumbling; Yet still 'twas, who could stamp the floor most, This precious brace would, hand in hand, go; Now while old Louis, from his chair, Intreated them his toes to spare Call'd loudly out for a Fandango. And a Fandango, 'faith, they had, Never were Kings (though small th' expense is But, ah, that dance that Spanish dance Scarce was the luckless strain begun, When, glaring red, as 't were a glance Who, bursting into tears, exclaim'd, "A thaw, by Jove — we're lost, we're lost! "Run, France-a second Waterloo "Is come to drown you-sauve qui peut!' Why, why will monarchs caper so Crowns, fiddles, sceptres, decorations · With double heads for double dealingsHow fast the globes and sceptres glided Out of their claws on all the ceilings! Proud Prussia's double bird of prey Tame as a spatch cock, slunk away; While just like France herself, when she Proclaims how great her naval skill is Poor Louis' drowning fleurs-de-lys Imagin'd themselves water-lilies. And not alone rooms, ceilings, shelves, still more fatal execution But The Great Legitimates themselves Th' indignant Czar when just about - long To issue a sublime Ukase, "Whereas all light must be kept out Dissolv'd to nothing in its blaze. Next Prussia took his turn to melt, And, while his lips illustrious felt The influence of this southern air, Some word, like "Constitution Congeal'd in frosty silence there Came slowly thawing from his tongue. While Louis, lapsing by degrees, And sighing out a faint adieu To truffles, salmis, toasted cheese And smoking fondus, quickly grew, Himself, into a fondu too; Or like that goodly King they make In short, I scarce could count a minute, In simple grandeur to the sea, Than when, in sparkling fetters tied, Such is my dream and, I confess, I tremble at its awfulness. That Spanish Dance-that southern beam FABLE II. THE LOOKING-GLASSES. PROEM. WHERE Kings have been by mob-elections Some, liking monarchs large and plumpy, Have chos'n their Sovereigns by the weight;Some wish'd them tall, some thought your dumpy, Dutch-built, the true Legitimate.* The Goths had a law to choose always a short, thick man for their King. |