Unknown to me the stocks are falling; Unwatched by me the glass may fall; Let all the world pursue its calling,I'm not at home if people call. (1829.) THE FANCY BALL. "A visor for a visor! what care I What curious eye doth quote deformities ?" Shakspeare. "You used to talk," said Miss Mac Call, You'd better burn your Blackstone, Sir, I made that night a solemn vow, I wore white muslin on my brow, Oh! a Fancy Ball's a strange affair, Light heads, light heels, false hearts, false hair, The dullest Duke in all the town And rakes, who have not half a crown, Go, call the lawyer from his pleas, And savages in satin; Begone, dull care! This life of ours We'll sleep through all its serious hours, Where, by established usance, Miss Gravity is quite amiss, And Madam Sense a nuisance! Hail, blest Confusion! here are met All tongues, and times, and faces; The Lancers flirt with Juliet, The Brahmin talks of races; And where's your genius, bright Corinne ? And where your brogue, Sir Lucius ? And, Chinca Ti, you have not seen One chapter of Confucius. Lo! dandies from Kamtschatka flirt The Commandant from Seville, O sweet Anne Page!-those dancing eyes So fond and starved a sinner, What mean those laughing Nuns, I pray, What mean they, Nun or Fairy? I guess they told no beads to-day, I wish all pretty Catholics Were thus emancipated. Four Seasons come to dance quadrilles With Timon, prince of railers; I find Sir Charles, of Aubyn Park, Fair Cleopatra's very plain, Puck halts, and Ariel swaggers; Our happiest bride,—how very odd! Here sad Calista laughs outright, There Yorick looks most grave, Sir, And a Templar waves the cross to-night, Who never crossed the wave, Sir. And what a Babel is the talk! "The Giraffe"-" plays the fiddlle ”"Macadam's roads"-"I hate this chalk "- ”— "Sweet girl!"-" a charming riddle "— "I'm nearly drunk with "-" Epsom salts ""Yes, separate beds "-"such cronies!”— "Good Heaven! who taught that man to waltz?” "A pair of Shetland ponies." VOL. II.-9 |