WRITTENUPONTHECOVEROFABLOTTINGBOOK

writtenuponthecoverofablottingbook

blanktho'ibe,withinyou'llfind

relicsofth'enrapturedmind:

wheretruthandfable,mirthandwit,

aresafelyheredeposited.

theplacid,furious,envious,wise,

imparttometheirsecresies;

herehiddenthoughtsinblottedline

norsybilcanthesensedivine;

letheanditwinsistersbe—

then,stranger,openmeandsee.

politicalandotherepigrams

tosirjamesmackintosh

(1801)

thoughthou'rtlikejudas,an'tateblack,

intheresemblanceonethingthoudostlack:

whenhehadgottenhisill-purchasedpelf,

hewentaway,andwiselyhangedhimself.

thisthoumay'stdoatlast;yetmuchidoubt,

ifthouhastanybowelstogushout!

twelfthnight

charactersthatmighthavebeendrawnontheaboveevening

(1802)

mr.a[ddington]

iputmynight-caponmyhead,

andwent,asusual,tomybed;

and,mostsurprisingtorelate,

iwoke—aministerofstate!

messrs.c[annin]gandf[rer]e

atetonschoolbroughtupwithdullboys,

weshonelikemenamongtheschool-boys;

butsinceweintheworldhavebeen,

wearebutschool-boysamongmen.

countrumford

idealinalimentsfictitious

andteazethepoorwithsoupsnutritious.

ofbonesandfleshimakedilution

andbelongtothenationalinstitution.