I PACED upon my beat | |
| With steady step and slow, | |
| All huppandawnd of Ranelagh Street; | |
| Ran’lagh St. Pimlico. | |
| |
| While marching huppandownd | 5 |
| Upon that fair May morn, | |
| Beold the booming cannings sound, | |
| A royal child is born! | |
| |
| The Ministers of State | |
| Then presnly I sor, | 10 |
| They gallops to the Pallis gate, | |
| In carridges and for. | |
| |
| With anxious looks intent, | |
| Before the gate they stop, | |
| There comes the good Lord President, | 15 |
| And there the Archbishopp. | |
| |
| Lord John he next elights; | |
| And who comes here in haste? | |
| ’Tis the ero of one underd fights, | |
| The caudle for to taste. | 20 |
| |
| Then Mrs. Lily, the nuss, | |
| Towards them steps with joy; | |
| Says the brave old Duke, “Come tell to us, | |
| Is it a gal or a boy?” | |
| |
| Says Mrs. L. to the Duke, | 25 |
| “Your Grace, it is a Prince.” | |
| And at that nuss’s bold rebuke | |
| He did both laugh and wince. | |
| |
| He vews with pleasant look | |
| This pooty flower of May, | 30 |
| Then says the wenerable Duke, | |
| “Egad, it’s my buthday.” | |
| |
| By memory backards borne, | |
| Peraps his thoughts did stray | |
| To that old place where he was born | 35 |
| Upon the first of May. | |
| |
| Perhaps he did recall | |
| The ancient towers of Trim; | |
| And County Meath and Dangan Hall | |
| They did rewisit him. | 40 |
| |
| I phansy of him so | |
| His good old thoughts employin’; | |
| Fourscore years and one ago | |
| Beside the flowin’ Boyne. | |
| |
| His father praps he sees, | 45 |
| Most musicle of Lords, | |
| A playing maddrigles and glees | |
| Upon the Arpiscords. | |
| |
| Jest phansy this old Ero | |
| Upon his mother’s knee! | 50 |
| Did ever lady in this land | |
| Ave greater sons than she? | |
| |
| And I shouldn be surprize | |
| While this was in his mind, | |
| If a drop there twinkled in his eyes | 55 |
| Of unfamiliar brind. * * * * * | |
| To Hapsly Ouse next day | |
| Drives up a Broosh and for, | |
| A gracious prince sits in that Shay | |
| (I mention him with Hor!). | 60 |
| |
| They ring upon the bell, | |
| The Porter shows his Ed, | |
| (He fought at Vaterloo as vell, | |
| And vears a Veskit red). | |
| |
| To see that carriage come, | 65 |
| The people round it press: | |
| “And is the galliant Duke at ome?” | |
| “Your Royal Ighness, yes,” | |
| |
| He stepps from out the Broosh | |
| And in the gate is gone; | 70 |
| And X, although the people push, | |
| Says wery kind, “Move hon.” | |
| |
| The Royal Prince unto | |
| The galliant Duke did say, | |
| “Dear Duke, my little son and you | 75 |
| Was born the self-same day. | |
| |
| “The Lady of the land, | |
| My wife and Sovring dear, | |
| It is by her horgust command | |
| I wait upon you here. | 80 |
| |
| “That lady is as well | |
| As can expected be; | |
| And to your Grace she bid me tell | |
| This gracious message free. | |
| |
| “That offspring of our race, | 85 |
| Whom yesterday you see, | |
| To show our honour for your Grace, | |
| Prince Arthur he shall be. | |
| |
| “That name it rhymes to fame; | |
| All Europe knows the sound: | 90 |
| And I couldn’t find a better name | |
| If you’d give me twenty pound. | |
| |
| “King Arthur had his knights | |
| That girt his table round, | |
| But you have won a hundred fights, | 95 |
| Will match ’em, I’ll be bound. | |
| |
| “You fought with Bonypart, | |
| And likewise Tippoo Saib; | |
| I name you then with all my heart | |
| The Godsire of this babe.” | 100 |
| |
| That Prince his leave was took, | |
| His hinterview was done, | |
| So let us give the good old Duke | |
| Good luck of his god-son, | |
| |
| And wish him years of joy | 105 |
| In this our time of Schism, | |
| And hope he’ll hear the Royal boy | |
| His little catechism. | |
| |
| And my pooty little Prince | |
| That’s come our arts to cheer, | 110 |
| Let me my loyal powers ewince | |
| A welcomin of you ere. | |
| |
| And the Poit-Laureat’s crownd, | |
| I think, in some respex, | |
| Egstremely shootable might be found | 115 |
| For honest Pleaseman X. | |
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