A NEW VERSION. (_Addressed to the shades of Dibdin._) Since the first dawn of reason on――Dibdin――your mind. Very little experience, it seems, that you got: If you――after your fortune was shared――did not find That those you had shared it with, wanted you not It’s a maxim of mine, if a friend you’d sift out From the crowd, do not test with too searching a sieve him, And this motto you then may adopt past a doubt―― “I shall not want a friend, while I’ve lots I can give him!” But a grateful return of a farthing per cent When by poverty bowed, don’t expect in the least: With the fact, that you’ve proved you’re an ass be content, And we all know content is as good as a feast; Yet it makes one a little inclined to dispraise To know from experience, as sure as you live, you Of this motto the truth will learn, some of these days, “May you ne’er want a friend――for no jot’ll he give you!” TOM HOOD, the Younger. ――――:o:―――― THE ARETHUSA. (Words by Prince Hoare, F.S.A., Dramatic Author, born 1755, died December 22, 1834. Music by William Shield.) Come, all ye jolly sailors bold, Whose hearts are cast in honour’s mould, While English glory I unfold―― Huzza for the Arethusa! She is a frigate tight and brave As ever stemm’d the dashing wave; Her men are staunch To their fav’rite launch; And when the foe shall meet our fire, Sooner than strike, we’ll all expire On board of the Arethusa. ’Twas with the spring fleet she went out The English Channel to cruise about, When four French sail, in shore so about, Bore down on the Arethusa. The famed Belle Poule straight ahead did lie―― The Arethusa seem’d to fly: Not a sheet or a tack, Or a brace did she slack; Though the Frenchman laugh’d, and thought it stuff; But they knew not the handful of men how tough On board of the Arethusa. On deck five hundred men did dance, The stoutest they could find in France; We with two hundred did advance On board of the Arethusa. Our captain hail’d the Frenchman, “Ho!” The Frenchman then cried out, “Hollo!” “Bear down, d’ye see, To our admiral’s lee.” “No, no!” says the Frenchman, “that can’t be” “Then I must lug you along with me,” Says the saucy Arethusa.