Now that the Ministry relent, And Erin’s sons look big, sir, I feel a soft’ning sentiment, Which makes me half a Whig, sir. And thus preferment I procure, In each new doctrine hearty―― Alike extol, neglect, abjure, Pope, King, or Bonaparte. At least ’tis law, &c. The now prevailing politics, The now administration, On these allegiance do I fix―― While they can keep their station: For in my faith and loyalty I never more will falter, To Liverpool and Castlereagh, Until the times shall alter. For thus I safely may aver, However fools may sneer, sir, That whoso be the Minister, I must be Chaplain here, sir. From _Posthumous Parodies_. London: John Miller. 1814. ―――― WHO’S YOUR RATTER?[32] In Mr. Gladstone’s powerful days, When Tories were a faction, We used his every word to praise, And glorify each action. To teach our readers we ne’er miss’d, Their William was perfection, And traitors those who dared resist, Or move his bill’s rejection! But this the law is we’ll maintain, Until it cease to pay, sir, That whatsoever party reign, We’ll still on the strong side bray, sir! The People’s William lost his place, And Dizzy was victorious; The Tories we had called so base Replaced the Liberals glorious. But soon we found ’twould never do To still support the latter; We’d vow’d to do so, it is true, But still that did not matter. For this the law is we’ll maintain, Until it cease to pay, sir, That whatsoever party reign, We’ll still on the strong side bray, sir! And see how well our “ratting” pays, For Ministers are grateful, And from their table drop some scraps Enough to fill a plateful. And when we up back stair-ways creep, To Salisbury see, or Dizzy, They rarely kick us down again, Unless they’re _very_ busy. So this the law is we’ll maintain, Until it cease to pay, sir, That whatsoever party reign, We’ll still on the strong side bray, sir!