This note, signed "Granville," came by post, And (cheap enough) a silver shilling cost. No time must now be lost, he goes, he sends To all his wealthy corporation friends. The sleek-skinn'd brotherhood soon flock'd together, All in full spirits and full feather, With double chins and rosy faces, Pictures of bacchanalian graces, Expecting to behold a feast Of turtle exquisitely drest. They lick'd their chops, and stretch'd their maws, And blest the man that first invented jaws. Jaws form'd so wonderful and so complete, Jaws that can swear and pray and lie and eat; When lo! ah! disappointed paunches, Instead of vast sirloins and haunches, Bright dishes, shining knives and forks, Gay bottles, sparkling glasses, smacking corks, Up rose the mayor, with sage demeanour, And read the letter--for a dinner! He ended--and a broad prodigious grin Screw'd every face, and tugg'd up ev'ry chin. But yet mysterious silence hung A padlock upon every tongue; Then rearing his triumphant crest, Whilst knighthood caper'd in his breast, Thus the big mayor the aldermen addres't: "Ha! honest gem'men, don't ye see The king's most gracious majesty Has fall'n quite in love with me? Upon my honor, worthy gem'men, I never knew myself before. I've always been before a yeoman, Not very rich, not very poor, To-day, a man, like one of you, A knight to-morrow I shall ride In coach and six, with ribband blue, And sword-knot flaming by my side. On honor's ladder I intend to rise, Step after step until I reach the skies, A viscount, earl, a marquess, duke, I'll be, God only knows what may become of me, And really, gem'men, 'twould be no strange thing, If, in my turn, I should become a king." The aldermen all started from their places, And open'd all the windows of their faces, Each view'd the letter with a heart-heav'd groan. And wish'd a thousand times it was his own. Then bowing humbly to the mayor, Each offer'd up his solemn prayer.-- "Make me," said one, "most gracious sir, A learned lord high chancellor." "And I," exclaimed a man of weight, "I'll be your minister of state." "Make me your majesty's physician," Cried a poor mean consumptive elf. "I'll be your majesty's musician," Said one who seem'd a corporation of himself. "Ask," quoth the mayor, "whate'er you want, And all, aye, more than all, I'll grant, Should heav'n bestow the golden fleece, By George! I'll make you dukes apiece!"-- --"Fools, fools apiece," exclaim'd a fat Old wag, who in a corner sat. "Fools?" cried the mayor, abash'd, confounded, "Fools?" cried the aldermen, astounded. "Yes, fools apiece, fools altogether," Replied the wicked wag; "Fools, fools," he cried, "fools of one feather, I'll let the cat out o' the bag, This letter ne'er was writ by Granville, But forged on quite another anvil. 'Tis neither frank'd nor does the seal display