II] Sonnet II. To Simplicity M. M.: no title in B. L. [6] yet, though] and yet B. L., i. 27. [8] Frown, pout and part then I am _very_ sad B. L., i. 27. [12] in gener-al Cottle, E. R., i. 288. III] Sonnet III. To, &c. M. M. [10] their] his Cottle, E. R., i. 292. [13] As when] Ah! thus B. L., i. 27. PARLIAMENTARY OSCILLATORS[211:1] Almost awake? Why, what is this, and whence, O ye right loyal men, all undefiléd? Sure, 'tis not possible that Common-Sense Has hitch'd her pullies to each heavy eye-lid? Yet wherefore else that start, which discomposes 5 The drowsy waters lingering in your eye? And are you _really_ able to descry That precipice three yards beyond your noses? Yet flatter you I cannot, that your wit Is much improved by this long loyal dozing; 10 And I admire, no more than Mr. Pitt, Your jumps and starts of patriotic prosing-- Now cluttering to the Treasury Cluck, like chicken, Now with small beaks the ravenous _Bill_ opposing;[212:1] With serpent-tongue now stinging, and now licking, 15 Now semi-sibilant, now smoothly glozing-- Now having faith implicit that he can't err, Hoping his hopes, alarm'd with his alarms; And now believing him a sly inchanter, Yet still afraid to break his brittle charms, 20 Lest some mad Devil suddenly unhamp'ring, Slap-dash! the imp should fly off with the steeple, On revolutionary broom-stick scampering.-- O ye soft-headed and soft-hearted people, If you can stay so long from slumber free, 25 My muse shall make an effort to salute 'e: For lo! a very dainty simile Flash'd sudden through my brain, and 'twill just suit 'e! You know that water-fowl that cries, Quack! Quack!? Full often have I seen a waggish crew 30 Fasten the Bird of Wisdom on its back, The ivy-haunting bird, that cries, Tu-whoo! Both plung'd together in the deep mill-stream, (Mill-stream, or farm-yard pond, or mountain-lake,) Shrill, as a _Church and Constitution_ scream, 35 Tu-whoo! quoth Broad-face, and down dives the Drake! The green-neck'd Drake once more pops up to view, Stares round, cries Quack! and makes an angry pother; Then shriller screams the Bird with eye-lids blue, The broad-faced Bird! and deeper dives the other. 40 Ye _quacking_ Statesmen! 'tis even so with you-- One Peasecod is not liker to another. Even so on Loyalty's Decoy-pond, each Pops up his head, as fir'd with British blood, Hears once again the Ministerial screech, 45 And once more seeks the bottom's blackest mud! 1798. (_Signed:_ LABERIUS.) FOOTNOTES: