I made that night a solemn vow, To startle all beholders: I wore white muslin on my brow, Green velvet on my shoulders-- My trousers were supremely wide, I learn'd to swear "by Allah"-- I stuck a poniard by my side, And called myself "Abdallah." Oh! a Fancy Ball's a strange affair, Made up of silks and leathers, Light heads, light heels, false hearts, false hair, Pins, paint, and ostrich feathers: The dullest Duke in all the town, To-night may shine a droll one-- And rakes, who have not half-a-crown, Look royal with a whole one. Hail, blest Confusion! here are met All tongues, and times, and faces, The Lancers flirt with Juliet, The Bramin talks of races; And where's your genius, bright Corinne? And where your brogue, Sir Lucius? And Chinca Ti, you have not seen One chapter of Confucius. Lo! dandies from Kamschatka flirt With beauties from the Wrekin-- And belles from Berne look very pert On Mandarins from Pekin; The Cardinal is here from Rome, The Commandant from Seville-- And Hamlet's father from the tomb, And Faustus from the Devil. What mean those laughing Nuns, I pray, What mean they, Nun or Fairy: I guess they told no beads to-day, And sang no Ave Mary. From Mass and Matins, Priest and Pix, Barred door, and window grated, I wish all pretty Catholics Were thus emancipated. Four Seasons come to dance quadrilles, With four well-seasoned sailors-- And Raleigh talks of rail-road bills, With Timon, prince of railers. I find Sir Charles of Aubyn Park Equipp'd for a walk to Mecca-- And I run away from Joan of Arc, To romp with sad Rebecca. Fair Cleopatra's very plain, Puck halts, and Ariel swaggers-- And Cæsar's murder'd o'er again, Though not by Roman daggers. Great Charlemagne is four feet high-- Sad Stuff has Bacon spoken-- Queen Mary's waist is all awry, And Psyche's nose is broken. Our happiest bride, how very odd! Is the mourning Isabella, And the heaviest foot that ever trod Is the foot of Cinderella. Here sad Calista laughs outright, There Yorick looks most grave, Sir, And a Templar waves the cross to-night, Who never cross'd the wave, Sir. And what a Babel is the talk! "The Giraffe"--"plays the fiddle"-- "Macadam's roads"--"I hate this chalk"-- "Sweet girl"--"a charming riddle"-- "I'm nearly drunk with"--"Epsom salts"-- "Yes, separate beds"--"such cronies!"-- "Good heaven! who taught that man to valtz?"-- "A pair of Shetland ponies." "Lord D----" "an enchanting shape"-- "Will move for"--"Maraschino" "Pray, Julia, how's your mother's ape?"-- "He died at Navarino!" "The gout, by Jove, is"--"apple pie"-- "Don Miguel"--"Tom the tinker"-- "His Lordship's pedigree's as high As ----" "Whipcord, dam by Clinker."