OH you, who in all names can tickle the town, Anacreon, Tom Little, Tom Moore, or Tom Brown,--[25] For hang me if I know of which you may most brag, Your Quarto two-pounds, or your Two-penny Post Bag; * * * * * But now to my letter--to _yours_ 'tis an answer-- To-morrow be with me, as soon as you can, sir, All ready and dressed for proceeding to spunge on (According to compact) the wit in the dungeon--[26] Pray Phoebus at length our political malice May not get us lodgings within the same palace! I suppose that to-night you're engaged with some codgers, And for Sotheby's Blues[27] have deserted Sam Rogers; And I, though with cold I have nearly my death got, Must put on my breeches, and wait on the Heathcote;[28] But to-morrow, at four, we will both play the _Scurra_, And you'll be Catullus, the Regent Mamurra.[29] [First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, i. 401.] FOOTNOTES: [25] [Moore's "_Intercepted Letters; or, The Twopenny Post-Bag_, By Thomas Brown, the Younger," was published in 1813.] [26] [James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) was imprisoned February, 1813, to February, 1815, for a libel on the Prince Regent, published in the _Examiner_, March 12, 1812.--_Letters_, 1898, ii. 205-208, _note_ 1.] [27] [For "Sotheby's Blues," see Introduction to _The Blues, Poetical Works_, 1901, iv. 570, _et ibid_., 579, 580.] [28] [Katherine Sophia Manners was married in 1793 to Sir Gilbert Heathcote. See _Letters_, 1898, ii. 402, 406.] [29] [See _Catullus_, xxix. 1-4-- "Quis hoc potest videre? quis potest pati, Nisi impudicus et vorax et aleo, Mamurram habere, quod Comata Gallia Habebat uncti et ultima Britannia?" etc.] ON LORD THURLOW'S POEMS.[30] 1. WHEN Thurlow this damned nonsense sent, (I hope I am not violent) Nor men nor gods knew what he meant. 2. And since not even our Rogers' praise To common sense his thoughts could raise-- Why _would_ they let him print his lays? 3. * * * * * 4. * * * * * 5. To me, divine Apollo, grant--O! Hermilda's[31] first and second canto, I'm fitting up a new portmanteau; 6. And thus to furnish decent lining, My own and others' bays I'm twining,-- So, gentle Thurlow, throw me thine in. June 2, 1813. [First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, i. 396.] FOOTNOTES: