Stray leaves from the portfolios of Alisander the seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle

84
STRAY LEAVES.
So serious and saint-like in God’s house of prayer;
Go next to the brothel, you’ll find the Shape there.
In sensual dalliance with some wanton wench.
The fire of its lust both to kindle and quench:
Now go to its study, and view it again.
Drawing forth the full stores of its versatile brain.
And penning, as moved by its caprice or whim,
A loose sonnet—Sunday tract—prologue, or hymn.
Now see it to temperance so strongly inclined.
That with Cruickshanks and Kirk it behoves to be joined;
But, lo! on that very same night it gets drunk.
And is found fast asleep in the arms of a punk.
Long, long was the creature opposed to that plan
Which had for its object the freedom of man;
And often it vented its spleen and its rage
Against every one who would dare to engage
In Liberty’s cause—for these notions had it.
That the mass of the people are bound to submit
To whatever the Lords of the soil may decree,
And that none but the great have a right to be free;
That Kings are appointed, by warrant divine.
To govern their States as their hearts may incline.
And that subjects have nothing to do but obey
The will of their lords,—be that will what it may;
That the bulk of mankind are a parcel of brutes.
Who have not the least claim to the earth’s precious fruits.
But ought to be fed on husks, acorns, and roots,—
While nobles, and kings, and all those who command,
Have an exclusive right to the fat of the land;