but he declined to do this. The Mayor and Alderman had proposed a sumptuous repast at the Guildhall for His Majesty, but he declined to attend, much to their disappointment.
But this a did—now this was kind—
Knowin' the people's longing mind,
And being pretty tall,
A stude 'pon tiptoes, it is zed;
And, condescending pok'd his head
Over the Bishop's wall.
Zum of the Ex'ter vokes suppose
They plainly zeed his royal nose,
And zum his royal eyes;
And, Lord! whatever peart they zeed,
In this they one and all agreed,
'Twas glorious, gert, and wize.
There is a rollicking swing about the whole composition, which keeps the narrative going like the steady onward pace of a racing eight-oar.
The conclusion at which Jan Ploughshare arrives is vastly droll:—
Theeze once I've made myzelf a vool
And now I feel my courage cool
For zeeing Royal things;
And whan my Bible next I read,—
Zo leet I worship all the breed,
I'll skep the Book of Kings.
But among offensive things written on George III, perhaps the most offensive is his "Letter from Brother Peter to Brother Tom," in which he contrasts the Prince of Wales with his father. In this and in his "Expostulary Odes" he treats the vices of the Prince as virtues—an obvious bid made for his favour. The good old King's homely ways are drawn in the Letter with a pen dipped in gall, whereas it is plunged in honey for the Prince.
