Page:A Nineteenth Century Satire.djvu/14

Though to be popular—experience shows—
One should write sensuous verse or fulsome prose.

As in times past, 'tis needful now and then
To lash the follies of one's fellow men;
But he who does so with sarcastic force,
Is deemed presumptuous, impudent or coarse,
Ay, he is deemed audacious who begins
To satirise men's follies and their sins;
One, who his powers of language doth degrade
When he speaks plain, and calls a spade a spade.

Now, though not gifted with prophetic sight
I know what things are foolish, wrong and right,
And in sarcastic metre I can write,
The evil doers of our days to smite;
Of men and manners can express my views,
And in harsh rhymes give unjust men their dues.
Alas! how few in manly virtues shine,
How many, folly and deceit combine;
Alike the profligate, the knave and fool,
Provoke one's wrath or scathing ridicule:
In these sensational and heartless times
There is occasion for hard-hitting rhymes;