Page:Lapsus Calami 1st Ed.djvu/61

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49

VI. Of Lord B.

A Grievance.

Dear Mr Editor: I wish to say—
If you will not be angry at my writing it—
But I've been used, since childhood's happy day,
When I have thought of something, to inditing it:
I seldom think of things: and, by the way,
Although this metre may not be exciting, it
Enables one to be extremely terse,
Which is not what one always is in verse.

I used to know a man,—such things befall
The observant wayfarer through Fate's domain:
He was a man, take him for all in all,
We shall not look upon his like again:
I know that statement's not original:
What statement is, since Shakspere? or, since Cain,
What murder? I believe 'twas Shakspere said it, or
Perhaps it may have been your Fighting Editor.