Ode to the Sublime Porte


Great Sultan, how wise are thy state compositions!
And oh, above all, I admire that Decree,
In which thou command’st, that all she politicians
Shall forthwith be strangled and cast in the sea.

‘Tis my fortune to know a lean Benthamite spinster
A maid, who her faith in old Jeremy puts;
Who talks, with a lisp, of the “last new Westminster,”
And hopes you’re delighted with “Mill upon Gluts”;

Who tells you how clever one Mr. Fun-blank is,
How charming his Articles ‘gainst the Nobility;
And assures you that even a gentleman’s rank is,
In Jeremy’s school, of no sort of utility.

To see her, ye Gods, a new number perusing
Art. 1 – “On the Needle’s variations”, by Pl e;
Art. 2 – By her fav’rite Fun-blank – so amusing!
“Dear man! he makes poetry quite a Law case.”

Art. 3 -“Upon Fallacies”, Jeremy’s own
(Chief Fallacy being, his hope to find readers); –
Art. 4 – “Upon Honesty”, author unkown;
Art. 5 – (by the young Mr. M ) “Hints to Breeders”.

Oh, Sultan, oh, Sultan, though oft for the bag
And the bowstring, like thee, I am tempted to call
Though drowning’s too good for each blue-stocking hag,
I would bag this she Benthamite first of them all!

And, lest she should ever again lift her head
From the watery bottom, her clack to renew
As a clog, as a sinker, far better than lead,
I would hang round her neck her own darling Review.


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Ode to the Sublime Porte