Page:Halleck.djvu/303

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THE BATTERY WAR.
271

Mercein and Bogardus each told a long story,
Very fine, without doubt, to such folks as could hear;
Then the two kings resigned, and in high gig and glory
The light-footed chief of the Guards took the chair:
So he made them a speech, about little or nothing,
Except he advised them to go home to bed;
And the simple fact is, that, in spite of their mouthing,
’Twas the only good, sensible thing that was said.

By-the-way, though, we’ve heard that these sons of sedition,
These vile Bonapartes (to quote Jemmy Lent),
Are about to bring forward a second edition,
And Squire McGareaghan fears the event.
Now to let our wise Council their honest game play on yet,
Just call out, your Honor, the Gingerbread Guards,
Bid them drive at the traitors with cutlass and bayonet,
And then pick their pockets as bare—as your bard’s.

D.