94
THE TRIUMPHS
Whose force had almost work'd into a storm
The gentler elements in Beauty's form.
As the sarcastic sentence caught his view,
Back from the board his elbow-chair he drew,
And, by sharp stings of sudden fury prick'd,
Far from his foot his gouty stool he kick'd.
Fierce as Achilles, by Atrides stung,
He pour'd the stream of vengeance from his tongue.
But ah, those angry threats he deign'd to speak,
Had sounds, alas! far differing from the Greek.
Rage from his lips in legal language broke;
Of juries and of damages he spoke,
And on the printer's law-devoted head
He threatened deep revenge in terms most dread;
Terms that with pain the ear of Beauty pierce,
And oaths too rough to harmonize in verse.
While thus the good old knight, with passion hot,
His toast neglected, and his tea forgot,
The discord of the drama to increase,
Now prim Penelope assails her niece;
The gentler elements in Beauty's form.
As the sarcastic sentence caught his view,
Back from the board his elbow-chair he drew,
And, by sharp stings of sudden fury prick'd,
Far from his foot his gouty stool he kick'd.
Fierce as Achilles, by Atrides stung,
He pour'd the stream of vengeance from his tongue.
But ah, those angry threats he deign'd to speak,
Had sounds, alas! far differing from the Greek.
Rage from his lips in legal language broke;
Of juries and of damages he spoke,
And on the printer's law-devoted head
He threatened deep revenge in terms most dread;
Terms that with pain the ear of Beauty pierce,
And oaths too rough to harmonize in verse.
While thus the good old knight, with passion hot,
His toast neglected, and his tea forgot,
The discord of the drama to increase,
Now prim Penelope assails her niece;
