January 1795

NT slipp'ry, people sneezing,  Lords in ermine, beggars freezing ;  Titled gluttons dainties carving,  Genius in a garret starving.  Lofty mansions, warm and spacious ;  Courtiers clinging and voracious ;  Misers scarce the wretched heeding ;  Gallant soldiers fighting, bleeding.  Wives who laugh at passive spouses ;

Theatres, and meeting-houses ;

Balls, where simp'ring misses languish ;

Hospitals, and groans of anguish.

Arts and sciences bewailing ;

Commerce drooping, credit failing ;

Placemen mocking subjects loyal ;

Separations, weddings royal.

Authors who can't earn a dinner ;

Many a subtle rogue a winner ;

Fugitives for shelter seeking ;

Misers hoarding, tradesmen breaking.

Taste and talents quite deserted ;

All the laws of truth perverted ;

Arrogance o'er merit soaring ;

Merit silently deploring.

Ladies gambling night and morning ;

Fools the works of genius scorning ;

Ancient dames for girls mistaken,

Youthful damsels quite forsaken.

Some in luxury delughting ;

More in talking than in fighting ;

Lovers old, and beaux decrepid ;

Lordlings empty and insipid.

Poets, painters, and musicians ;

Lawyers, doctors, politicians :

Pamphlets, newspapers, and odes,

Seeking fame by diff'rent roads.

Gallant souls with empty purses ;

Gen'rals only fit for nurses ;

School-boys, smit with martial spirit,

Taking place of vet'ran merit.

Honest men who can't get places,

Knaves who shew unblushing faces ;

Ruin hasten'd, peace retarded ;

Candour spurn'd, and art rewarded.