ruthless Frenchman forge
A fetter for Old England and Old George:

I let loose flaming Nelson on his fleets;
I met his troops with Wellesley's bayonets.

Triumphant waved my flag on land and sea:
Where was the king in Europe like to me?

Monarchs exiled found shelter on my shores;
My bounty rescued kings and emperors.

But what boots victory by land or sea?
What boots that kings found refuge at my knee?

I was a conqueror, but yet not proud;
And careless, even though Napoleon bow'd.

The rescued kings came kiss my garments' hem:
The rescued kings I never heeded them.

My guns roar'd triumph, but I never heard:
All England thrilled with joy, I never stirred.

What care had I of pomp, or fame, or power,--
A crazy old blind man in Windsor Tower?

GEORGIUS ULTIMUS

He left an example for age and for youth
To avoid.
He never acted well by Man or Woman,
And was as false to his Mistress as to his Wife.
He deserted his Friends and his Principles.
He was so ignorant that he could scarcely Spell;
But he had some Skill in Cutting out Coats,
And an undeniable Taste for Cookery.
He built the Palaces of Brighton and of Buckingham,
And for these Qualities and Proofs of Genius,
An admiring Aristocracy
Christened him the "First Gentleman in Europe".
Friends, respect the King whose Statue is here,
And the generous Aristocracy who admired him.

Sketches Of Manners, Morals, Court And Town Life

[_Cornhill Magazine_, 1860; first edition in book form, 1861]

George The First

A very few years since, I knew familiarly a lady, who had been asked in
marriage by Horace Walpole, who had been patted on the head by George I.
This lady had knocked at Johnson's door; had been intimate with Fox, the
beautiful Georgina of Devonshire, and that brilliant Whig society of the
reign of George III; had known the Duchess of Queensberry, the patroness
of Gay and Prior, the admired young beauty of the Court of Queen Anne. I
often thought as I took my kind old friend's hand, how with it I held on
to the old society of wits and men of the world. I could travel back for
sevenscore years of time--have glimpses of Brummell, Selwyn, Chesterfield
and the men of pleasure; of Walpole and Conway; of Johnson, Reynolds,
Goldsmith; of Nor