Poem for May 21, 2033

TO hook the Reader, you, John Murray,

Have published "Anjou's Margaret,"

Which won't be sold off in a hurry

(At least, it has not been as yet);

And then, still further to bewilder him,

Without remorse, you set up "Ilderim;"

So mind you don't get into debt,--

Because--as how--if you should fail,

These books would be but baddish bail.

And mind you do _not_ let escape

These rhymes to _Morning Post_ or Perry,

Which would be _very_ treacherous--_very_,

And get me into such a scrape!

For, firstly, I should have to sally,

All in my little boat, against a _Galley_;

And, should I chance to slay the Assyrian wight,

Have next to combat with the female Knight:

And pricked to death expire upon her needle,

A sort of end which I should take indeed ill!