Then the lady addrest Her redoubtable guest
Much as Dido, of old, did the pious Eneas,
"Dear sir, what induced you to come down and see us?"—
Rupert gave her a glance most bewitchingly tender,
Loll'd back in his chair, put his toes on the fender,

And told her outright How that he, a young
Knight,

Had never been last at a feast or a fight;

But that keeping good cheer, Every day in the year,

And drinking neat wines all the same as small-beer,

Had exhausted his rent, And, his money all spent, How he borrow'd large sums at two hundred per cent.; How they follow'd-and then, The once civillest of men,

Messrs. Howard and Gibbs, made him bitterly rue it he
'd ever raised money by way of annuity;
And, his mortgages being about to foreclose,
How he jump'd in the river to finish his woes!

Lurline was affected, and own'd, with a tear,
That a story so mournful had ne'er met her ear;
Rupert, hearing her sigh, Look'd uncommonly sly,
And said with some emphasis, "Ah! miss, had I
A few pounds of those metals You waste here on
kettles,

Then, Lord once again Of my spacious domain, A free Count of the Empire once more I might reign,

With Lurline at my side, My adorable bride, (For the parson should come, and the knot should be

tied ;)

No couple so happy on earth should be seen,
As Sir Rupert the Brave and his charming Lurline;
Not that money's my object-No, hang it! I scorn it-
And as for my rank-but that you'd so adorn it-

I'd abandon it all To remain your true thrall,
And instead of "the Great," be call'd "Rupert the
Small;"

-To gain but your smiles, were I Sardanapalus, I'd descend from my throne, and be boots at an alehouse." *

Lurline hung her head Turn'd pale and then red, Growing faint at this sudden proposal to wed, As though his abruptness, in "popping the question" So soon after dinner, disturb'd her digestion.

Then, averting her eye, With a lover-like sigh, "You are welcome," she murmur'd in tones most be

witching,

"To every utensil I have in my kitchen!"

Up started the Knight, Half mad with delight, Round her finely-form'd waist He immediately placed

One arm, which the lady most closely embraced,

* "Sardanapalus" and "Boots," the Zenith and Nadir of human society.

Of her lily-white fingers the other made capture, And he press'd his adored to his bosom with rapture. "And, oh!" he exclaim'd, "let them go catch my

skiff, I

'll be home in a twinkling, and back in a jiffy, Nor one moment procrastinate longer my journey Than to put up the banns and kick out the attorney."

One kiss to her lip, and one squeeze to her hand,
And Sir Rupert already was half-way to land,

For a sour-visaged Triton, With features would
frighten

Old Nick, caught him up in one hand, though no light

one,

Sprang up through the waves, popp'd him into his funny,
Which some others already had half fill'd with money;
In fact, 'twas so heavily laden with ore
And pearls, 'twas a mercy he got it to shore :

But Sir Rupert was strong, And while pulling
along,

Still he heard, faintly sounding, the water-nymphs' song.

LAY OF THE NAIADS.

"Away! away! to the mountain's brow,
Where the castle is darkly frowning;
And the vassals, all in goodly row,
Weep for their lord a-drowning!

Away! away! to the steward's room,
Where law with its wig and robe is;
Throw us out John Doe and Richard Roe,
And sweetly we'll tickle their tobies!"

The unearthly voices scarce had ceased their yelling,
When Rupert reach'd his old baronial dwelling.

What rejoicing was there! How the vassals did

stare!

The old housekeeper put a clean shirt down to air,

For she saw by her lamp That her master's was damp,

And she fear'd he'd catch cold, and lumbago and cramp; But scorning what she did, The Knight never heeded

Wet jacket or trousers, nor thought of repining,
Since their pockets had got such a delicate lining;

But oh! what dismay. Fill'd the tribe of Ca Sa, When they found he'd the cash, and intended to pay! Away went "cognovits," "bills," "bonds," and "es

cheats,"

Rupert clear'd off all scores, and took proper receipts.

Now no more he sends out For pots of brown
stout,

Or schnaps, but resolves to do henceforth without,
Abjure from this hour all excess and ebriety,
Enrol himself one of a Temp'rance Society,

All riot eschew, Begin life anew, And new-cushion and hassock the family pew! Nay, to strengthen him more in his new mode of life, He boldly determines to take him a wife.

Now, many would think that the Knight, from a nice

sense

Of honour, should put Lurline's name in the license,
And that, for a man of his breeding and quality,

To break faith and troth, Confirm'd by an oath,
Is not quite consistent with rigid morality;
But whether the nymph was forgot, or he thought her
From her essence scarce wife, but at best wife-and-

water,

And declined, as unsuited, A bride so diluted

Be this as it may, He, I'm sorry to say,

(For, all things consider'd I own 'twas a rum thing,) Made proposals in form to Miss Una Von-something, (Her name has escaped me,) sole heiress and niece To a highly respectable Justice of Peace.

"Thrice happy's the wooing That's not long
a-doing!"

So much time is saved in the billing and cooing-
The ring is now bought, the white favours, and gloves,
And all the et cetera which crown people's loves;
A magnificent bride-cake comes home from the baker,
And lastly appears, from the German Long Acre,