A Chant.
To the Tune of — “ The Old Courtier and the New.”
How happy is the state that the old man doth possess, 1
Whom fortune, fame, and friendship, have all combined to bless, 2
And whom the daughters of our land delight to caress, 3
So that he holds his head above his brethren of the press, 4
Like a fine old stately Gentleman5
Of the good olden time.6
Who, daring to be honest in the most degen’rate days, 7
The crowd of renegades around indignantly surveys, 8
And dealing out in truth severe his censure and his praise, 9
As yet has never come to see the error of his ways, 10
Like an obstinate old Gentleman11
Of the good olden time.12
Who though he oft is quite as grave as well befits his age, 13
At other times he scruples not to lay aside the sage : 14
And Wit in all her thousand moods then sparkles in his page, 15
So that the hearts of old and young he thereby doth engage, 16
Like a versatile old Gentleman17
Of the good olden time.18
Whose manners are so bland, and whose smile it is so sweet— 19
Yet as tough a customer as any man need meet— 20
Whose bearing doth so well become the cavalier complete, 21
Who ne’er abused a victory, nor ever fear’d defeat, 22
Like a gallant brave old Gentleman23
Of the good olden time.24
God bless the good old Gentleman, and send him long to reign25
Over the empire which he rules, and ne’er has ruled in vain ; 26
And peace to all the ghosts of those his grey goose quill has slain, 27
And chiefly to the Cockney-crew whom he’s put out of pain, 28
Like a good humane old Gentleman29
Of the good olden time.30