BETA

The Contrast, or, Alfred and
William.

Let knaves and fools in raptures sing,1
Till they are hoarse— “ God save the King !2
I pray—may Heaven in mercy keep all—3
From kings and priests, God save the People.4
I’m not an advocate for kings—5
Such haughty, empty, useless things ;6
The greater number, strange to tell,7
Their characters are black as hell !8
I find but two without a blot,9
Great Alfred and brave Castriot.*10
But Willam Guelph, Britons caress him,11
He is “ The Patriot King,” God bless him !12
Disloyal people tell us that13
He is a ———— Hush !  I’ll not say what.14
My gentle muse, with truth in view,15
Must give to royalty its due.16
In great King Alfred’s glorious reign,17
The pride and boast of Englishmen,18
Albion’s brave sons (or history lies)19
Were much more happy, quite as wise,20
As we, their “ intellectual” race,21
Under “ the Brunswick reign of grace ;22
Thrice happy people ! great and free,23
And famous for morality ;24
Such was their native honesty,25
That gems were safe on hedge or tree !! !26
But ah ! what difference now prevails,27
We have our spacious, crowded jails ;28
Oppression, pride, and avarice,29
Monopoly, and every vice,30
Conspire together with taxation,31
To overwhelm a sinking nation.32
Of days of yore, I’ll sing the praise—33
The Normans ?  No !  Great Alfred’s days.34
Illustrious sovereign ! in thy reign35
No abject poverty was seen ;36
No sluggish priests who fleece the fold—37
No bishops wallowing in gold—38
No evil which from luxury springs—39
No panders to the lusts of kings—40
No hired spies—no pensioned sots—41
No midnight thieves—no sans cullottes—42
No usurers—no bank-note makers—43
No sly monopolizing Quakers—44
No fawning ministerial hacks—45
No threatening Swing—no blazing stacks—46
* Brave Castriot—George Castriot, king of Epirus, called by the
Turks Scanderbeg. See his Life prefixed to Sillo’s Play, “ The
Christian Hero.”
No titled knaves—no splendid paupers—47
No lurking police understrappers—48
No jails—no gibbets—no tread-mills—49
Nor other “ intellectual” ills.50
If we must boast, we’ll reason thus—51
Those blessings are dispensed on US !52
Bat here the grand distinction lies—53
Great Alfred’s government was wise ;54
He laboured in the People’s cause,55
And gave us all our wholesome laws !56
This tell from his immortal pen—57
“ Free as their thoughts be Englishmen.”58
(To be continued.)