Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/179

Rh He waved his hand—a vapour came—
 * A wizard, reckoned him:

A bogy rose and called his name,
 * And with his finger beckoned him.

The monster's salient points to sum,
 * His heavy breath was portery;

His glowing nose suggested rum;
 * His eyes were gin-and-wortery.

His dress was torn—for dregs of ale
 * And slops of gin had rusted it;

His pimpled face was wan and pale,
 * Where filth had not encrusted it.

"Come, ," said the fiend, "begin,
 * And keep the bowl a-flowing on—

A working-man needs pints of gin
 * To keep his clockwork going on."

shuddered: "Ah, you've made a miss,
 * If you take me for one of you—

You filthy beast, get out of this—
 * don't want none of you."