Page:The Raven; with literary and historical commentary.djvu/126

 112 {| align="center" Once upon an evening weary, shortly after Lord Dundreary With his quaint and curious humour set the town in such a roar, With my shilling I stood rapping—only very gently tapping— For the man in charge was napping—at the money-taker's door. It was Mr. Buckstone's playhouse, where I linger'd at the door ;

I was doubtful and uncertain, at the rising of the curtain, If the piece would prove a novelty, or one I'd seen before ; For a band of robbers drinking in a gloomy cave and clinking With their glasses on the table, I had witnessed o'er and o'er ; Since the half-forgotten period of my innocence was o'er;

Presently my doubt grew stronger. I could stand the thing no longer, "Miss," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore. Pardon my apparent rudeness. Would you kindly have the goodness To inform me if this drama is from Gaul's enlighten'd shore ? For I know that plays are often brought us from the Gallic shore :


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