Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 4.djvu/621

ECL. I.] Have you never yet seen it?

That it threatened to give up the ghost t'other day.

Shall you be at the Countess of Fiddlecome's rout?

As friend Scamp shall be pleased to step down from the moon,

(Where he seems to be soaring in search of his wits),

And an interval grants from his lecturing fits,

I'm engaged to the Lady Bluebottle's collation,

To partake of a luncheon and learn'd conversation:

'Tis a sort of reunion for Scamp, on the days

Of his lecture, to treat him with cold tongue and praise.

And I own, for my own part, that 'tis not unpleasant.

Will you go? There's Miss Lilac will also be present.

But let us proceed; for I think by the hum

Or else we'll be kept here an hour at their levee,

On the rack of cross questions, by all the blue bevy.

Hark! Zounds, they'll be on us; I know by the drone

Of old Botherby's spouting ex-cathedrâ tone.

Aye! there he is at it. Poor Scamp! better join

Your friends, or he'll pay you back in your own coin.

But for God's sake let's go, or the Bore will be here.

Come, come: nay, I'm off. [Exit.