Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/119

 But generally they’re thin and sulky,

With wiry black beard—fino—fino—

Manzoni’s term is mingherlino.

In theory—and this is funny—

They must not ask or beg for coin:

But only bread, cheese, pork, sirloin,

Chestnuts, fat capons, fish, fruit, wine,

Etcetera.

In practice if you offer bread

They curl their noses, and, instead,

With truculence demand your money,

Etcetera.

The rule of being paid in kind

Amongst a people agricultural

Was not invented by the blind,

Witness the monuments of sculptural

Art in the convents and certosas

Where fatted these celestial boozers

For heaven’s last fair, mid altars rare

Ablaze with gold and costliest gems

Flaming from frosted diadems

And pyxes—miracles Fontana

And Benvenuto wrought to garner

The bread of life—and walls mosaic

Bade blossom into wonders laic

Imagination ne’er conceived,

With wreaths of agate interleaved

And flowers of lapis-lazuli,

Sprinkled with dewdrops casually

Of pearls and topazes and moonstones:

Here, roused by clarions’ and bassoons’ tones

To costliest viands, costliest vice,