"Thank
Heaven too! even distant lands
Began subscribing to aid us;
We got four hundred thousand pounds;
Our misfortunes more than paid us.
dt
text .
•
note.
•
•
11
"The
charity-box was carried round
By pious folk and respected;
And we never let the left hand know
What the right hand had collected.
dt
text .
•
x
12
"From
every country the money flowed in,
And our hands were open to take it:
And food—we welcomed any dole,
Whatever they liked to make it.
dt
text .
•
x
13
"They
sent us clothes and bedding enough,
And bread and meat and soups too.
The King of Prussia went so far
As to want to send his troops, too.
dt
text .
•
x
14
"The
material loss was covered quite—
'Twas a matter of calculation;
But alas! for the awful terror and fright
We shall never have compensation!"
dt
text .
•
x
15
I
answered them cheerfully, "Worthy friends,
Stop whining, it only hinders.
Troy in its day was a better town,
And yet it was burnt to cinders.
dt
text .
•
x
16
"Get
on with your building, and hold your tongue
Get rid of your puddles and mire too.
Provide your city with better laws,
And engines for quenching fire too.
dt
text .
17
"Your
cayenne pepper more sparingly use,
When turtle-soup's in the question;
And the carp you cook with its scales in fat
Must be fatal, I fear, to digestion.
dt
text .
18
"On
the whole your turkeys are harmless birds,
But there's risk of grave disaster
From the knavish bird who lays its eggs
In the wig of the burgomaster.
dt
text .
19
"I
need not mention the name of the bird,
But it merits your execration.
Whenever I think of the odious thing
I am sick with indignation."
