MUSA CLONSHOGHIANA

That Downpatrick's Dean, or Patrick's down went,

Like two arrand Deans, two Deans errant I meant;

So that Christmas appears at Bellcampe like a Lent,

Gives the gamesters of both houses great discontent.

Our parsons agree here, as those did at Trent,

Dan's forehead has got a most damnable dent,

Besides a large hole in his Michaelmas rent.

But your fancy on rhyming so cursedly bent,

With your bloody ouns in one stanza pent;

Does Jack's utter ruin at picket prevent,

For an answer in specie to yours must be sent;

So this moment at crambo (not shuffling) is spent,

And I lose by this crotchet quaterze, point, and quint,

Which you know to a gamester is great bitterment;

But whisk shall revenge me on you, Batt, and Brent.

Bellcampe, January 1, 1717.

The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 2 · 第 207 / 310 题