No More Learning

I suppose that to-night you're engaged with some codgers,
And for Sotheby's Blues[27] have deserted Sam Rogers;
And I, though with cold I have nearly my death got,
Must put on my breeches, and wait on the Heathcote;[28]
But to-morrow, at four, we will both play the _Scurra_,
And you'll be Catullus, the Regent Mamurra. [29]

[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, i. 401. ]

FOOTNOTES:

[25] [Moore's "_Intercepted Letters; or, The Twopenny Post-Bag_, By
Thomas Brown, the Younger," was published in 1813. ]

[26] [James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) was imprisoned February, 1813,
to February, 1815, for a libel on the Prince Regent, published in the
_Examiner_, March 12, 1812. --_Letters_, 1898, ii. 205-208, _note_ 1. ]

[27] [For "Sotheby's Blues," see Introduction to _The Blues, Poetical
Works_, 1901, iv. 570, _et ibid_. , 579, 580. ]

[28] [Katherine Sophia Manners was married in 1793 to Sir Gilbert
Heathcote. See _Letters_, 1898, ii. 402, 406. ]

[29] [See _Catullus_, xxix. 1-4--

"Quis hoc potest videre?
quis potest pati,
Nisi impudicus et vorax et aleo,
Mamurram habere, quod Comata Gallia
Habebat uncti et ultima Britannia? " etc. ]



ON LORD THURLOW'S POEMS. [30]

1.

WHEN Thurlow this damned nonsense sent,
(I hope I am not violent)
Nor men nor gods knew what he meant.

2.

And since not even our Rogers' praise
To common sense his thoughts could raise--
Why _would_ they let him print his lays?

3.

* * * * *

4.

* * * * *

5.

To me, divine Apollo, grant--O!
Hermilda's[31] first and second canto,
I'm fitting up a new portmanteau;

6.

And thus to furnish decent lining,
My own and others' bays I'm twining,--
So, gentle Thurlow, throw me thine in.

June 2, 1813.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, i. 396.