Lafayette

    `Let the brothels of Paris be openèd

    With many an alluring¹ dance，

    To awake the physicians thro' the city！'

    Said the beautiful Queen of France.

    ii

    The King awoke on his couch of gold，

    As soon as he heard these tidings told：

    `Arise and come， both fife and drum，

    And the famine shall eat both crust and crumb².'

    iii

    The Queen of France just touch'd this globe，

    And the pestilence³ darted⁴ from her robe；

    But our good Queen quite grows to the ground，

    And a great many suckers grow all around.

    iv

    Fayette beside King Lewis stood；

    He saw him sign his hand；

    And soon he saw the famine rage

    About the fruitful land.

    v

    Fayette beheld⁵ the Queen to smile

    And wink⁶ her lovely eye；

    And soon he saw the pestilence

    From street to street to fly.

    vi

    Fayette beheld the King and Queen

    In curses and iron bound；

    But mute Fayette wept tear for tear，

    And guarded them around.

    vii

    Fayette， Fayette， thou'rt bought and sold

    And sold is thy happy morrow；

    Thou gavest the tears of pity away

    In exchange for the tears of sorrow.

    viii

    Who will exchange his own fireside

    For the stone of another's door？

    Who will exchange his wheaten loaf

    For the links of a dungeon-floor？

    ix

    O who would smile on the wintry seas

    And pity the stormy roar？

    Or who will exchange his new-born child

    For the dog at the wintry door？