Classic Poem

God prosper long our Noble King,
Our lives and safeties all:
A woeful story late there did
In Britain's Isle befall.

D — ke Sm — ths — n, of N — rth — mb — rl — nd,
A vow to God did make;
The choicest gifts in fair England,
For him and his to take.

" Stand fast, my merry men all, " he cried,
" By M — ra's Earl and me,
" And we will gain place, wealth, and power,
" As Arm'd Neutrality.

" Excise and Customs, Church and Law,
" I've begg'd from Master Rose;
" The Garter too — but still the Blues
" I'll have, or I'll oppose. "

" Now God be with him, " quoth the King,
" Sith twill no better be;
" I trust we have within in our realm
" Five hundred good as he. "

The Duke then join'd with Charley F — x,
A leader ware and tried,
And Ersk — ne, Sh — r — d — n, and Gr — y
Fought stoutly by his side.

Throughout our English Parliament,
They dealt full many a wound;
But in his King's, and Country's cause,
Pitt firmly stood his ground.

And soon a law, like arrow keen,
Or spear, or curtal-axe,
Struck poor D — ke Sm — ths — n to the heart,
In shape of Powder tax .

Sore leaning on his crutch, he cried,
" Crop, crop, my merry men all;
" No guinea for your heads I'll pay,
" Though Church and State should fall. "

Again the Taxing-man appear'd —
No deadlier foe could be;
A schedule of a cloth-yard long,
Within his hand bore he.

" Yield thee, D — ke Sm — ths — n, and behold
" The Assessment thou must pay;
" Dogs, horses, houses, coaches, clocks,
" And servants in array. "

" Nay, " quoth the Duke, " in thy black scroll
" Deductions I espye —
" For those who, poor, and mean, and low,
" With children burthen'd lie.

" And though full Sixty Thousand Pounds
" My vassals pay to me,
" From Cornwall to Northumberland ,
" Through many a fair countee;

" Yet England's Church, its King, its Laws,
" Its cause, I value not,
" Compared with this, my constant text,
" A penny saved, is got.

" No drop of Princely P — rcy's blood,
" Through these cold veins doth run;
" With Hotspur's castles, blazon, name,
" I still am poor Sm — ths — n.

" Let England's youth unite in arms,
" And every liberal hand
" With honest zeal subscribe their mite,
" To save their hative land:

" I at St. Martin's Vestry Board,
" To swear shall be content,
" That I have children eight, and claim
" Deductions, Ten per Cent. "

God bless us all from factious Foes,
And French Fraternal Kiss;
And grant the King may never make
Another Duke like this.