Classic Poem

A PORTRAIT .

Blind folly's hope, and basest hope's despair:
The readiest prater, with the stoniest stare:
The palac'd god of mortgag'd lord and squire,
With brain-burnt ears, that set bad hearts on fire:
True to his vileness — false to friend and foe:
Eager to boast what good men blush to know:
Where ruin follows, ever swift to lead;
Best pleas'd extortion's meanest cause to plead,
And make each word he snarls an evil deed:
Behold a termagant, in fury cool!
Prescription's addle'd cabman! born to drive,
For Hard and Soft, his grandam's Dead — Alive,
And learn to spell where Breakneck keeps a school!
Proud to be worst! Enamour'd of disgrace!
Too much a maniac to be quite a fool!
Too like his faction to be wisely base!
Too well prepar'd, while darkening deadliest gloom,
To show how mean a spark may fire the mine of Doom!