Classic Poem

When Arthur fill'd the British throne- a ,
Comedians were a name unknown- a ;
Punch's train they did admire- a ,
Pleas'd enough with wood and wire- a ;
Paw, Paw Paw, &c.

Doodle, Doodle, Doo, &c.
But when Shakespear charm'd the age- a ,
The sire and sov'reign of the stage- a ;
Then the English had discernment,
And good writers met preferment.
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.

But now your Shakespears and your Johnsons
Must give way to noise and nonsense;
Sense and taste no more are friends- a ;
The palm from man to beasts descends- a ,
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.

'Stead of tragi-comic choice tricks,
'Tis " Walk in and see the ostrich ; "
Modern wits must give the wall- a
To the tyger from Bengal- a
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.

Now Harlequin full well contents- a
The motley race he represents- a ;
Now all genius must withdraw, Sir,
And give place to wire and straw, Sir
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.

Manly judgement, wit and reason,
To our critics ears are treason,
And Rich's lion fights with Garrick,
As Dun Cow with Guy at Warwick.
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.

Thus life's a stage; your aged boys, Sir,
Cry once more for children's toys, Sir;
The present is, as was the past- a ;
Babes at first, and babes at last- a .
Paw, Paw, Paw, &c.