Classic Poem

FIRST DEVIL .

Thrice the watchman gave his knock,

SECOND DEVIL .

Twice, — and once has crow'd the cock;

THIRD DEVIL .

Our master cries, " 'Tis five o'clock. "

ALL .

Now your several schemes display
To make the paper of the day: —

SECOND DEVIL .

Spy, that standing on cold-stone,
Names and titles one by one,
Catchest at the doors of fashion,
Haste to bring your motley trash in;
Packwood's puffs, and state of weather,
Hints of who and who's together,
(Paid, to contradict to-morrow,
Lie, inserted to our sorrow,)
Fluttering follies, light as vapour,
Rise you to the top o' th' paper.

ALL .

Double, double, toil and trouble,
Touch the cash — the nation bubble.

FIRST DEVIL .

Braham — Soldier tir'd — Mad Bess —
Case of singular distress,
Speech of egotistic pleader,
String of coaches made by Leader,
Fashionable invalids,
Morning dresses, widow's weeds,
Lobby quarrels, satisfaction,
Rout in Mayfair, crim-con, action,
Patent soles, that never falter,
Doctors Brodum and Sir Walter,
Pun, and vive la bagatelle,
Schemes to make our paper sell.

ALL .

Double, double, toil and trouble,
Touch the cash — the nation bubble.

SECOND DEVIL .

Bonaparte, Paris fashions,
Chapels, Cyprian assignations,
Captain Sash, the sea-side shark, —
Slander's arrows, shot i' th' dark.
Villa of Rochampton Jew,
Horrid murder done at Kew;
Queries, critical corrections,
Galvanistic resurrections,
Treatise on the moon's eclipse,
Paint for cheeks, and salve for lips;
Stupid pun, berth-strangled jest —
Portsmouth letter — wind north-west,
And thus our merit stands confest!

ALL .

Double, double, toil and trouble,
Touch the cash — the nation bubble.

THIRD DEVIL .

Cool it with an empty boast,
That every day we sell the most,
'Tis done — behold the Morning Post!