Classic Poem

The sturdy Conq'ror, politic, severe; William II.
Light-minded Rufus, dying like the deer; Henry I.
Beau-clerc, who everything but virtue knew; Stephen.
Stephen, who graced the lawless sword he drew; Henry II.
Fine Henry, hapless in his sons and priest; Richard I.
Richard, the glorious trifler in the East; John.
John, the mean wretch, tyrant and slave, a liar; Henry III.
Imbecile Henry, worthy of his sire; Edward I.
Long-shanks, well named, a great encroacher he; Edward II.
Edward the minion, dying dreadfully; Edward III.
The splendid veteran, weak in his decline; Richard II.
Another minion, sure untimely sign; Henry IV.
Usurping Lancaster, whom wrongs advance; Henry V.
Harry the Fifth, the tennis-boy of France; Henry VI.
The beadsman, praying while his Margaret fought; Edward IV
Edward, too sensual for a kindly thought; Edward V.
The little head, that never wore the crown; Richard III
Crookback, to Nature giving frown for frown; Henry VII.
Close-hearted Henry, the shrewd carking sire; Henry VIII
The British Bluebeard, fat, and full of ire; Edward VI.
The sickly boy, endowing and endowed; Mary.
Ill Mary, lighting many a living shroud; Elizabeth.
The lion-queen, with her stiff muslin mane; James I.
The shambling pedant, and his minion train; Charles I.
Weak Charles, the victim of the dawn of right; Cromwell.
Cromwell, misuser of his home-spun might; Charles II.
The swarthy scape-grace, all for ease and wit; James II.
The bigot out of season, forced to quit; William III.
The Dutchman, called to see our vessel through; Anne.
Anna, made great by conquering Marlborough; George I.
George, vulgar soul, a woman-hated name; George II.
Another, fonder of his fee than fame; George III.
A third, too weak, instead of strong, to swerve; George IV.
And fourth, whom Canning and Sir Will preserve.