Impromptus
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
(Composed: 25 March 1818)
- Strahan, Tonson, Lintot of the times,
- Patron and publisher of rhymes,
- For thee the bard up Pindus climbs,
- My Murray.
- To thee, with hope and terror dumb,
- The unfledged MS. authors come;
- Thou printest alland sellest some
- My Murray.
- Upon thy tables baize so green
- The last new Quarterly is seen,
- But where is thy new Magazine,
- My Murray?
- Along thy sprucest bookshelves shine
- The works thou deemest most divine
- The Art of Cookery, and mine,
- My Murray.
- Tours, Travels, Essays, too, I wist,
- And Sermons, to thy mill bring grist;
- And then thou hast the Navy List,
- My Murray.
- And Heaven forbid I should conclude
- Without the Board of Longitude,
- Although this narrow paper would,
- My Murray.
- When a man hath no freedom to fight for at home,
- Let him combat for that of his neighbours;
- Let him think of the glories of Greece and of Rome,
- And get knockd on the head for his labours.
- To do good to mankind is the chivalrous plan,
- And is always as nobly requited;
- Then battle for freedom wherever you can,
- And, if not shot or hangd, youll get knighted.
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