171. To Thomas Poole

MS. British Museum. Pub. Poems, ii. 978. This invitation is scribbled on the back of a Prospectus of Coleridge's course of six lectures on the English Rebellion and the French Revolution, to begin on 28 June 1795.

[Endorsed Jany 〈17〉97.]

To T. Poole

    Plucking flowers from the Galáxy
    On the pinions of Abstraction
    I did quite forget to ax 'e
    Whether you have an objaction
    With us to swill 'e and to swell 'e
    And make a pig stie of your belly.
    A lovely limb most dainty
    Of a ci-de vant Mud-raker,
    I makes bold to acquaint 'e
    We've trusted to the Baker: 1
    And underneath it Satis
    Of that subtérrene Apple
    By the Erudite 'clep'd, taties,
    With which if you'd wish to grapple;
    As sure as I am a sloven
    The clock will not strike twice one,
    When the said Dish will be out of the Oven,
    And the Dinner will be a nice one.

    P.S. Besides, we've got some cabbage --
    You Jew-dog, if you linger
    May the Itch in pomp of Scabbage
    Pop out between each finger.