| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | August 9 | | Dryden | | By Craven Langstroth Betts (1853–1941) |
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THERE sits he with the wits around his chair, | |
| Sipping his cordial or his cup of tea; | |
| Fair primed with aphorisms choice or free, | |
| The “glorious John,” who trimmed to every air! | |
| The biggest brawn on the arena there, | 5 |
| He shook the town with vauntings, then on knee | |
| Bartered his birthright for a huckster’s fee, | |
| And thrust his muse aneath a lordling’s care. | |
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| Still he wrought valiant service; none that day | |
| Might bide the baited gladiator’s blows; | 10 |
| His ponderous truncheon crushed the foe at bay; | |
| How grand to watch him on McFlecnoe close! | |
| The drums resound, the trumpets loudly bray | |
| As down the age that lordly galleon goes! | | | | |
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