A little upright, pert, tart, tripping wight, And still his precious self his dear delight; Who loves his own smart shadow in the streets, Better than e'er the fairest she he meets; Much specious lore, but little understood, (Veneering oft outshines the solid wood), His solid sense, by inches you must tell, But mete his cunning by the Scottish ell! A man of fashion too, he made his tour, Learn'd "vive la bagatelle et vive l'amour;" So travell'd monkeys their grimace improve, Polish their grin-nay, sigh for ladies' love! His meddling vanity, a busy fiend, Still making work his selfish craft must mend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MODERN MANNERS by MARY (CUMBERLAND) ALCOCK LOVE'S WISDOM by ALFRED AUSTIN SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 49. THE ENGLISH RACE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) PILLAR WORK by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON THE LORDS' MASQUE: CHORUS (2) by THOMAS CAMPION |