JOHN BULL for pastime took a prance, Some time ago, to peep at France; To talk of sciences and arts, And knowledge gain'd in foreign parts. Monsieur, obsequious, heard him speak, And answer'd John in heathen Greek: To all he ask'd, 'bout all he saw, 'Twas, @3Monsieur, je vous n'entends pas@1. John, to the Palais-Royal come, Its splendor almost struck him dumb. "I say, whose house is that there here?" "House! @3Je vous n'entends pas, Monsieur@1." "What, Nongtongpaw again!" cries John; "This fellow is some mighty Don: No doubt he's plenty for the maw, I'll breakfast with this Nongtongpaw." John saw Versailles from Marli's height, And cried, astonish'd at the sight, "Whose fine estate is that there here?" "State! @3Je vous n'entends pas, Monsieur@1." "His? what! the land and houses, too? The fellow's richer than a Jew: On @3everything@1 he lays his claw! I'd like to dine with Nongtongpaw." Next tripping came a courtly fair, John cried, enchanted with her air, "What lovely wench is that there here?" "Ventch! @3Je vous n'entends pas, Monsieur@1." "What, he again? Upon my life! A palace, lands, and then a wife Sir Joshua might delight to draw! I'd like to sup with Nongtongpaw." "But hold! whose funeral's that?" cries John. "@3Je vous n'entends pas@1." -- "What! is he gone? Wealth, fame, and beauty could not save Poor Nongtongpaw then from the grave! His race is run, his game is up, -- I'd with him breakfast, dine, and sup; But since he chooses to withdraw, Good night t'ye, Mounseer Nongtongpaw!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MAN WITH THE WOODEN LEG by KATHERINE MANSFIELD CHANSON INNOCENTE: 1, FR. TULIPS by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS CHIQUITA by FRANCIS BRET HARTE LOVE: AN ELEGY by MARK AKENSIDE POLYHYMNIA: DEDICATION TO THE COUNTESS OF LINDSEY by WILLIAM BASSE |