But, out of mind when out of view,
Some other mounts the twig anew;
And bus'ness, on each monkey shore,
Runs the same track it ran before.
AY AND NO.
A FABLE.
IN fable all things hold discourse;
Then words, no doubt, must talk of course.
Once on a time, near Channel row[1],
Two hostile adverbs, Ay and No,
Were hastening to the field of fight,
And front to front stood opposite.
Before each gen'ral join'd the van,
Ay, the more courteous knight, began:
| Stop, peevish particle, beware! | 
|
| I'm told you are not such a bear, | 
|
| But sometimes yield, when offer'd fair. | 
|
Suffer yon folks a while to tattle;
'Tis we who must decide the battle.
Whene'er we war on yonder stage
With various fate and equal rage,
The nation trembles at each blow,
That No gives Ay, and Ay gives No:
Yet, in expensive, long contention,
We gain nor office, grant, or pension:
Why then should kinsfolk quarrel thus?
(For two of you make one of us[2].)
- ↑ Channel row is a dirty street, near the parliament house, Westminster.
- ↑ In English, two negatives make an affirmative.
