The Works of Lord Byron, Vol. 7. Poetry. George Gordon Byron

Devil gat next to Westminster,

      And he turned to "the room" of the Commons;

      But he heard as he purposed to enter in there,

      That "the Lords" had received a summons;

      And he thought, as "a quondam Aristocrat,"

      He might peep at the Peers, though to hear them were flat;

      And he walked up the House so like one of his own,140

      That they say that he stood pretty near the throne.

18

      He saw the Lord Liverpool seemingly wise,

      The Lord Westmoreland certainly silly,

      And Jockey of Norfolk – a man of some size —

      And Chatham, so like his friend Billy;45

      And he saw the tears in Lord Eldon's eyes,

      Because the Catholics would not rise,

      In spite of his prayers and his prophecies;

      And he heard – which set Satan himself a staring —

      A certain Chief Justice say something like swearing.46

      And the Devil was shocked – and quoth he, "I must go,151

      For I find we have much better manners below.

      If thus he harangues when he passes my border,

      I shall hint to friend Moloch to call him to order."

19

      Then the Devil went down to the humbler House,

      Where he readily found his way

      As natural to him as its hole to a Mouse,

      He had been there many a day;

      And many a vote and soul and job he

      Had bid for and carried away from the Lobby:

      But there now was a "call" and accomplished debaters161

      Appeared in the glory of hats, boots and gaiters —

      Some paid rather more – but all worse dressed than Waiters!

20

      There was Canning for War, and Whitbread for peace,

      And others as suited their fancies;

      But all were agreed that our debts should increase

      Excepting the Demagogue Francis.

      That rogue! how could Westminster chuse him again

      To leaven the virtue of these honest men!

      But the Devil remained till the Break of Day170

      Blushed upon Sleep and Lord Castlereagh:47

      Then up half the house got, and Satan got up