The Emperor's Rout. Unknown

Moths 31 were appointed to stencil the floor,

      The Clothes Moths32 with gossamer covered the door;

      Mahogany 33 and Wainscot34 were neither deficient

      In offering their aid, which proved most efficient,

      While Veneers,35 both rosy and yellow, were able

      T’improve, by their help, the decayed supper table.

      For the crockery, China Mark36 promised to strive,

      And Galleria37 offered to steal from a hive,

      Profusion of honey; Pinguinalis38 brought butter,

      And with wax Cereana39 came all in a flutter.

      These presents the Emperor gladly accepted,

      Save Galleria’s theft, which with scorn was rejected,

      So little do moths of great minds patronise

      The base who by fraud or extortion would rise.

      In the mean time the Empress her Swifts40 had sent out

      To deliver the cards for this elegant rout.

      Puss 41 sent an excuse, with the Kitten42 engaged,

      And the Eggar,43 poor lady, was highly enraged

      That her numerous offspring requiring her care,

      Prevented her joining a party so rare.

      The Burnets,44 Brown Pinioned,45 the Dingy Brocades,46

      The Black Raven Feather,47 and sweet Angle Shades,48

      Had promised that day with the Tussock49 to dine,

      A lady of fashion, whose hour was nine;

      But when they received their dread sovereign’s command,

      They yielded to custom’s imperious demand,

      For moths with us mortals in this do agree,

      That all parties must bow to a monarch’s decree.

      Lady Lappet50 being ill, the Poplar Lutestring51

      The two Misses Nonpareil52 promised to bring;

      And the Spectacle Moth,53 too near sighted to go,

      Sent his ward the Bright Eye,54 with the Flame Furbelow,55

      Whose young lover, the beautiful, brave Unicorn,56

      Had been shot in a duel with the Red Striped Hawthorn.57

      Not quite fit to appear, the gallant Swallow Tail58

      At the doctors with anger continued to rail,

      He having been lamed by the awkward Bulrush,59

      To the serious alarm of the fair Maiden’s Blush.60

      The day now arrived, and at nine of the night,

      The glow-worm being hired the highways to light,

      The guests ’gan to assemble, and each was announced

      By the Herald,61 who loudly their names all pronounced.

      The Ermine,62 a lady of noble degree,

      Introduced a long train of her large family;

      Some in Muslin,63 some Satin,64 were chastely arrayed,

      While the Emerald,65 the Pearl,66 and the Mocha67 displayed

      Their jewels so costly, that poor Burnished Brass68

      Unnoticed was suffered the evening to pass.

      From the banks of the Niger the Blackamoor69 brought

      A fat Moor,70 who presented a Tyger71 just caught;

      An old Gentlewoman72 had promised to bring

      A musical Miss, who divinely could sing,

      But whose fair head, no larger than that of a Dot,73

      Was filled with the thought of a True Lover’s Knot;74

      So she hem’d and she ha’d, then unblushingly told,

      How she caught as she came a most violent cold,

      And felt such oppression and pain in her throat,