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 VISION by GEORGE SANTAYANA TO A LOUSE, ON SEEING ONE ON A LADY'S BONNET AT CHURCH by ROBERT BURNS HARRIET BEECHER STOWE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE by JOHN KEATS RAIN ON THE ROOF (1) by COATES KINNEY EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: CONVOY ESCORT by RUDYARD KIPLING THE COMMON LOT by JAMES MONTGOMERY |