The News For Parrots ~ Of Mulligrubs and A Drop Too Much

from Bombastes Furioso: A Burlesque Tragic Opera in One Act, 1817

Enter Fusbos, and kneels to the King. 

Fus. Hail, Artaxominous! ycleped the Great!
I come, an humble pillar of thy state,
Pregnant with news— but ere that news I tell,
First let me hope your Majesty is well.

Art. Rise, learned Fusbos! rise, my friend, and know
We are but middling—that is, but so so.

Fus. Only so so / О monstrous, doleful thing!
Is it the mulligrubs a Heels the king?
Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy,
Do the blue devils your repose annoy?

Art. Nor mulligrubs, nor devils blue, are here,
But yet we feel ourself a little queer.

Fus. Yes, I perceive it in that vacant eye,
The vest unbutton'd, and the wig awry;
Ungarter'd hose, with slippers down at heel,
And beard unconscious of the biting steel:
So sickly cats neglect their fur-attire,

... And sit and mope beside the kitchen fire.

Art. Last night, when undisturb'd by state affairs,
Moist'ning our clay, and puffing off our cares,
Oft the replenish'd goblet did we drain,
And drank and smok'd, and smok'd and drank again;
Such was the case, our very actions such,
Until at length we got a drop too much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~