237 A LAY OF ST. GENGULPHUS. "Non multò post, Gengulphus, in domo suâ dormiens, occisus est à quodam clerico qui cum uxore suâ adulterare solebat. Cujus corpus dum in feretro in sepulturam portaretur, multi infirmi de tactu sanati sunt." "Cum hoc illius uxori referretur ab ancillâ suâ, scilicet dominum suum quam martyrem sanctum miracula facere, irridens illa, et subsurrans, ait, "Ita Gengulphus miracula facitat ut pulvinarium meum cantat," &c. &c. WOLFII MEMORAB. ENGULPHUS comes from the Holy Land, Full many a day has he been away, Yet his Lady deems him return'd full soon. Full many a day has he been away, This spruce young guest, so trimly drest, Stay'd with that Lady, her revels to crown; They would walk in the park, that spruce young Clerk, Trying balls and plays, and all manner of ways, Now the festive board, with viands is stored, Rich puddings and big, and a barbecued pig, There's a flagon of ale as large as a pail— While on nought they are thinking save eating and drinking, "You must be pretty deep to catch weazels asleep," Says the proverb: that is, "take the Fair unawares ;" A maid, o'er the banisters chancing to peep, Whispers, "Ma'am, here's Gengulphus a-coming upstairs." Pig, pudding, and soup, the electrified group, Then oh what rapture, what joy was exprest, When "poor dear Gengulphus" at last appear'd! Such hugging and squeezing! 'twas almost unpleasing, She was so very glad, that she seem'd half mad, Then she calls up the maid, and the table cloth's laid, * Ενι δακρυσι γελασασα.—Hom. Then again she began at the " poor dear" man ; "Nor night nor day since he'd been away, For thinking how poor dear' Gengulphus fared." She "really did think she had not slept a wink But he thought she was "coming it rather too strong." Now his palate she tickles with the chops and the pickles, His weaken'd body, subdued by the toddy, Then out comes the Clerk from his secret lair; Then the bolster they place athwart his face, And his night-cap into his mouth they cram; And she pinches his nose underneath the clothes, Till the " poor dear soul" went off like a lamb. And now they try'd the deed to hide ; * For a little bird whisper'd, "Perchance you may swing; Here's a corpse in the case with a sad swell'd face, And a Crowner's Quest' is a queer sort of thing!" So the Clerk and the Wife, they each took a knife, Thus, limb from limb, they dismember'd him So entirely, that e'en when they came to his wrists, With those great sugar nippers they nipp'd off his "flippers," As the Clerk, very flippantly, term'd his fists. When they'd cut off his head, entertaining a dread But first the long beard from the chin they shear'd, They contrived to pack up the trunk in a sack, Which they hid in an osier-bed outside the town, The Clerk bearing arms, legs, and all on his back, As the late Mr. Greenacre served Mrs. Brown. But to see now how strangely things sometimes turn out, And that in a manner the least expected! Who could surmise a man ever could rise Who'd been thus carbonado'd, cut up, and dissected? No doubt 'twould surprise the pupils at Guy's; I am no unbeliever—no man can say that o' me— But St. Thomas himself would scarce trust his own eyes, If he saw such a thing in his School of Anatomy. You may deal as you please with Hindoos or Chinese, Or a Mussulman making his heathen salaam, or A Jew or a Turk, but it's other guess work When a man has to do with a Pilgrim or Palmer. * By chance the Prince Bishop, a Royal Divine, Sends his cards round the neighbourhood next day, and urges his Wish to receive a snug party to dine Of the resident clergy, the gentry, and burgesses. At a quarter past five they are all alive At the palace, for coaches are fast rolling in; And to every guest his card had expressed "Half past" as the hour for " a greasy chin." Some thirty are seated, and handsomely treated With the choicest Rhine wines in his Highness's stock; When a Count of the Empire, who felt himself heated, Requested some water to mix with his Hock. The Butler, who saw it, sent a maid out to draw it, Only fancy her dread when she saw a great head She ran and she roar'd till she came to the board At her heels, on the table bounced up with a bound. M |