And every wandering Tuscan carries, Those statues sell in such a lot, They play the deuce with Pitt, and Scott; In vain aloft upon the board, Indignant looks the poet lord; Unsold, Napoleon now may doze, And out of joint his conqueror's nose. Money flocks in, with such profusion, The door-keepers are all confusion; "For breathes there one with soul so dead, "Who never to himself hath said," When fashion governs all the town, "Oh, who'd think twice of half-a-crown!" Yet 'mid this whirl of pounds, and pleasure, Chang found for reading ample leisure; Indeed, the day's a sort of beast, Of which the body is the least; The head, and tail, let study seize— But now, a new delicious source And His divine, and wond'rous page, Such studies scarce could feed his heart, Nor grow his thoughts' most cherished part. And hence, perchance, he learnt, for Fame, And Love, too bright a throne to frame, And too repiningly to chide The fate which such to him denied. And shall I can I-say-too brightly How worn soe 'er in every strain, Ne'er served to shadow forth a sadness, A phantasy, more wild and vain. All he had learnt, in short, had fathered When Fate, who meant them not for bankers, One evening when the whole day long (Of late his spirits had been low,) Poor Ching, who was, with shouts of laughter, And (sleep the last thing in his head,) But Chang was restless, nor could close His eyes-a fretful fever burn'd him; And just as Ching began to doze, Chang upside down abruptly turned him : Served thrice in such provoking fashion, Ching bounced at last into a passion : "You may be ill--I don't deny it, "But other folks, when ill, are quiet." "Truly," said Chang, " 'tis most fraternal "To fall upon me in this way, "I'd like to know if this infernal "Climate kill me what you would say? "I fear worse things to you might hap, "Than posture changed, or broken nap. 66 66 Perhaps you would not long survive-you Might then-well, well, may God forgive you!" Softened by this appeal, poor Ching Grasped Chang's hot hand, and whimpering Answered-" Indeed, my dearest brother, “It was a monstrous thing in me "My selfish murmurings not to smother— “But pray cheer up, and you will be "As well as ever in the morning. "Meanwhile I promise to take warning "From all my past infirmities; "And, if it give you any ease, "Pray kick as stoutly as you please." Here then a little scene ensued, For ever, where there lurks affection, No love like that which follows feud, And bears with kind remorse connection. And when 'twas over, and a brief Silence had given to each relief, Chang cleared his throat, and thus confided To Ching the scheme for which he sigh did: "I'm sure, dear Ching, you feel like me, "How hard a thing it is to be “Teased, worried, questioned, pulled about, "Stared at, and quizzed by every lout, "And give a right to all the town, "To laugh at us for half a crown. "Hodges of course can feel no shock ;-it "Is fun for him to fill his pocket : "And, still so long as he can fill it, he "Heeds not our wounded sensibility. H |