Wit and Humor of America, Vol 08 — Vive La Bagatelle ("Swift's Cheerful Creed")

BY CLINTON SCOLLARD

A bumper to the jolly Dean Who, in "Augustan" times, Made merriment for fat and lean In jocund prose and rhymes!

Ah, but he drove a pranksome quill!

With quips he wove a spell;

His creed--he cried it with a will-- Was "_Vive la bagatelle!

_" Oh, there were reckless jesters then!

And when a man was hit, He quick returned the stroke again With trenchant blade of wit.

'Twas parry, thrust, and counter-thrust That round the board befell;

They quaffed the wine and crunched the crust With "_Vive la bagatelle!

_" How rang the genial laugh of Gay At Pope's defiant ire!

How Parnell's sallies brought in play The rapier wit of Prior!

And how o'er all the banter's shift-- The laughter's fall and swell-- Upleaped the great guffaw of Swift, With "_Vive la bagatelle!

_" O moralist, frown not so dark, Purse not thy lip severe;

'T will warm the heart if ye but hark The mirth of "yester year."

To-day we wear too grave a face;

We slave,--we buy and sell;

Forget a while mad Mammon's race In "_Vive la bagatelle!

_" A STACCATO TO O LE LUPE