" This music retains all its original
freshness, and has been listened to, age after age, with unabated pleasure.
The glee, which is a simpler and less elaborate form of the madrigal,--and
that amusing _jeu d'esprit_ so well known by the name of Catch, made their
appearance about the end of the sixteenth century. The first collection of
catches that made its appearance in England is dated in
1609.--_Metropolitan_.
* * * * *
BENEDICTION ON CHILDREN.
IMPROMPTU.
_By Thomas Campbell, Esq_.
Imps, that hold your daily revels
Round the windows of my bower
Would that Hell's ten thousand devils
Had you in their clutch this hour!
Screaming, yelling, little nasties,
Would that Ogres down their maw
Had you cramm'd in Christmas pasties,
That would make ye hold your jaw.
Saucy imps, stew'd down to jelly,
Ye would make a sauce most rare;
Or with pudding in each belly,
Rival roasted pig or hare.
Sweeter than the fish of these is,
Would be yours, young human _bores_;
All with apples at your noses,
Would I saw you dish'd by scores!
Herod slaughter'd harmless sucklings,
Not with tongues like yours to vex;
Were he here, ye Devil's ducklings,
I would bid him wring your necks.
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