LES ÉTOILES QIJI FO^MT

Philosophy puts questions»

Of the plaoet-poputationsy Their gra^ities, digestions,

Heigbts, habits, occupations* Are Mars'-folk ail belligerentt

Are Venus*s ail loverst Are Pallas, more réfrigérant.

And Vesu, old-maids' coYers T

Is Mercury the région

Ofa financieringracet Where the Petos'name is Légion,

And carriesno disgrâce?

Is Jupiter surrendered

To celestial sweUdom*8 reign ; With a race of Dukes engendered.

And six toady-moons for train f

In far-off belted Satum*s

Pair round belly who may dwell t Inhabitants of gay tnms

And saturnine as wdl?

ÉTOILES FILANTES. ft65

Op îs't a lofiy Limbo.

A celestial Botany Bay^ Where cross old frumps, in nimbo,

Whisl, with cloudy faces, jjlay?

If science makes no blunder

When the stars with life it fiils, Beyond the stroke of ihunder,

Aod the shot of hi^man ills.

Can it lell whai life's enlisted

Aboard ihose meteors fast, At whose dance we assisted

On the night of Tuesday last?

Such short accounts they tender,

They leave so brief a trace Of evanescent splendour

Oo Heaven's eteriial face :

Corning with moonlike glory.

And gone ère we can heed, Ne'er name rushed into story,

Or ont on*t> with such speed !

Are they homes for réputations,

As quickly spawned as spoiled :

Greeted with loose laudations.

With scoro at random soiledt Is their rise in Léo reason

For supposing tbem the traits, Of Lions of the season

That to Lethe take their tailsî

Are thèse lights that vanish o*er us

Like a dream that we hâve dreained, Our rising young men's store-house

Of pledges unredeemed t Thèse Will oMhe-Wisps that over

Embroidered Heaven^s black cope, Homes for London, Cbatam Dover

Deben(ure-holder*s hopeî