"A Giant that once of a Dwarf made a friend,

(And their friendship the Dwarf took care shouldn't be hid),

Would now and then, out of his glooms, condescend

To laugh at his antics,—as every one did.

"This Dwarf-an extremely diminutive Dwarf,—

In birth unlike G—y, though his pride was as big,

Had been taken, when young, from the bogs of Clontarf,

And though born quite a Helot, had grown up a Whig.

"He wrote little verses—and sung them withal,

And the Giant's dark visions they sometimes could charm,

Like the voice of the lute which had pow'r over Saul,

And the song which could Hell and its legions disarm.

"The Giant was grateful, and offered him gold,

But the Dwarf was indignant, and spurn'd at the offer:

'No, never!' he cried, 'shall my friendship be sold

For the sordid contents of another man's coffer!

"'What would Dwarfland, and Ireland, and every land say?

To what would so shocking a thing be ascribed?

My Lady would think that I was in your pay,

And the Quarterly say that I must have been bribed.

"'You see how I'm puzzled; I don't say it wouldn't

Be pleasant just now to have just that amount:

But to take it in gold or in bank-notes!—I couldn't,

I wouldn't accept it—on any account.

"'But couldn't you just write your Autobiography,

All fearless and personal, bitter and stinging?

Sure that, with a few famous heads in lithography,

Would bring me far more than my Songs or my singing.

"'You know what I did for poor Sheridan's Life;

Your's is sure of my very best superintendence;

I'll expunge what might point at your sister or wife,—

And I'll thus keep my priceless, unbought independence!'

"The Giant smiled grimly: he couldn't quite see

What diff'rence there was on the face of the earth,

Between the Dwarf's taking the money in fee,

And his taking the same thing in that money's worth.

"But to please him he wrote; and the business was done:

The Dwarf went immediately off to 'the Row;'

And ere the next night had pass'd over the sun,

The Memoirs were purchas'd by Longman and Co."