Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Devil's Walk [Broadside version]
01 ONCE, early in the morning,
02 Beelzebub arose,
03 With care his sweet person adorning,
04 He put on his Sunday clothes.
05 He drew on a boot to hide his hoof,
06 He drew on a glove to hide his claw,
07 His horns were concealed by Bras Chapeau,
08 And the Devil went forth as natty a Beau,
09 As Bond-street ever saw.
10 He sate him down, in London town,
11 Before earth's mornin ray,
12 With a favourite imp he began to chat,
13 On religion, and scandal, this and that,
14 Until the dawn of day.
15 And then to St. James's court he went,
16 And St. Paul's Church he took in his way,
17 He was mighty thick with every Saint,
18 Tho' they were formal and he was gay.
19 The Devil was an agriculturist,
20 And as bad weeds quickly grow,
21 In looking over his farm, I wist
22 He wouldn't find cause for woe.
23 He peeped in each hole, to each chamber stole,
24 His promising live stock to view,
25Grinning applause, he just shewed them his claws,
26And they shrunk with affright from his ugly sight,
27 Whose works they delighted to do.
28 Satan poked his red nose into crannies so small,
29 One would think that the innocents fair,
30 Poor lambkins! were just doing nothing at all,
31 But settling some dress or arranging some ball,
32 But the Devil saw deeper there.
33 A Priest, at whose elbow the Devil during prayer,
34 Sate familiarly, side by side,
35 Declared, that if the tempter were there,
36 His presence he would not abide;
37 Ah! Ah! thought Old ...
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