Skip to content
Linespedia

Rival Topics.[1]An Extravaganza.

By Thomas Moore

Topics: classic

Oh Wellington and Stephenson,         Oh morn and evening papers,     Times, Herald, Courier, Globe, and Sun,     When will ye cease our ears to stun         With these two heroes' capers?     Still "Stephenson" and "Wellington,"         The everlasting two!--     Still doomed, from rise to set of sun,     To hear what mischief one has done,         And t'other means to do:--     What bills the banker past to friends,         But never meant to pay;     What Bills the other wight intends,         As honest, in their way;--     Bills, payable at distant sight,         Beyond the Grecian kalends,     When all good deeds will come to light,     When Wellington will do what's right,         And Rowland pay his balance.     To catch the banker all have sought,         But still the rogue unhurt is;     While t'other juggler--who'd have thought?     Tho' slippery long, has just been caught         By old Archbishop Curtis;--     And, such the power of papal crook,         The crosier scarce had quivered     About his ears, when, lo! the Duke         Was of a Bull delivered!     Sir Richard Birnie doth decide         That Rowland "must be mad,"     In private coach, with crest, to ride,         When chaises could be had.     And t'other hero, all agree,         St. Luke's will soon arrive at,     If thus he shows off publicly,         When he might pass in private.     Oh Wellington, oh Stephenson,         Ye ever-boring pair,     Where'er I sit, or stand, or run,         Ye haunt me everywhere.     Tho' Job had patience tough enough,         Such duplicates would try it;     Till one's turned out and t'other off,         We Shan have peace or quiet.     But small's the chance that Law affords--         Such folks are daily let off;     And, 'twixt the old Bailey and the Lords,         They both, I fear, will get off.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"Oh Wellington and Stephenson,..."

This evocative piece by Thomas Moore, titled "Rival Topics.[1]An Extravaganza.", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Thomas Moore

"Oh Wellington and Stephenson,..." by Thomas Moore

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"[1]     When wine I quaff, before my eyes     Dreams of poetic glory rise;[2]     And freshened by the goblet's dews,     My soul invokes the he"

"doctoribus loetamur tribus.     1826.     Tho' many great Doctors there be,         There are three that all Doctors out-top,"

"FROM ALCIPHRON AT ALEXANDRIA TO CLEON AT ATHENS.     Well may you wonder at my flight         From those fair Gardens in whose bowers     Lin"

"Music in Italy.--Disappointed by it.--Recollections or other Times and Friends.--Dalton.--Sir John Stevenson.--His Daughter.--Musical Evenings togethe"

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Thomas Moore

About Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore (1779–1852) was an Irish poet, singer, and songwriter best known for "Irish Melodies" (1808–1834), a collection of songs including "The Last Rose of Summer" and "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms." He was the most popular poet of his era in the British Isles.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"[1]     When wine I quaff, before my eyes     Dr..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.