ARGUMENT. The introduction of Mr. Fiam-Description of the personal attractions of that gentleman-The improper negligence of his lady-The birth of our heroes-The bustle it occasions-The hypocrisies of name— The resignation of clergymen, &c.-Aristotle wrong-The danger the Twins incur-Their deliverance. BOOK THE FIRST. CHAPTER I. IN Bancok,*-all the world must know If rich, have love enough to sate you; And, Gad! how bitterly they hate you! * Or Bangkok. Our Fiam was a handsome fellow, His nose was flat, his skin was yellow; But, spite of this surpassing beauty, And, (tho' 'twas twenty years ago, Since marriage first had joined the pair,) She ne'er had managed to bestow Upon this charming spouse an heir. Now this neglect was aught but proper, And half her friends began to drop her. At length (it was one Van-a-thed,*) So far, so good! the Siam nation Is somewhat thin of population; And (there, as here, two sects are clamorous, The Economic and the Amorous,) * Sunday. * It must have charmed the Siam Saddlers,* But, ah!-the worst's to come!-for Fate And often with her childish antics The fairest hope of mortal man tricks ; Joined breast to breast-our Twins together. This freak of Mrs. Fate's, I fear, It was a most flagitious action. At Bancok's always to look down on The smallest pre-resolve to frown on. I leave you to conceive the scene! * Mr. Sadler, on whom his godfathers bestowed the most just of all epithets by the most prophetic of all initials- -Mr. M. T. (commonly pronounced Empty) Sadler, has lately published a book in opposition to the followers of Malthus; the size of it is very remarkable. |