Poems 389

Beautiful by n%ht and day, beautiful in summer and winter,

Whole or maimed, always and alike beautiful —

He preacheth gospel of grace to the skin of owls

And to one who seasoneth the skins of Canadian owls :

0 God I 0 Montreal !

When I saw him I was wroth and I said, " 0 Discobolus !
Beautiful Discobolus, a Prince both among gods and men !
What doest thou here, how earnest thou hither, Discobolus,
Preaching gospel in vain to the skins of owls ? "

0 God ! 0 Montreal !

And I turned to the man of skins and said unto him, " 0 thou

man of skins,
Wherefore hast thou done thus to shame the beauty of the

Discobolus ? "

But the Lord had hardened the heart of the man of skins
And he answered, " My brother-in-law is haberdasher to

Mr. Spurgeon." Q God , 0 Montreal ,

" The Discobolus is put here because he is vulgar —
He has neither vest nor pants with which to cover his limbs ;
I, Sir, am a person of most respectable connections —
My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon."

0 God ! 0 Montreal !

Then I said, " 0 brother-in-law to Mr. Spurgeon Js haberdasher,
Who seasonest also the skins of Canadian owls,
Thou callest trousers 'pants/ whereas I call them ' trousers,'
Therefore thou art in hell-fire and may the Lord pity thee ! "

0 God ! 0 Montreal !

" Preferrest thou the gospel of Montreal to the gospel of

Hellas,
The gospel of thy connection with Mr. Spurgeon's haber-

dashery to the gospel of the Discobolus ? "
Yet none the less blasphemed he beauty saying, " The Dis-

cobolus hath no gospel, t

But my brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgeon."

0 God ! 0 Montreal !