Twilight.

By W--ll--m C--wp--r.     'Tis evening.    See with its resorting throng      Rude Carfax teems, and waistcoats, visited      With too-familiar elbow, swell the curse      Vortiginous.    The boating man returns,      His rawness growing with experience--      Strange union! and directs the optic glass      Not unresponsive to Jemima's charms,      Who wheels obdurate, in his mimic chaise      Perambulant, the child.    The gouty cit,      Asthmatical, with elevated cane      Pursues the unregarding tram, as one      Who, having heard a hurdy-gurdy, girds      His loins and hunts the hurdy-gurdy-man,      Blaspheming.    Now the clangorous bell proclaims      The Times or Chronicle, and Rauca screams      The latest horrid murder in the ear      Of nervous dons expectant of the urn      And mild domestic muffin.                      To the Parks      Drags the slow Ladies' School, consuming time      In passing given points.    Here glow the lamps,      And tea-spoons clatter to the cosy hum      Of scientific circles.    Here resounds      The football-field with its discordant train,      The crowd that cheers but not discriminates,      As ever into touch the ball returns      And shrieks the whistle, while the game proceeds      With fine irregularity well worth      The paltry shilling.--                  Draw the curtains close      While I resume the night-cap dear to all      Familiar with my illustrated works.