DOI issue:
January to June, 1844
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16519#0180
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
183
THE GREAT KING OF TROYNOVANT.
us following legend respecting Troynovant, as
London was anciently called, has been extracted,
at a frightful expense, from the Chronicle of
Hukerius Valkerius.]
The vast city of Troynovant was governed by
a king, whom the natives called the " Meir," or
" Mare.'"' His palace, or mansion as it was
termed, was built by a hill famous for its luxu-
riant corn ; and the size of the poultry-yard,
which was adjacent to it, attracted the admira-
tion of all beholders. He had another palace
more peculiarly royal, as the street which it
commanded was called the " King's Street."
This was guarded by two enormous giants, many
hundred years old, who were in the habit of
leaving their posts, and coming to take refresh-
ment, whenever they heard the clock strike one.
This movement, of the giants was always anti-
cipated by those who came from distant parts,
with great curiosity, but few were eventually
much gratified by the exhibition. So vast was
the city, and so great was the might of the king,
that the constitution provided that he should
only reign for a single year, taking the same
precaution against the accumulation of power
beasts, and fishes paused in anxious curiosity. " Omfrius," said the
stranger, " whose excesses awakened your just indignation, has ceased,
and I am sovereign of Troynovant. Desist from your hostile purpose, and
lo ! here I solemnly promise that I and the members of my house will be
satisfied with an occasional mutton chop, and that I will give no feastings
to my voracious subjects." When the animals heard this they applauded
greatly, and cried with one voice, " Long live the new king of Troynovant !
may his reign last for ever ! While he is on the throne we will make no
attack on his ancient city.'- So they retired to their several homes. And
the king kept his word, for his reign was distinguished for the great
abstemiousness of the court.
Because the successor of Omfrius had thus saved Troynovant. the
citizens in gratitude gave him the name of " Magnus," which in the
Latin tongue signifies " great." But, nevertheless, some of the old meu
would shake their heads doubtfully and say, " Whatever were the faults
of Omfrius, truly his reign was a merry one after all ! "
A VOICE FROM THE RIVER.
You take your wife to Putney, when she's ailing
To reap the benefit of fresher air ;
She thinks of shipwreck, and, her spirits failing,
Most heartily she wishes you were there.
While to her better sense you are appealing,
And doing all you can in vain to please her ;
Ah ! little dreams that captain of your feeling,
in one individual that the Romans did with As from the 1)addle-box he bawls out—" Ease her
regard to their consuls. On the 9th of every
November the new king was enthroned, and en
the 5th preceding the effigies of the old king
were burned in derision, being called a " Gye." J
There was once a king of Troynovant, whose i CONCILIATION IIA LL.
reign was marked by a magnificence unequalled
in the memory even of the oldest men. The name of this splendid king """ ""' "" " e^0>tcl J
was Omfrius : and nothing was talked of, in his day, but the abundant feasts
which he gave. All sorts and conditions of men were invited to these
stupendous festivals ; and a herald used to blow a trumpet, whenever one
of them took place, and to cry out, " King Omfrius will feast to-day :
welcome, all ye good citizens of Troynovant."
Now in the days of Omfrius the beasts and birds had not lost the faculty
of speech, but could converse as wisely and discreetly as those of whom
mention is made by the sage historian ./Esof. Seeing their numbers
greatly diminished by the frequent banquets, they held a great council to
r. O'Connell stated that sympathy was
spreading more and more. Communi-
cations had reached him from the Moon,
and it appeared that meetings are about
to be held in both Horns, as well as in
its other quarters, and that there is not
the shadow of a doubt that large remit-
tances may be expected. Many think
determine what course they should pursue. They there admitted that j „ ffl Ik 1M that there'will be an aggregate Monster
they were by the destinies so far subjected to man, that he might slaugh- fljQ / %k Meeting in one of the Central Plain ts,
ter and eat them in moderation, without their having a right to raise a
voice against it There were, however, limits to the work of consumption,
and these limits had certainly been passed by King Omfrius. An occa-
sional festivity they did not mind ; indeed, it served to check a surplus
population ; but this uninterrupted series of feasts threatened absolute
annihilation. The beasts and birds therefore resolved to make war on
Troynovant, and sweep it from the surface of the earth, and they were
joined in their resolution by the fishes, who peeped up from the river, and
expressed their hearty concurrence in the views they had overheard.
The cattle were to rush in a body to the corn hill, and gore to death all
whom they met ; the birds were to swarm in the air so thickly, as to cut
off the light of heaven from the citizens ; and the fish were to block up
the Thames, so as to render all escape by water utterly impossible.
However, just as they were about to make preparations for the attack,
a stranger suddenly appeared before them on the part of the city, re-
questing them to desist, as he had terms of peace to propose. The birds,
and that it is not too much to expect that
Delegates from the Georgium Sidus will
attend ; and as the brightness of that luminary exceeds anything noticed
elsewhere, it is rational to suppose that its surface is composed of pre-
cious metal—a very encouraging idea to Repealers.
Mr. O'Connell read a communication from the Secretary of a Repeal
Association in a place situated near the northern horn of the Moon,
inclosing a draught for 100/. He also announced the receipt of '20/. from
a tribe of Esquimaux, Parry's Cove, Hudson's Bay. He begged to con-
clude his remarks by singing a song of his own composing.
THE PATRIOT'S ADDRESS TO HIS COUNTRYMEN.
My countrymen ! Liberty calls you, i Our hands shall be freed from the tyrant,
She gives you an Irish broad hint
Arise and respond to her watchword-
" Be sure and remember ihe Rint.
Long time have oppressors enslaved you,
Each hero be ricb as the Mint ;
What blessings and comforts await ye,
If you will but remember the Rint.
What foe can expect to oppose ye.
Who never thro1 pity ralint ; Qv the growth of yourpower t0 stjntj
But now is the hour of del.v'rance : If onj will do what x tell
ve,
Be sure and remember the Rint. ( 'And htisiuv t0 leine.nber the Hint i
Your tyrants still wish to enthrall you, 1
Their hearts are as hard as a flint ; j For myself he may send me to prison,
You may laugh them to scorn and | I scorn his ferocious la tint,
despise them,
If you only remember the Rint.
My countrymen ! Victory 'waits you—
Bright Fame, in a glorious tint,
Will paint forth your actions in story :
Be sure and remember the Rint.
Your fathers have fought and have
conquered,
Their names are recorded in print :
So eclipse their bold prowess in battle :
Be sure and remember the Rint.
The Association then adjourned.
And 1 care not a straw for his mnfee,
If you will but remember the Kim.
In this glorious cause I have laboured,
For this my best days 1 have spint,
You cannot now mean to forsake me.
Be sure and remember the Rint.
Oh ! son of this great, this green island
I only just give you a bint,
That I always will stick to my country.
If she will but renienibci the Rint.
183
THE GREAT KING OF TROYNOVANT.
us following legend respecting Troynovant, as
London was anciently called, has been extracted,
at a frightful expense, from the Chronicle of
Hukerius Valkerius.]
The vast city of Troynovant was governed by
a king, whom the natives called the " Meir," or
" Mare.'"' His palace, or mansion as it was
termed, was built by a hill famous for its luxu-
riant corn ; and the size of the poultry-yard,
which was adjacent to it, attracted the admira-
tion of all beholders. He had another palace
more peculiarly royal, as the street which it
commanded was called the " King's Street."
This was guarded by two enormous giants, many
hundred years old, who were in the habit of
leaving their posts, and coming to take refresh-
ment, whenever they heard the clock strike one.
This movement, of the giants was always anti-
cipated by those who came from distant parts,
with great curiosity, but few were eventually
much gratified by the exhibition. So vast was
the city, and so great was the might of the king,
that the constitution provided that he should
only reign for a single year, taking the same
precaution against the accumulation of power
beasts, and fishes paused in anxious curiosity. " Omfrius," said the
stranger, " whose excesses awakened your just indignation, has ceased,
and I am sovereign of Troynovant. Desist from your hostile purpose, and
lo ! here I solemnly promise that I and the members of my house will be
satisfied with an occasional mutton chop, and that I will give no feastings
to my voracious subjects." When the animals heard this they applauded
greatly, and cried with one voice, " Long live the new king of Troynovant !
may his reign last for ever ! While he is on the throne we will make no
attack on his ancient city.'- So they retired to their several homes. And
the king kept his word, for his reign was distinguished for the great
abstemiousness of the court.
Because the successor of Omfrius had thus saved Troynovant. the
citizens in gratitude gave him the name of " Magnus," which in the
Latin tongue signifies " great." But, nevertheless, some of the old meu
would shake their heads doubtfully and say, " Whatever were the faults
of Omfrius, truly his reign was a merry one after all ! "
A VOICE FROM THE RIVER.
You take your wife to Putney, when she's ailing
To reap the benefit of fresher air ;
She thinks of shipwreck, and, her spirits failing,
Most heartily she wishes you were there.
While to her better sense you are appealing,
And doing all you can in vain to please her ;
Ah ! little dreams that captain of your feeling,
in one individual that the Romans did with As from the 1)addle-box he bawls out—" Ease her
regard to their consuls. On the 9th of every
November the new king was enthroned, and en
the 5th preceding the effigies of the old king
were burned in derision, being called a " Gye." J
There was once a king of Troynovant, whose i CONCILIATION IIA LL.
reign was marked by a magnificence unequalled
in the memory even of the oldest men. The name of this splendid king """ ""' "" " e^0>tcl J
was Omfrius : and nothing was talked of, in his day, but the abundant feasts
which he gave. All sorts and conditions of men were invited to these
stupendous festivals ; and a herald used to blow a trumpet, whenever one
of them took place, and to cry out, " King Omfrius will feast to-day :
welcome, all ye good citizens of Troynovant."
Now in the days of Omfrius the beasts and birds had not lost the faculty
of speech, but could converse as wisely and discreetly as those of whom
mention is made by the sage historian ./Esof. Seeing their numbers
greatly diminished by the frequent banquets, they held a great council to
r. O'Connell stated that sympathy was
spreading more and more. Communi-
cations had reached him from the Moon,
and it appeared that meetings are about
to be held in both Horns, as well as in
its other quarters, and that there is not
the shadow of a doubt that large remit-
tances may be expected. Many think
determine what course they should pursue. They there admitted that j „ ffl Ik 1M that there'will be an aggregate Monster
they were by the destinies so far subjected to man, that he might slaugh- fljQ / %k Meeting in one of the Central Plain ts,
ter and eat them in moderation, without their having a right to raise a
voice against it There were, however, limits to the work of consumption,
and these limits had certainly been passed by King Omfrius. An occa-
sional festivity they did not mind ; indeed, it served to check a surplus
population ; but this uninterrupted series of feasts threatened absolute
annihilation. The beasts and birds therefore resolved to make war on
Troynovant, and sweep it from the surface of the earth, and they were
joined in their resolution by the fishes, who peeped up from the river, and
expressed their hearty concurrence in the views they had overheard.
The cattle were to rush in a body to the corn hill, and gore to death all
whom they met ; the birds were to swarm in the air so thickly, as to cut
off the light of heaven from the citizens ; and the fish were to block up
the Thames, so as to render all escape by water utterly impossible.
However, just as they were about to make preparations for the attack,
a stranger suddenly appeared before them on the part of the city, re-
questing them to desist, as he had terms of peace to propose. The birds,
and that it is not too much to expect that
Delegates from the Georgium Sidus will
attend ; and as the brightness of that luminary exceeds anything noticed
elsewhere, it is rational to suppose that its surface is composed of pre-
cious metal—a very encouraging idea to Repealers.
Mr. O'Connell read a communication from the Secretary of a Repeal
Association in a place situated near the northern horn of the Moon,
inclosing a draught for 100/. He also announced the receipt of '20/. from
a tribe of Esquimaux, Parry's Cove, Hudson's Bay. He begged to con-
clude his remarks by singing a song of his own composing.
THE PATRIOT'S ADDRESS TO HIS COUNTRYMEN.
My countrymen ! Liberty calls you, i Our hands shall be freed from the tyrant,
She gives you an Irish broad hint
Arise and respond to her watchword-
" Be sure and remember ihe Rint.
Long time have oppressors enslaved you,
Each hero be ricb as the Mint ;
What blessings and comforts await ye,
If you will but remember the Rint.
What foe can expect to oppose ye.
Who never thro1 pity ralint ; Qv the growth of yourpower t0 stjntj
But now is the hour of del.v'rance : If onj will do what x tell
ve,
Be sure and remember the Rint. ( 'And htisiuv t0 leine.nber the Hint i
Your tyrants still wish to enthrall you, 1
Their hearts are as hard as a flint ; j For myself he may send me to prison,
You may laugh them to scorn and | I scorn his ferocious la tint,
despise them,
If you only remember the Rint.
My countrymen ! Victory 'waits you—
Bright Fame, in a glorious tint,
Will paint forth your actions in story :
Be sure and remember the Rint.
Your fathers have fought and have
conquered,
Their names are recorded in print :
So eclipse their bold prowess in battle :
Be sure and remember the Rint.
The Association then adjourned.
And 1 care not a straw for his mnfee,
If you will but remember the Kim.
In this glorious cause I have laboured,
For this my best days 1 have spint,
You cannot now mean to forsake me.
Be sure and remember the Rint.
Oh ! son of this great, this green island
I only just give you a bint,
That I always will stick to my country.
If she will but renienibci the Rint.