PROPRIUM TRIBUTUM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 209, 11 December 1879, Page 3

PROPRIUM TRIBUTUM.

A Lax of Ancient Rome. : When Greycuss fell and Ilallus Jonni ruled supreme in Rome, Patricians raised a shout that rent the azure dome; The Horn-blowers strained their - lungs and blew" from shore to shore ; The Pontiffs blessed the victors then, and watched the augurs bore ; Great Andrews achus gave a sigh, and bowed him in the dust, And Sheeni Cabbi Rideius, I ween, wont on the bust; And Jaisec Russett Whipgius in sorrow bent his head, And Rattius Timberius, ’ unto the foemen fled. Then out spoke Atkinsonius : —(surnamed the Croaker) “ We Have sent our ships across the main, our ; vassals o’er the sea ; Ob. Romans ! we have hardly ever been so short of tin, • - Since our brave sires went on the square, and took each Sabine gin ; We’ve sent afar for sugar, but oh! ' alas, alas! . Poor Rome is fallen down indeed, she cries aloud for brass ; Though Julius Sees-her in the dust, and hears our country groan ; He does not Jews to ask his links to le -re our our land a loan ; He is bur Agent General—a gent whom we despise In General —Oh, Tiber! bid the stones of Rome arise In mutiny and wild despair. Ye gods !■ —but never mind, I’ve hit upon a splendid plan to try and raise the wind. Raise Grejcuss tax’d each hide of land, but I will tax, beside, Each base Plebeian, neck and crop, and all that’s on his hide. The Plebs must pay the asses, for the asses rule the Plebs ; We’ll tax their wits, their wines, their work, their woollens and their webs ,- ; Their sheets’, their shirts, their stockings, their ; hogs, their hats, their hose ; Their, books, their boots, their blunt, their bulls, then- breeches and their brose ; Their ducks and drakes, their dogs and doors, their donkeys and their dolls ; Then' cuffs and collars, and their coats, and all their fol-de-rolls ; Their steaks and stews, their crusts and cakes, • their livers,- lights, and lives ; Them spades and spoons ; they’ll also have to fork out for then’ knives ; Pins, and pretty .'pads, improves, too, must pay, . And all the little nick-nacks that the ladies stowaway ;, . ~, Soft soap and soda, starch and stoves, sticks, stories, suds and slops ; . Dear-little popsy-wopsy’s, sweets and Johnny’s penny tops. ; ■ • ' On all Plebeians’ properly a tribute we shall claim ; We’ll tax all sorts of articles and thirgs we dare not name. Our Censors, will inspect each place, each pannikin and pot — The, scent, sir, they .will get may help the ~ 'sense,' sir, they have, got . Oh, citizens !. Oh, Romans ! just wait a little while — . - • ~ Proud Pompey’s pillar pales before this politi ' r cian’spile ; I am my country’s saviour—the Plebs may: laugh and jeer, - j Hut I and my Patricians shall be rulers here. “ Hear, hear ! ” Responded the Comitia Tributa ; this they said, ■ ; And then each noble, Senator fled home and went to bell. . ERAYE FUDGE.