Famous Magistrates Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Magistrates poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous magistrates poems. These examples illustrate what a famous magistrates poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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133. The Brigs of Ayr

...d, I shall say but little,
Corbies and Clergy are a shot right kittle:
But, under favour o’ your langer beard,
Abuse o’ Magistrates might weel be spar’d;
To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say, comparisons are odd.
In Ayr, wag-wits nae mair can hae a handle
To mouth ’a Citizen,’ a term o’ scandal;
Nae mair the Council waddles down the street,
In all the pomp of ignorant conceit;
Men wha grew wise priggin owre hops and raisins,
Or gather’d lib’ral views in Bo...Read more of this...
by Burns, Robert


A Familiar Letter

...raph letters;
You'll answer them promptly,-- an hour isn't much
For the honor of sharing a page with your betters,
With magistrates, members of Congress, and such.

Of course you're delighted to serve the committees
That come with requests from the country all round,
You would grace the occasion with poems and ditties
When they've got a new schoolhouse, or poorhouse, or pound.

With a hymn for the saints and a song for the sinners,
You go and are welcome wherever you please;
...Read more of this...
by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

A New Years Resolution to Leave Dundee

...such actions are shameful to be heard in the city of Dundee.
And I'm ashamed, kind Christians, to confess
That from the Magistrates I can get no redress.
Therefore I have made up my mind in the year of 1893
To leave the ancient City of Dundee,
Because the citizens and me cannot agree.
The reason why? -- because they disrespect me,
Which makes me feel rather discontent.
Therefore to leave them I am bent;
And I will make my arrangements without delay,
And leave Dundee some earl...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

Absalom And Achitophel

...brains were hot.
Such frugal virtue malice may accuse;
But sure 'twas necessary to the Jews:
For towns once burnt, such magistrates require
As dare not tempt God's providence by fire.
With spiritual food he fed his servants well,
But free from flesh, that made the Jews rebel:
And Moses' laws he held in more account
For forty days of fasting in the mount.
To speak the rest, who better are forgot,
Would tire a well-breath'd witness of the plot:
Yet, Corah, thou shalt from obliv...Read more of this...
by Dryden, John

Policeman G

...said: 
"'Tis a terrible thing how the gamblers spread, 
For they bet on the steeple, and they bet on the Cup, 
And the magistrates won't lock them up." 
Mush-a-ring-tiy-ah, 
Fol-de-diddle-doh! 

But Policeman G., as he walks his beat, 
Where ghe gamblers are -- up and down the street -- 
Says he: "What's the use to be talkin' rot -- 
If they'd make me a sergeant, I could cop the lot!" 
With my ring-tiy-ah, 
Fol-de-diddle-doh! 

"But, begad if you start to suppress the 'shop'...Read more of this...
by Paterson, Andrew Barton


Psalm 58

...Warning to magistrates.

Judges, who rule the world by laws,
Will ye despise the righteous cause,
When th' injured poor before you stands?
Dare ye condemn the righteous poor,
And let rich sinners 'scape secure,
While gold and greatness bribe your hands?

Have ye forgot, or never knew,
That God will judge the judges too?
High in the heav'ns his justice reigns;
Yet you i...Read more of this...
by Watts, Isaac

Psalm 82

...God the supreme Governor; or, Magistrates warned.

Among th' assemblies of the great
A greater Ruler takes his seat;
The God of heav'n, as Judge, surveys
Those gods on earth, and all their ways.

Why will ye, then, frame wicked laws?
Or why support th' unrighteous cause?
When will ye once defend the poor,
That sinners vex the saints no more?

They know not, Lord, nor will they know;
Dark...Read more of this...
by Watts, Isaac

Samson Agonistes

...est to have yielded without blame.
It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st,
That wrought with me: thou know'st the Magistrates 
And Princes of my countrey came in person,
Sollicited, commanded, threatn'd, urg'd,
Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil Duty
And of Religion, press'd how just it was,
How honourable, how glorious to entrap
A common enemy, who had destroy'd
Such numbers of our Nation : and the Priest
Was not behind, but ever at my ear,
Preaching how meritorious wit...Read more of this...
by Milton, John

The Black Watch Memorial

...ers also were there,
And Taymouth Brass Band, which discoursed sweet music I do declare;
Also military officers and the magistrates of Aberfeldy,
While in the rear came the members of Committee. 

There were also Freemasons, Foresters, all in a row,
And wearing their distinctive regalias, which made a great show;
And the processionists were formed into three sides of a square
Around the monument, while the music of the bands did rend the air. 

The noble Marquis of Breadalban...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Burial of the Reverend Gilfillan

...een releas'd,
and whose soul I hope to heaven has fled away,
To sing with saints above for ever and aye. 

The provost, magistrates, and town council were in the procession that day;
Also Mrs Gilfillan, who cried and sobbed all the way
For her kind husband, that was always affable and gay,
Which she will remember until her dying day.

When the procession arrived in the Hill o' Balgay,
The people were almost as hush as death, and many of them did say --
As long as we live we'l...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Execution of James Graham Marquis of Montrose

...own I'll dress it at my ease,
And to-morrow, when it becomes yours, treat it as you please. 

He was waited upon by the Magistrates of the city,
But, alas! for him they had no pity.
He was habited in a superb cloak, ornamented with gold and silver lace;
And before the hour of execution an immense assemblage of people were round the place. 

From the prison, bareheaded, in a cart, they conveyed him along the Watergate
To the place of execution on the High Street, where about t...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Funeral of the Late Ex-Provost Rough Dundee

...fternoon, in November the 23rd day,
That the funeral cortege to the Western Cemetery wended its way,
Accompanied by the Magistrates, and amongst those present were-
Bailie Macdonald and Bailie Black, also Lord Provost Hunter I do declare. 

There were also Bailie Foggie, Bailie Craig, and Bailie Stephenson,
And Ex-Provost Moncur, and Ex-Provost Ballingall representing the Royal Orphan Institution;
Besides there were present the Rev. J. Jenkins and the Rev. J. Masson,
With gri...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Wreck of the Steamer London

...Amongst the passengers was Gustavus V. Brooke,
Who was to be seen walking on the poop,
Also clergymen, and bankers, and magistrates also,
All chatting merrily together in the cabin below;
And also wealthy families returning to their dear native land,
And accomplished young ladies, most lovely and grand,
All in the beauty and bloom of their pride,
And some with their husbands sitting close by their side. 

'Twas all on a sudden the storm did arise,
Which took the captain and p...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

To the Learned Critic

...XVII. ? TO THE LEARNED CRITIC.    May others fear, fly, and traduce thy name,     As guilty men do magistrates ; glad I, That wish my poems a legitimate fame,     Charge them, for crown, to thy sole censure hie. And but a sprig of bays, given by thee, Shall outlive garlands, stol'n from the chaste tree....Read more of this...
by Jonson, Ben

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