Beau Brummel

Poemata, IV

So England birthed her first celebrity
And twas not he for whom the time was known
Though he alone could make this station real
Appeal itself elected this her Beau;
When worthies of a State we know by taste
With haste a talent's own imprimatur
Will surely grace its streets and gatherings
And what he brings no worthy man forgot;

A self-made man, like all of gambler's kind
At last to find and drive him to the grave
To save him from this fate his friends could not
A lot of friends he had despite it all;
And call him friend the Prince himself did once
No dunce, he knew they loved his arrogance
To dress, to dance, to use the utmost wit
A bit of compromise he never sought;

This Brummel may have woke some jealousy
Though his nee had ne'er a claim to fame
As fools they were, the same his audience
So dense they were to not suppose his ruse;
Thus I refuse to speak the bywords here
Appear instead I must to eulogize
We realize in ruin all lives do end
And so defend the man which debt could not.