Ladies and gents, you are here assembledTo hear why earth and heaven trembledBecause of the black and sinister artsOf an Irish writer in foreign parts.He sent me a book ten years agoI read it a hundred times or so,Backwards and forwards, down and up,Through both the ends of a telescope.I printed it all to the very last wordBut by the mercy of the LordThe darkness of my mind was rentAnd I saw the writer's foul intent.But I owe a duty to Ireland:I hold her honour in my hand,This lovely land that always sentHer writers and artists to banishmentAnd in a spirit of Irish funBetrayed her own leaders, one by one.'Twas Irish humour, wet and dry,Flung quicklime into Parnell's eye;'Tis Irish brains that save from doomThe leaky barge of the Bishop of RomeFor everyone knows the Pope can't belchWithout the consent of Billy Walsh.О Ireland my first and only loveWhere Christ and Caesar are hand in glove!О lovely land where the shamrock grows!(Allow me, ladies, to blow my nose)To show you for strictures I don't care a buttonI printed the poems of Mountainy MuttonAnd a play he wrote (you've read it, I'm sure)Where they talk of 'bastard' 'bugger' and 'whore'And a play on the Word and Holy PaulAnd some woman's legs that I can't recallWritten by Moore, a genuine gentThat lives on his property's ten per cent:I printed mystical books in dozens:I printed the table book of CousinsThough (asking your pardon) as for the verse'Twould give you a heartburn on your arse:I printed folklore from North and SouthBy Gregoiy of the Golden Mouth:I printed poets, sad, silly and solemn:I printed Patrick What-do-you-Colm:I printed the great John Milicent SyngeWho soars above on an angel's wingIn the playboy shift that he pinched as swagFrom Maunsel's manager's travelling-bag.But I draw the line at that bloody fellow,That was over here dressed in Austrian yellow,Spouting Italian by the hourTo O'Leary Curtis and John Wyse PowerAnd writing of Dublin, dirty and dear,In a manner no blackamoor printer could bear.Shite and onions! Do you think I'll printThe name of the Wellington Monument,Sydney Parade and the Sandymount tram,