Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE APPLE-DUMPLINGS AND GEORGE THE THIRD, by JOHN WOLCOTT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE APPLE-DUMPLINGS AND GEORGE THE THIRD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Once in the chase, this monarch drooping
Last Line: "then, where, where, where, pray, got the apple in?"
Alternate Author Name(s): Pindar, Peter; Wolcot, John
Subject(s): Apples; Fruit; George Iii, King Of England (1738-1820)


ONCE in the chase, this monarch drooping,
From his high consequence and wisdom stooping,
Entered, through curiosity, a cot,
Where an old crone was hanging on the pot;
The wrinkled, blear-eyed, good old granny,
In this same cot, illumed by many a cranny,
Had apple-dumplings ready for the pot;
In tempting row the naked dumplings lay,
When, lo! the monarch, in his usual way,
Like lightning asked, "What's here? what's here?
What? what? what? what?"
Then taking up a dumpling in his hand,
His eyes with admiration did expand—
And oft did majesty the dumpling grapple;
"'Tis monstrous, monstrous, monstrous hard," he cried;
"What makes the thing so hard?" The dame replied,
Low courtesying, "Please your majesty, the apple."
"Very astonishing, indeed! strange thing!"
(Turning the dumpling round,) rejoined the king,
"'Tis most extraordinary now, all this is—
It beats the conjurer's capers all to pieces—
Strange I should never of a dumpling dream;
But, Goody, tell me, where, where, where's the seam?"
"Sire, there's no seam," quoth she; "I never knew
That folks did apple-dumplings sew!"
"No!" cried the staring monarch, with a grin,
"Then, where, where, where, pray, got the apple in?"





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