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William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Epigram, 1785: ‘Ye kings, behold a brother fall!’

Written extempore, on hearing the rumour of the death of George III.

YE kings, behold a brother fall!

O England, laugh thy fill!

For scarce a monarch of them all

Produced you so much ill!

His knavish set of servants strove

To gain their private ends,

They justly lost their country’s love,

And sold their best of friends.

As king, he was a perfect tool,

As man, among the best:

Then while you mind the sceptred fool,

Believe a king a jest.

“God bless his bones,” let Britons pray,

Who never knew his use:

His worst of foes were here: they say

He’s dead; then die abuse.