The gentlemen of DickensWere mostly very poor,And innocent of grammar,And of parentage obscure;But rich or poor or thriving,Of high or lowly birth,The gentlemen of DickensWere the grandest on the earth.
The gentlemen of Dickens,They wore no fancy names,Like Reginald or PercyFitzgerald or FitzJames;But names for fools to laugh at,That sound like hob-nailed boots,Like Newman Noggs and Knubbles,Toodles and Mr Toots.
They'd little save their kindness,Their honesty and truth;They mostly came embarrassed,And stammering and uncouth;But the gentlemen of Dickens,Their women and their girls,Could speak their minds if need beTo ladies and to earls.
But one who wore a titleA lesson, too, could teach:Lord Feenix, Cousin FeenixOf wandering legs and speech.O he might teach a lessonA gentleman could give,Where he stands by his "lovelyAnd accomplished relative".
The gentlemen of DickensWere gamblers now and then(And looked upon the ladies,No doubt, like other men);And some of them were drunkards,It cannot be denied;But one washed all their sins awayWhen Sidney Carton died.
The gentlemen of DickensAre round us here to-day,For their self-sacrificingBrave spirits live for aye.They cheer my heart and lift it,They set my blood aglow,For I was once a gentleman,Though it was years ago.