Sestina Otiosa

Our great work, the Otia Merseiana,

    Edited by learned Mister Sampson,

    And supported by Professor Woodward,

    Is financed by numerous Bogus Meetings

    Hastily convened by Kuno Meyer

    To impose upon the Man of Business.

    All in vain! The accomplished Man of Business

    Disapproves of Otia Merseiana,

    Turns his back on Doctor Kuno Meyer;

  Cannot be enticed by Mister Sampson,

  To be present at the Bogus Meetings,

  Though attended by Professor Woodward.

  Little cares the staid Professor Woodward:

  He, being something of a man of business,

  Knows that not a hundred Bogus Meetings

  To discuss the Otia Merseiana

  Can involve himself and Mister Sampson

  In the debts of Doctor Kuno Meyer.

  So the poor deluded Kuno Meyer,

  Unenlightened by Professor Woodward —

  Whom, upon the word of Mister Sampson,

  He believes to be a man of business

  Fit to run the Otia Merseiana —

  Keeps on calling endless Bogus Meetings.

  Every week has now its Bogus Meetings,

  Punctually convened by Kuno Meyer

  In the name of Otia Merseiana:

  Every other week Professor Woodward

  Takes his place, and, as a man of business,

  Audits the accounts with Mister Sampson.

  He and impecunious Mister Sampson

  Are the mainstay of the Bogus Meetings;

  But the alienated Man of Business

  Cannot be allured by Kuno Meyer

  To attend and meet Professor Woodward,

  Glory of the Otia Merseiana.

  Kuno Meyer! Great Professor Woodward!

  Bogus Meetings damn, for men of business,

  Mister Sampson's Otia Merseiana.