On a Report of a Minister's Death Written in Germany

Last Monday all the Papers said
That Mr. ---- was dead;
Why, then, what said the City?
The tenth part sadly shook their head,
And shaking sigh'd and sighing said,
'Pity, indeed, 'tis pity!'

But when the said report was found
A rumour wholly without ground,
Why, then, what said the city?
The other nine parts shook their head,
Repeating what the tenth had said,
'Pity, indeed, 'tis pity!'