The British Constitution

Written by Thomas Paine, on being asked by an Englishman for a few lines on the subject by way of pastime.
1 Of all the wonders man e’er saw
2 That merit his applauses,
3 Since Adam delved in Paradise,
4 And Eve made beds of roses,
5 The greatest wonder of them all,
6 And free from all confusion,
7 It is — O lift your hands and eyes —
8 The British constitution.
9 It is as stable as the hills,
10 That have endured forever;
11 It is as fleeting as the waves
12 That glide in yonder river:
13 It is as changing as a maid,
14 Just when she is betrothing;
15 ’Tis this, ’tis that, ’tis either thing,
16 ’Tis every thing, ’tis nothing.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): The British Constitution
Author: Thomas Paine
Themes:
Genres: occasional poem
Headnote: Columbian, 4 August 1810

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Source edition

Cleary, Scott M., ed. Claeys, Gregory, gen. ed. Thomas Paine Collected Writings. Vol. II. Part 2: Poetry. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2026. 5 Volumes.

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