TO PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 6

TO PARLIAMENT.

THREE SONNETS,

i Gone are those noblo men who «r»tnhil» planned . .Fair rohemes to make a freer, happier day, To rule with justice this luxuriant land, • Plato's aristocrats—Ballance and Grey. Aye, dead! Yet on their brows are wreaths of bay. A spurious Liberal stole their fruitful seed, Planted, and watched its growth: then, in affray, Would dwarf tho pine to 'fit a selfish crced, Make it a prop for his own pride and greed. Still suffer ve this parasite to crush Tour tree of national freedom? The srir* meed Of cowards waits for those who meekly hush, 1 And to a despot bend the bloodless knee, Like flattering slaves, unable to be free. 11. And have we grown more wise tinoe Plato's time? Methinks his ghost will watch your chosen throng, Note gravely .young and old, some in their prime, Clear-eyed or false: unerring mark among Tour modern ranks the ancient, deadly wrong. From Demos risen, as Plato told, appear# Unblushing tyranny: lords it for long: Piles a great debt, to warnings turns deaf oars: . Wizard of secret finance, he but ieorn, Threatens to poleaio those who dare to keep A questioning voice. But there are virile seers Among ye now, not drugged to fntile sleep, Brave, temperate men, who scorn servility. They will uproot this treacherous tyranny. 111. Athens killed Socrates, lost moral rway, Fawned at tho coarse well-paid comedian's feet, ... ... And Athens fell. Our Liberal claims high par; Title and roval smilos he finds full sweet; To court them ho would smirch e'en Britain's fleet; Muzzles our press, hides rich men's guilt from sight, Whilo loud the patriotic drum lie II beat; Makes countless laws to illumine our dark nisht ' —Oar Moralist! Leave him to Fate. In

Of wrath''now Maoriland has risen: she

For noble prmdes. oleon deeds, laws just anil right, Prays the long-veiled run of Beauty,to arise. Nations that need FEW laws are rich and great, Their folk will gain trnc freedom e large ostflt^. ALTIOBA. PETO.