POETRY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1721, 26 August 1879, Page 3

POETRY.

A VERT DOLEFUL BALLAD. Prom the “ Auckland Free Lanoe.” After Ye Style of Edgar A, Poe. Dedicated to Ye Noble Lords and Te Honorable Commons at "Wellington Assembled. I. Once upon a July dreary, when the House looked rather weary— But the Opposition Benches seemed more lively than before — While the Ministerial dodgers looked a seedy lot of codgers, With a look upon their faces, which I had not seen of yore : A look of wo-be-goness, which I had not seen of yore. Only this, and nothing more. 11. Ah! distinctly I remember —Old Sir George was looking tender At his seedy lot of followers, scattered o’er the Chamber floor : Eagerly he wished the morrow, so that he could only borrow—' Borrow just a handy million, —or say two, or three, or four, To use among his followers, —as he used the lot before. Only this, and nothing more. HI. Then was hoard a deadly mutter, —an ominous kind of flutter. As up rose Sir William smiling—as he oft hath smole before: And with beautiful minuteness, and with splendid Statesman ’cuteness, He went for George and Sheehan too, and hit them very sore, With a most artistic polish—till he made them very sore. Only that, and nothing more, IT. Then Sir George began to tremble, though he tried hard to dissemble. For he oft had heard Sir William make these slashing hits before ; So that now to stay the beating, of his heart he kept repeating,— “ I will promise all they ask for, as I oft have done of yore ; “Very often, very often, done amany times of yore: “ Merely promise, nothing more.’'

Presently his soul grew stronger: hesitating then no longer, He rose and took possession of that classic Chamber floor; But his eyes had all the gleaming, of a demon’s that is dreaming, When ho beard some sleepy follower breathe a most melodious snore : Ease his overburdened feelings in a most melodious snore. Only that, and nothing more. n. Then out spake the great Pro-consul, with his wondrous gift of tonsil— That gift of making loafers feel, exceeding six feet four— And said he with words scarce civil, “ I will squash this man or devil, For I’ll stump this blessed country as I stumped it once before ; I will kiss the babes and mothers, as I oft have done before.” Quoth Sir William, “Never more.”

‘ Prophet!’ cried Sir George ;“ Oh prophet! blow your prophecy—-I scoff it! “Don’t you think my friends in fustian, loafiing round each public door, “ Will maintain me where I’m sitting—in spite of your hard hitting—- “ Will shed for me their precious blood, their generous noble gore ? (“ Of course I mean when speaking of their blood—their nasal gore ”) Quoth Sir William, “ Novor more.”

“ Prophet!” yelled the frantic party ;“I am old, but I am hearty ; “And by all the sweets of office—by the power which I adore 1 “ I will try once more my hocus—my unfailing game of pocus: " I will call a fustian meeting 5 I will make them dance and roarj “ So, Sir William, I advise you, to vacate this Chamber floor.” Quoth Sir William, “ Never more.” IX.

"Be that word our sign of parting!” shrieked the Premier upstarting j “ Get thee back to Bangitiki—back to Foxton’s sandy shore 1 “ Leave the House to me and Sheehan, gull’d by programmes TJ-to-pian : “ Get thee out 1 (as Mr Guppy’s angry mother did implore) : “ Out thy stick! skeddadle! mizzle ! vanish! hook it! —l implore ?” Quoth Sir William, “ Never more.”

And Sir William, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, With that look you may call cussed, which the Premier doth abhor ; And his eyes have all the gleaming, of the work that he is meaning; And the lamplight o’er him streaming, throws his shadow on the floor; And Sir George from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor— Shall be lifted—never more. Aopoubi. Auckland, July 30, 1879.