With you and mild Mundella I faced the dread cyclone When my superb umbrella clean inside out was blown,— When chiefs renowned in story betrayed their sacred trust, Turned timorously Tory or vilely bit the dust. But Fate's resistless firmans at length ordained that I Should edit Butler's Sermons and bid the House good bye : For now the tide is shifting; it flows, alas! no more ; And you are seaward drifting, while I am safe on shore. As soon as you are able, with me you'll come and dine, Refreshing at my table your war-worn frame with wine, Where, heedless of the censure of Lawson or of Caine, We'll toast your valiant venture in bumpers of cham pagne. Oblivioso levia Massico Ciboria exple; funde capacibus Unguenta de conchis. Quis udo Deproperare apio coronas Curatve myrto? Quem Venus arbitrum Dicet bibendi? Non ego sanius Bacchabor Edonis: recepto Dulce mihi furere est amico. Johannisberg, my jo, John, a tipple fit for kings, Shall in your honour flow, John, and lend our fancy wings: Or if in Scottish whisky dull care you'd rather drown, Glenlivet, fine and frisky, our flowing cups shall crown. Then, as we wet our whistle with draughts of 'comet' port, You'll wreathe your brows with thistle, while I the sham rock sport. 'Conspicuous moderation' for once I bid begone When Scotland, noble nation, 'returns' our Honest John. AD VALGIUM NON semper imbres nubibus hispidos Manant in agros aut mare Caspium Vexant inaequales procellae Usque, nec Armeniis in oris, Amice Valgi, stat glacies iners Menses per omnes aut Aquilonibus Querceta Gargani laborant Et foliis viduantur orni : TO SILOMO NOT always, O Silomo, upon the Polish coast Or on the Lake of Como, do Cossacks rule the roast; Nor, though your Sheffield bruisers would have it so, can we Be always sending cruisers to scour the Caspian Sea. The fierce Armenian peasant, cowed by your burning words, Is not employed at present in butchering the Kurds: Nor does the Russian blizzard unceasingly assail The Turkey's gentle gizzard, the Lion's tender tail. |