Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/51

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Stones at these flocks and drive them to a distance,—

’Gainst parrots who could think of armed resistance?

A cloudlet this the apish heaven that covered,

But heavier, stormier clouds behind it hovered.

Once to the palace Bhandragura hurried,

Fear in his eye, a cloud of cares his brow hid,

Nor did he ring, as was his wont, before he

Withdrew the silks that veiled the throne room’s glory,

He raised the curtain, but stepped back much faster,

For there in full undress, behold! his master

Sprawling about the baldachin and chucking

This way and that the gold imperial pippin,

The globe aloft with cuts of sceptre flipping,

Catching again, in wondrous postures, ducking

And all those capers cutting with it, briefly,

That apes with apples ever cut most liefly.

The minister with fine tact first coughed slightly,

Paused, then coughed louder, paused, again asserted

His presence, paused, then touched the bell rope lightly,

E’en thus, perhaps, the king he’d disconcerted;

There was a thud as if some weight fell down,

And minutes passed ere “Come in” was repeated:

But Bhandragura, entering, on the throne

Already saw the monarch gravely seated:

Th’ imperial apple his unquavering fist held

And every august hair enquiry bristled.

The minister with knee to earth low looted

And raised to heaven sick look and hands: “Confusion!

Ah! king,” he cried, “and were my tongue outrooted

That I need not announce it: Revolution!”

The monarch trembled as that dread word sounded,