Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/66

 The king heard out his speech, morose, unmoving,

Then fixed on him a look of stern reproving.

“Oh! Bhandragura, woe! that from thy lip

I e’er should hear such counsel, to the shame of

My cultured realm—for Europe to make game of:

We’re here to challenge nudeness; shall we strip

And, nude ourselves, the recreants’ nudeness chastise?

For what, then, arms and uniforms? oh! cast eyes

On History’s page, and say if it appears

That in the cultivated races’ combats

The Regulars, or even Volunteers—

Oh horror! ever scratched and bit like wombats.

That you escape your words’ just penalty

Is only due to your past loyalty.”

Off to a mat crawled Bhandragura, moaning,

And fear long sealed the lips like counsels owning,

Until, at last, another chief, intrepid

In all but arms, now warmed to counsels tepid:

“The tree will ne’er be stormed, and yonder cattle

Will scarce come down and match us in fair battle

As modern war and precedent require:

Diplomatists, in such straits, take the threads up,

Humanitarian heroes hold their heads up,

And swords before the olive branch retire.

I hold a bran new calmuck each would quiet

The clowns at once and promptly quell the riot.

And for a scarlet frock or so that dangles

Within your clothes-room, all gold lace and spangles,

E’en Vindragupta—I know that old Daniel—

Would let himself be docked like any spaniel.”

“Enough!” the king exclaimed, “fine counsels truly,

So I must always yield to mob unruly;