Lapsus calami | ||
85
2. On a Parisian Boulevard.
Britannia rules the waves,
As I have heard her say;
She frees whatever slaves
She meets upon her way.
As I have heard her say;
She frees whatever slaves
She meets upon her way.
A teeming mother she
Of Parliaments and Laws;
Majestic, mighty, free:
Devoid of common flaws.
Of Parliaments and Laws;
Majestic, mighty, free:
Devoid of common flaws.
For her did Shakspere write
His admirable plays:
For her did Nelson fight
And Wolseley win his bays.
His admirable plays:
For her did Nelson fight
And Wolseley win his bays.
Her sturdy common sense
Is based on solid grounds:
By saving numerous pence
She spends effective pounds.
Is based on solid grounds:
By saving numerous pence
She spends effective pounds.
The Saxon and the Celt
She equitably rules;
Her iron rod is felt
By countless knaves and fools.
She equitably rules;
Her iron rod is felt
By countless knaves and fools.
86
In fact, mankind at large,
Black, yellow, white and red,
Is given to her in charge,
And owns her as a head.
Black, yellow, white and red,
Is given to her in charge,
And owns her as a head.
But every here and there—
Deny it if you can—
She breeds a vacant stare
Unworthy of a man:
Deny it if you can—
She breeds a vacant stare
Unworthy of a man:
A look of dull surprise;
A nerveless idle hand:
An eye which never tries
To threaten or command:
A nerveless idle hand:
An eye which never tries
To threaten or command:
In short, a kind of man,
If man indeed he be,
As worthy of our ban
As any that we see:
If man indeed he be,
As worthy of our ban
As any that we see:
Unspeakably obtuse,
Abominably vain,
Of very little use,
And execrably plain.
Abominably vain,
Of very little use,
And execrably plain.
Lapsus calami | ||