 | Pleasant Odes |  |
91
Sir Edward Grey.
93
I.
My dear Sir Edward,—
The copy-books beautifully remark:
“'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good,”
And I think Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's cold,
Which we all deplored,
Has, on the whole,
Been rather a good thing for you.
94
II.
“Chance,” say the wise,“Is a fine horse;”
Some men can ride her,
Some men can't:
You, Sir Edward,
Are evidently an equestrian;
Your seat in the saddle
At Nottingham
Some months back
Excited the admiration
Of all beholders,
Including the Daily News
And Dr. Spence Watson—
“Nay, do not blush, pretty one!”
95
III.
That last line, by the way—A really striking line, don't you think?—
May be original,
Or it may be “lifted”:
I have a sort of recollection
Of having seen it in print before,
Hence its appearance between quotation marks:
I am poor, but honest.
96
IV.
To return, however, to the matter in hand:On the strength of your Nottingham speech
The Daily News proclaimed you to be a youth of rare “character”
(How kind, eh?),
And Dr. Spence Watson
Set you down in his tablets
For “a brave, true, and honest man”—
Pretty one, I adjure you, once again, not to blush!
97
V.
In fine,The Daily News
And Dr. Spence Watson
Discovered you—
Thanks, of course, to Sir H. C.-B.s cold!
98
VI.
For my own part,I knew you for a piece of budding greatness
(It hurts me to keep you on the blush,
But duty must be done)—
I knew you for a piece of budding greatness, I say,
The very first time I clapped eyes on you,
And that was neither yesterday nor last week.
Ever since, I have kept saying to myself:
“I wonder when he will blossom?
When will people find out what a wonderfully sane little statesman it is?
When will the flo'ing tide take him to its broad bosom
And cast him triumphantly, and with one fell cast,
Right onto the golden sands of popularity?”
99
VII.
And at length the thing came to pass!A band, hired by the National Liberal Federation,
Played “See the Conquering Hero Comes” in front of you
(Believe me, there is absolutely no reason to blush);
There were rejoicings, and cheerings, and scenes of wild enthusiasm,
And whereas of old you sat cheek by jowl with the ruck,
To-day you are as “up” as Delagoa Bay stock—
Thanks to your own merit—
And the cold
Of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.
100
VIII.
I am of opinion, Sir Edward,That you are going to do considerable things for the Liberal party;
You have given it hope and inspiration already;
Give it more:
It needs it.
Continue in the good path,
Nail your colours to the mast,
Go in bald-headed and for all you are worth,
And, perhaps—
One can never tell, you know—
The Liberal party may succeed in extracting
A backbone
Out of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's
Cold.
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