 | Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 |  |
132
UNSUPPORTED SUPPORTERS.
The Lion and the Unicorn,
Who deigned till very lately
The Heralds' College to adorn
On pillars tall and stately,
Who deigned till very lately
The Heralds' College to adorn
On pillars tall and stately,
Unceremoniously one day
Were hoisted from their stations,
And on the pavement left to stay,
Pending the alterations.
Were hoisted from their stations,
And on the pavement left to stay,
Pending the alterations.
The Lion sadly wanted or,
The Unicorn lacked argent,
Clearly they'd ne'er been thus before
“Depicted in the margent.”
The Unicorn lacked argent,
Clearly they'd ne'er been thus before
“Depicted in the margent.”
It therefore seemed of the offence
A serious aggravation,
That folks with arms of less pretence
Obtained full compensation,
A serious aggravation,
That folks with arms of less pretence
Obtained full compensation,
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While they, supporters of the crown
For centuries unaided,
Who had graced standards of renown,
Were to vile flags degraded.
For centuries unaided,
Who had graced standards of renown,
Were to vile flags degraded.
The Unicorn, in language strong,
The Lion laid the blame on:
“Without a growl to bear this wrong
A blot will be your fame on.
The Lion laid the blame on:
“Without a growl to bear this wrong
A blot will be your fame on.
“If of us quadrupeds you were
The king, or e'en the regent,
You would be rampant, not beg there
Like a tame poodle—sejant!
The king, or e'en the regent,
You would be rampant, not beg there
Like a tame poodle—sejant!
“As dexter 'tis your right to make
Them equal justice minister;
If I should up the matter take,
They'd call the motive sinister.
Them equal justice minister;
If I should up the matter take,
They'd call the motive sinister.
“The British lion you! my brain
Whirls round, it so provokes me!
For half-a-crown I'd break my chain,
My collar almost chokes me!
Whirls round, it so provokes me!
For half-a-crown I'd break my chain,
My collar almost chokes me!
“‘Dieu et mon droit’ no longer may
You boast as your proud motto;
‘Adieu, mon droit,’ you'd better say,
And join Parkins & Gotto.”
You boast as your proud motto;
‘Adieu, mon droit,’ you'd better say,
And join Parkins & Gotto.”
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So saying, like a vicious colt,
To cut the matter shorter,
He made a sort of demi-volt
And rumped his co-supporter.
To cut the matter shorter,
He made a sort of demi-volt
And rumped his co-supporter.
The Lion winced at the last sneer,
But only gave a whistle,
And said, “My ancient friend, I fear
You've trod upon your thistle.
But only gave a whistle,
And said, “My ancient friend, I fear
You've trod upon your thistle.
“The motto you to England brought—
Excuse me, comrade, if I sigh
To find you set it now at nought—
Was ‘BEATI PACIFICI.’
Excuse me, comrade, if I sigh
To find you set it now at nought—
Was ‘BEATI PACIFICI.’
“Prithee, don't let the Heralds see
Us thus ‘addorsed,’ good brother,
Where we in every sense should be
‘Respecting one another.’
Us thus ‘addorsed,’ good brother,
Where we in every sense should be
‘Respecting one another.’
“In youth, I'm willing to admit,
More ‘combatant’ was I, sir;
But then I'd much more pluck than wit—
I'm older now and wiser.
More ‘combatant’ was I, sir;
But then I'd much more pluck than wit—
I'm older now and wiser.
“I can complacently repose
Beneath my well-won laurels,
And mean no more to poke my nose
In everybody's quarrels.
Beneath my well-won laurels,
And mean no more to poke my nose
In everybody's quarrels.
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“Nor does it suit my present views
To roar for every trifle;
I've got—and can, if need be, use—
But won't strain my new rifle.
To roar for every trifle;
I've got—and can, if need be, use—
But won't strain my new rifle.
“You seem to have forgotten quite
The world's in constant movement;
And neither King's nor Lion's might
Can long repel improvement.
The world's in constant movement;
And neither King's nor Lion's might
Can long repel improvement.
“London of a new street had need,
And Heralds by profession
Were bound to lead, and not impede,
A grand public procession.
And Heralds by profession
Were bound to lead, and not impede,
A grand public procession.
“The posts we held were on the go,
And fallen soon had seen us;
We had nothing to support, you know—
Not one poor coat between us.
And fallen soon had seen us;
We had nothing to support, you know—
Not one poor coat between us.
“But reinstalled in the new court,
And gay with paint and gilding,
We shall our dignity support,
With that of the whole building.
And gay with paint and gilding,
We shall our dignity support,
With that of the whole building.
“Facing a street so broad and fine—
When to our seats we've vaulted—
My crown will cut a greater shine,
Your horn will be exalted.
When to our seats we've vaulted—
My crown will cut a greater shine,
Your horn will be exalted.
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“So blazon not a long dull roll
Of bickerings and bereavements;
Display the power of self-control—
The greatest of atchievements.”
Of bickerings and bereavements;
Display the power of self-control—
The greatest of atchievements.”
'Twas all in vain; the Unicorn
Was deaf to explanation,
And, with a toss up of his horn,
Declined more conversation.
Was deaf to explanation,
And, with a toss up of his horn,
Declined more conversation.
| Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 | |