Chamberlain, in his controversy with Sir
W. Harcourt on the place of Home Rule in the Gladstonian
programme._]
_Faithful Unionist Sentry, loquitur_:--
Faith! yes, a dilemma, no doubt, is _the_ thing
To stagger Big Bounce, in a fashion Socratic.
I fancy I know now to plant a sharp sting,
The success of my bayonet-play is emphatic.
Remember a picture I once chanced to see,
A Pompeian sentinel posed at a portal,
And "faithful to death" though fire threatened. That's Me!
As my country's defender, my fame is immortal.
Yes, the Sentinel's _role_ suits my style passing well;
The enemy won't find me napping or nodding.
But what I _most_ like as I do sentry spell,
Is the fine opportunity offered for--prodding!
I watch like a lynx, as a sentry should do,
With an eye like a hawk, and a smile sweet as syrup;
But when there's a chance for 'a thrust--whirraroo!
My bayonet-point is agog for a stir up!
JOE, the Sentry, you know, like _Joe Bagstock_, is sly,
Ay, "devilish sly,"--if I may speak profanely.
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