A STUDY HOUR.

Oh! what a mystery

The study is of history!

How the kings go ravaging

And savaging about!

Plantagenet or Tudor,

I can’t tell which was ruder;

But Richard Third,

Upon my word,

Was worst of all the rout.

Alfred was a hero,

Knew no guile nor fear, oh!

Beat the Danes and checked the Thanes,

And ruled the country well.

Edward First, the Hammer,

Was a slaughterer and slammer,

And Bruce alone

Saved Scotland’s throne,

When ’neath his blows it fell.

Edward Third was great, too,

Early fought and late, too;

Drove the French

From Cressy’s trench

Like leaves before the blast.

But Harry Fifth, the glorious,

He the all-victorious,

He’s the one

I’d serve alone,

From first unto the last.

Oh! what a mystery

The study is of history!

Queens and kings,

And wars and things,

All done in black and white.

Though sometimes a trifle bloody,

’Tis my best beloved study,

For only so

One learns, you know,

To govern and to fight!