THE PREMIER'S LAMENT.
I'll be in the House quite early, you come later, Herbie dear,
This night will be the hardest in the Cabinet's career;
Of all our mad career, Herbie, the hardest, horridest night,
For the Vote of Censure's on us, and the Opposition fight.
* * * * *
O, sweet's the docile Liberal who never wants to rise.
And sweeter still the Radical who shuns the Speaker's eyes,
And sweet are dumb majorities, and men who silent stay,
For the hardest things to listen to are what our friends all say.
* * * * *
There's Parnell's lot, my Herbie, that wretched Irish crew;
Don't go and say I said so, this is confidence for you:
I've done my best to catch them, and gain their solid vote;
But Trevelyan's such a blunderer, he's always at their throat.
* * * * *
So I will go down early, you come down after, Herbie dear;
To-morrow may be the saddest day of this our sad fifth year.
I've felt some twinges sometimes of conscience and of gout;
But the painfullest of all would be to know that we're turned out.
The Evening News, February 18, 1884.