"L'UNION FAIT LA—FARCE!"
["France turns from her abandoned friends afresh And soothes the Bear that prowls for patriot flesh."
—Campbell.]
Yes, history here doth repeat itself verily!
Fancy fair France, in Republican rig,
"Soothing the Bear" again; footing it merrily
In—well now, what is the name of this jig?
Cancan, or Carmagnole? Blend of the two?
Anyhow, 'tis a most strange "Pas de Deux"!
Policy makes pride and principles plastic,
And 'tis most true that extremes often meet;
Yet as a sample of joint "Light Fantastic"
This dual dance must be baddish to beat.
Beauty and Beast vis-à-vis in the dance,
Were scarce funnier partners than Russia and France.
Autocrat Bruin, can he really relish
The larkish high-kick, the tempestuous twirl,
That risky Republican dances embellish?
And she—a political "Wallflower," poor girl!—
Can she truly like the strange partner that fate
Apportions her, lumpish, unlovely, and late?
Like 'Arry and 'Arriet out for a frolic,
They've interchanged head-gear, by curious hap!
Of what is this strange substitution symbolic?
The Autocrat crown and the Phrygian cap
They've "swopped," but they both most uneasily sit,
And each for the other appears a poor fit.
That Liberty cap upon Bruin's brown noddle!
That crown—much awry—on the Beauty's fair head!
Absurd! And the Bear's heavy lumbering waddle
Sorts oddly enough with the lady's light tread.
He won't get her step! Will she try to catch his?
As soon shall small beer take the sparkle of fizz.
Is she "soothing the Bear"—with a show of lip-honey?
Is he flattering the Bee—with an eye on the hive?
Sting hidden, claws sheathed—for how long? Well, 'tis funny,
This queer little game, whilst they keep it alive!
Dance-partnership is not "for better for worse,"
And "union of hearts" sometimes smacks of—the purse.
"Twos and Threes" is a game to the playground familiar!
"Two's Company!" Yes, so, in this case, are Three!
Alliances frequently made willy-nilly are
Dual or Triple. The Eagles we see
Foregather; so may they not meet—in the dance—
The Big Northern Beast and the Beauty of France?