STANLEY AFRICANUS!
Mr. Punch loquitur:—
"Mr. Stanley, I presume!" Well, the crowd will fuss and fume,
From the mob you'll get, no doubt, a noisy greeting:;
But I'm pleased to take your hand on the threshold of the land;
This is truly a most gratifying meeting!
Nay, no need for you to blush, for I am not going to gush
There are plenty who'll indulge in fuss and flummery.
Heroes like to be admired, but you'll probably be tired
Of tall-talk ere this spring greenery shows summery.
"An illustrious pioneer," says the Belgian King. 'Tis clear
That at any rate you've earned that appellation.
True words tell, though tattlers twist 'em, and a "mighty fluvial system"
You have opened up no doubt to civilisation.
Spreading tracts of territory 'tis your undisputed glory
To have footed for the first time (save by savages),
The result will be that Trade will there supersede the raid
Of the slaver, and the ruthless chieftain's ravages.
That is useful work well done, and it hasn't been all fun,
As you found in that huge awful tract of forest,
And you must have felt some doubt of your chance of winning out
Of all perils when your need was at the sorest.
Mortal sickness now and then, and the pranks of lesser men,
Must have tried your iron health and steely temper.
But, like Scipio of old, you 're as patient as you're bold,
And you turn up tough and timely, idem semper!
Stanley Africanus! Yes, that's a fitting name, I guess,
For as stout a soul as Publius Cornelius;
And now, probably, there's no man will not dub you "noblest Roman,"
Though you once had many a foeman contumelious.
Have them still? Oh yes, no doubt; but just now they'll scarce speak out
In a tone to mar the laudatory chorus:
Though when once they've had a look, Henry mine, in your Big Book,
They with snips, and snaps, and snarls, are sure to bore us.
Well, that will not matter much if you only keep in touch
With all that is humane, and wise, and manly.
Your time has been well spent in that huge Dark Continent,
And all England's word to-day is, "Welcome, Stanley!"
