CARON AND CHARON.

MAJOR LE CARON! Major! True, a greater

Or more accomplished spy who ever knew?

And so original! In fact, the pater

Of all deception yields the palm to You!

Courageous, honest, crafty, how you met

Wile with wile wilier! And then, forsooth,

You so transformed yourself to suit each set,

That it is praise to say, "you lied like truth!"

And in an honest cause! Renown'd Ulysses,

That craftiest hero yields to you in guile.

You touch the gold! You're not the man who misses

A chance! You caught the wariest with your smile!

"CARON!" The "h" is dropped, or we could fix

(And so we can if Greek the name we make)

You as the ancient Ferryman of Styx,

Punting the Ghosts across the Stygian lake.

The simile is nearly perfect, note,

For you, with your Conspirators afloat,

Were, as you've shown us, all in the same boat.