The Shah-in-Shah
The last of the lions of this period was the Shah. The lion-hunting of Royalties was always offensive to Punch; it is frequently castigated throughout this period, and here it reached a pitch which moved "the Democritus of Fleet Street" to explosions of sardonic and mirthless laughter. There is true satire in the bitter lines headed, "The Shah's Impressions," in the issue of July 12, 1873:—
Yes! Shah-in-Shah in truth I must be
Or why this fuss of the Feringhee?[15]
Why all these hosts my steps that crowd,
With bows so low and cheers so loud?
If the Inglees Queen, so great among princes
All this respect for me evinces;
If the Tsarevitch, when I appear
Falls flat as the flattest of bitter beer;