‘O Damn those Commissaries! what a disaster,

‘They’ve brought us down, you see, to Lath & Plaster.

‘But, “Vive la guerre,” ’tis useless to repine.’

So on they March, and in the pursuit join.

Now rapidly they on the vanquish’d prest,

Snatching at intervals a hasty rest.

Day after Day, and frequently all Night,

They speed to check the Frenchmen in their flight:

When luckily for John, an order came

To Halt—for John was wearied, & poor Dobbin lame.