And received what he called “a staggerer.”

Indeed, as he told his friends next night,

“He soon saw that fowl would never fight,

So he instantly came the dodge polite,

And entirely dropped the swaggerer!”

Then changing his tone, “Mrs. Browne, to you

I am sure,” said he, “I ought to sue

In terms most apologetic.”

But not a whit the angry dame

Was soothed, her expression remained the same,