“Will your Majesty deign to say whether you desire to be answered with rhyme and reason or without rhyme or reason?”
“Whichever seemeth best unto thee, oh seer!”
“Then, seriously speaking, I would say that if a point of view be taken, such as those who take points of view, with a view to getting the point of view, that brings best into view the true view of the point, which ought to be kept in view, in the view of getting at the point——”
“Oh, stop, stop, stop!” cried the king; “which is that—‘with’ or ‘without’?”
“‘Without,’ sire,” answered the seer.
VAIN SOOTHE SAYING.
“Then, for pity’s sake, let us have with, if it will save us from being compassed with so many points. I feel pricked all over.”
Your Majesty shall be obeyed,
Although in sooth I am afraid,
A pointless rhyme is not the thing