Tennyson's blank verse has seldom been more successfully imitated than in The Very Last Idyll, written by Shirley Brooks for "Punch's Pocket Book," it concludes thus:—
"And the blameless king,
Rising again (to Lancelot's discontent,
Who held all speeches a tremendous bore),
Said, "If one duty to be done remains,
And 'tis neglected, all the rest is nought
But Dead Sea apples and the acts of apes."
Smiled Guinevere, and begged him not to preach;
She knew that duty, and it should be done:
So what of pudding on that festal night