But your Militant Tories are spouting next door,

’Neath the peaceable ægis of Canning.”

“While here, Father William,” the young men cried,

“At Benjamin’s baseness you rave;

But like Balaam when called on the Jew to confound,

At Westminster blessings you gave.”

“At Oxford, my sons,” Father William replied,

“I smote with my staff, I’m aware;

But I spoke to the Asses in Westminster Hall,

For I knew they could answer me there.”