Come tell me, my follower good,
Of the Muscovite pranks on the Murghab’s banks,
And the banks of the Heri Rud?”
“O ay! O ay! there were some who deemed
Of your mission to Germany thus:
That you go to engage the honest brokèr
To square the advancing Russ.”
Full loud the good Lord Rosebery laughed,
And his head went to and fro;
Jack-fools are they who suppose that to-day