May outstrip a surrendering wire;

Our allies and our foes are already at blows,

And the fat’s in the Afghan fire.”

The Saturday Review. April 11, 1885.

——:o:——

A BALLAD OF THE GREAT ELECTION BATTLE.

December, 1885.

(Some way after
Drayton’s Ballad of Agincourt.
)

Fair stood the wind (we thought),

Ere the great fight was fought,