“Yet will I speak him fair;

“And show in my despatches

“A Minister’s wise care,

“To save him from the bad Zebehr,

“And from the Mahdi too;

“And praise him, while we leave him

“To sink with all his crew!”

“Aye! curse it,” quoth Spectator,

“Why raise a hand to save

“The friends he’s gathered round him;