*  *  *  *  *

But Gladstone’s brow was sad,

And Gladstone’s speech was trite:

“The Land League take King Mensa!

We do not want to fight.”

He looked upon the telegram

They gave him, with a frown:

“I fear ’t will send my Budget up,

And I want to keep it down.”

Then spake Coercion Forster,