Who hailed their birth, who as they die decays?
This—England echoes his attesting voice;
Wondrous and well—thanks Ancient Thou of days.
A correspondent, who is not a member of the Browning Society, thinks that the following quatrain might be substituted,—
Seventy-five years! Wherein do they rejoice
Who read his work, who, as he writes, decays?
This—plain folk echo their protesting voice—
“Wondrous! but no more, thanks! old thou of days.”
——:o:——
On page 103, Volume 5 of this Collection some extracts were given from “The Poets at Tea” a series of short parodies which appeared in The Cambridge Fortnightly, for February 7, 1888. The three following verses, which were then omitted, may be given here:—