Far South, beneath (I hope) a stainless sky

The pregnant news shall find me, rather late,

Powerless to watch the ball with steadfast eye

Through sheer distraction as to Ulster's fate.

Fain would I have upon my well-pricked ear

Such tidings fall as prove that party pride

Yields with a mutual grace. And yet I fear

These desperadoes on the Liberal side—

Bill Byles (for one), the Bradford Buccaneer.

"Pass"—so he boldly writes—"the Bill and take