I sez to a party beside me, "Old man, wot the doose does it mean?"

Sez he, "A dry attic, yer know, of wich Venice, yer see, wos the Queen.

That cove in a nightcap's the Doge; for an old 'un he can move about.

They had G.O.M.'s, mate, in Venice; of that there is not the least doubt.

"That's VETTORE PISANI, the Hadmiral; t'other is General ZENO

Defending the State, I persoom, and they're 'aving a fust-class old beano.

Wy PEDRO THE SECOND, of Cyprus, and Portia is made a rum blend

With Turps Siccory's Revels, and so on, no doubt we shall twig at the hend."

I sez, "Thankee! that's werry instructive. You do know a lot, mate, you do!"

Then the fight at Chioggia came on. Sech a rum pully-haully all through.