The King is cross, and knows not what he says. What record, or what relic of my lord, Should be to aftertime, but empty breath Condensed in Hansard's books? But were this kept, Preserved in some Mechanics' Institute, It might be brought out by some lecturer, Saying, 'King Guillaume's axe, Exbrummagem, With which he cut down trees at Hawarden!' So might he illustrate a stupid speech To all the people, winning reverence." So spake he, thinking of constituents, And kept Exbrummagem for future use. * * * * * Then came Sir Donald, gave the King his arm, And brought him to the margin of the sea. And at his call there hove a roomy barge, Manned with a gallant crew from stem to stern; And so they entered, and put off, and reached The stately _Pembroke Castle_, and were ware That all the decks were dense with manly forms In naval caps and jackets, and with these Three dames in yachting suits; and from them rose A cheer of greeting, and they stretched their hands, Took him on board, and laughed, and petted him. And so they sailed; and while the sea was calm They talked, and sang, and feasted much, and had, In Yankee parlance, "quite a high old time." But when the wind blew, and the waves arose, It sometimes happened that the grand old face Was white and colourless, and cries of "Steward!" Proceeded from the lips of eloquence. And like a prostrate oak-tree lay the King Wrapped in a shepherd's plaid and mackintosh: Not like that Guillaume who, with collars high, From brow to boot a meteor of debate, Shot through the lists at Westminster, and charged The serried ranks of bold Conservatives. _The St. James's Gazette_, Sept. 19, 1883. * * * * * In the same 1842 volume, appeared "Godiva," "Locksley Hall," "Break, Break, Break," and "The Eagle," of each of which there are some excellent parodies.--The old legend of Lady Godiva, so beautifully retold in blank verse by the Laureate, has recently been sadly vulgarised by the processions at Coventry, and the following poem describes, not unfairly, the scene in which a somewhat prominent actress stooped to sustain the part of the _Lady Godiva_. THE MODERN LADY GODIVA. _I journeyed by the train to Coventry; I pleased a groom with porter near the bridge, And asked which way the pageant came; and then I saw it pass--'twas passing strange--and this Is what they've turned the City's legend to._ Not even were it to remove a tax Could a Godiva ride abroad to-day As she rode forth a thousand summers back: Lord Campbell's Act, and Collette both forbid! Still did the people clamour for a show; So was it settled there should be forthwith A pageant such as Coventry did love.