To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis prudent for the House to suffer The fierce, protracted, venomous discussion, Or to shake off the coils of this agreement, And for the present waive it? To win: to lose What more? entail defeat and ne’er regain The faith, esteem, and people’s confidence That we are used to, ’tis humiliation Liberals must avoid. To win, to lose; To lose the love of France: ay, there’s the rub; For with that loss of love what may arise When we’ve insulted her, and can’t retract, Must give us pause; there is the chance To shake our alliance of so long time. And who would have to bear the blame of all? The enormous loan, the widespread disapproval, The present shareholders, the law against us, The snubs when out of office, and the hate Of all our vast commercial agencies, When he in time can extricate himself Without a blemish? Who would these risks incur To put the test under an adverse fire, But with the hope that some good may arise? The overgrowing country from whose shores The mariner departs, enters the mind And makes us rather look ahead to-day Than lie asleep whilst others claim the palm. Yet second thoughts are wiser, after all; And thus my former full determination Gives way before the strong opposing force; The enterprise, though great and costly also, I still regard, but now must turn away Amidst dissatisfaction. The four following parodies, on the same topic, were also printed:――