Compromise or no compromise, that is――one _must_ of course quote from _Hamlet_ just now――the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind――I mean the Marquis――to suffer the Franchise Bill to pass, or to take arms against the Commons, and, by opposing, end the Lords――or mend them. To speak, to vote――no more; and by a vote to end the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks their Lordships have of late received. To vote, perchance to lose the day. Ay, there’s the rub; for in that loss what――――? But it’s quite impossible to go on any longer in this strain. In fact, the strain’s too much. Perhaps it will prove too much for his Lordship. ’Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished! _Funny Folks_, Nov. 1, 1884. ――――:o:―――― WHETHER MARRIED LADIES OUGHT TO DANCE? To dance, or not to dance: that is the question: Whether ’tis better in the matron to avoid The turns and whirls of an outrageous waltz, And to take arms against the steps of ball-rooms, And by opposing, shirk them? To skip; to whirl; No more. And for a dame to say, she’ll not thus end The day, and all the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to――it is a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To skip――to whirl―― To reel; perchance to fall: ay! there’s the rub; For in that fall what sad mishaps may come, If not to shuffle off her mortal coil, Must give her pause. Then to reflect―― Whether a dance is necessary to her life Why should she bear the wheels and turns of time The orchestra inflicts, her partner’s impetuosity, The pangs of dissipated time, the late hours’ delay, The rotation of the ball-room, and the chills That she may feel, when she departure takes, When she herself might her quietus make By her own fireside? Who would fardels bear, And puff and stew under a gas-lit roof, Did she not think there’s something pleasant there―― Some undiscover’d measure, from whence to charm With renew’d returns, puzzles the will And makes her bear the pills and draughts, Or fly to other drugs she knows not of? So conscience may cause refrain from all And thus the native hue of resolution Is sickled o’er with the pale cast of thought, And entertainments of great glare and moment, With less regard, the current of her thoughts May turn away, and lose the name of action. THE SWAN’S GHOST (_Second Appearance_). _Judy_, December 13, 1871. ――――:o:―――― HAMLET IN A STATE OF LIQUOR.