Sometimes a nation’s destiny By cobbler’s wax-end hangs, sir, I found myself an M. P. by M.P. rical harangues, sir, And though my “lay” was strong and bold, (For “takings” flowed in thereby) The Crown I’d cursed――I’ll now uphold, The Book Pd scorned I’ll swear by! For this should be the law, I say, And shall do to my grave, sir, A man may swear his soul away, His path to power to pave, sir. Now to our Gracious Queen, her Heir, And Protestant succession. To each I will allegiance swear (While they can keep possession), So now, sweet Commons! hear my prayer, Have pity on my grievin’, _Please_ let me on that Bible swear By Him I don’t believe in. And when I’m Lord Protector, sir, I’ll make the law to be, sir, That whatsoe’er a man shall swear, His conscience shall be free, sir. From _Blasts from Bradlaugh’s own Trumpet_, By ION. London, Houlston & Sons. ―――― THE HOUSE OF LORDS. When bluff King Hal grew tired of Kate, And sued for his divorce, sir, He cast about, and found in us His willing tools, of course, sir. What for her grief? We laughed at that, And left her in the lurch, sir, While every one of us grew fat By plunder of the Church, sir. To hold a candle to Old Nick Has ever been our way, sir, And still we’ll play the self-same trick, So long as it will pay, sir. Two other queens that underwent “The long divorce of steel,” sir―― Do you suppose that e’er we wept, Or for their fate did feel, sir? We only sought to please the King, And his worst wishes further; And gaily did our order join In each judicial murther. For us no trick was e’er too base, No crime too foul to shock, sir, Nor innocence availed to save E’en women from the block, sir. When Mary came with fire and stake Poor pious folks to kill, sir, No single protest did we make, But let her work her will, sir; But when the Church reclaimed her lands, And looked for smooth compliance, We quickly raised our armèd bands And gave her bold defiance. Thus did the Queen her error learn, To think (how gross the blunder!) That, though we let her rack and burn, We’d e’er restore our plunder.