The Prize of Two Guineas will accordingly be given for the _Best Ballade_, written on any Social Subject, in accordance with the following rules:――The _Ballade_ in its normal type, consists of three stanzas of eight lines each, followed by a verse of four lines, which is called the “envoy”――or of three verses of ten lines, with an “envoy” of five lines, each of the stanzas and the “envoy” closing with the same line, known as the “refrain.” In this instance, a _Ballade_ of the former length is asked for――viz.; one with three eight-lined stanzas and a four-lined “envoy.” But it will be, perhaps, a better guide for competitors if I print here a _Ballade_ as a model on which they are to form the ones they compose. Here, then, is a well-known _Ballade_ by Mr. Austin Dobson, which must be followed so far as the arrangement of rhymes goes. The metre, though, of the _Ballade_ often varies, and competitors are not bound to use the same metre as that employed in the subjoined specimen. ON A FAN THAT BELONGED TO THE MARQUISE DE POMPADOUR. Chicken-skin, delicate, white, Painted by Carlo Vanloo, Loves in a riot of light, Roses and vaporous blue; Hark to the dainty _frou-frou_! Picture above, if you can, Eyes that could melt as the dew, This was the Pompadour’s fan. See how they rise at the sight, Thronging the _Œil de Bœuf_ through. Courtiers as butterflies bright. Beauties that Fragonard drew, _Talon-rouge_, falbala, queue, Cardinal, Duke――to a man, Eager to sigh or to sue―― This was the Pompadour’s fan. Ah! but things more than polite Hung on this toy, _voyez vous_! Matters of state and of might, Things that great Ministers do; Things that, may be, overthrew Those in whose brain they began, Here was the sign and the cue, This was the Pompadour’s fan! _Envoy._ Where are the secrets it knew Weavings of plot and of plan? But where is the Pompadour too?―― _This_ was the Pompadour’s fan? AUSTIN DOBSON. A very large number of replies were sent in, and examples were printed in _Truth_, February 23, and March 8, 1888. Although they cannot be called true parodies, yet two of the _Ballades_ are so interesting as imitations that they are inserted. The first being that to which the prize was awarded, written by Mr. J. C. Woods, of Swansea, and the second written by Mr. F. B. Doveton, of Eastbourne. A BALLADE OF THE GROSVENOR GALLERY. Art, fled from earth, Sir Coutts and Co. Lured back to hold her state benign, With all the newest masters know Of magic colour, nude design, Set in soft shade or mellow shine Of dexterous curtain, clouded pane, And tricked men so to deem, in fine, Restored her grand Saturnian reign.