But now slow sap and steady siege have wrought The conquest long delayed. The Chiefs that fought So long together, feel the touch of fate, Bow to its bidding. Calm though not elate, Swart CECIL yields him at discretion. So The garrison marches forth! But e'en the foe Gives chivalrous salute to beaten men Unshamed by forced surrender. Hail them, then, With sympathetic cheers! The white-haired Chief, Lifts hat in greeting. He, all brawn and beef, WILLIAM of Malwood, bears the banner high, But scarce looks fired, with conquest's ecstasy. JOHN of Newcastle, reins a restive horse; _He's_ none too eager for another course. The one-armed Irish Chief looks pale and grim; E'en cheery LARRY, of the cynic whim, Hath a less careless chuckle than his wont. "Beshrew me! but they bear a gallant front!" Mutter the pikemen ranged in order round. Sore-battered RITCHIE,--may he soon be sound!-- Bates not a jot of courage; that stark fighter And shifty swordsman, JOACHIM: the _Reiter_, Snuffs the air proudly; with his nose a-cock Steps JOE DE BRUM, and, steady as a rock, Strides forth Chief CECIL! Hail the beaten band, You Grand, and grey-haired, Old Campaigning Hand; For you have seen good fighting, and you know Game foemen when you see them. Conquest's glow Mantles that pallid cheek. After long strain, Victory at last is yours, nor all in vain, Perchance, although its fruits precarious be. What you will do with it, we wait to see. Meanwhile _you_'ll own the foes you've put to rout. With all war's honours unashamed march out. * * * * * [Illustration: SO MATTER-OF-FACT. _Jones_ (_who prides himself on his French_). "DESOLE, MON CHER, NOT TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR HOSPITALITY, BUT TO-NIGHT I AM DINING _EN VILLE_." _Brown_ (_who is so matter-of-fact, and never will understand Jones's French_). "DINING 'ON VEAL,' ARE YOU? WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE; IF YOU COME TO ME, YOU'LL HAVE A LEG O' MUTTON!"] * * * * * MAKE IT HOT.--Dean KITCHIN says that one of his reasons for voting for the Gladstonians is that he is "a warm Liberal." Quite so. A cold KITCHIN would be a contradiction in terms. * * * * * [Illustration: MEMBERS WE SHALL MISS. F.A. Hankey. Sir H. Tyler. M.W. Mattinson. J. Bazley White. J. Stack. The Bruce. T.L. Bristowe. Hermon-Hodge. Alfred Giles. J. Woodhead. Baron Dimsdale. T. Milvain.] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.