"_If, at their counsel, I should turn aside Into that ominous tract which all agree Hides the Dark Tower? If acquiescingly I do turn as they've pointed! Neither pride Nor hope rekindling at the end descried So much in gladness that some end should be._ "_Thus, I have so long suffered in this quest Heard failure prophesied so oft, been writ So many times among 'The Band'--to wit The knights who to the Dark Tower's search addressed Their steps--that just to fail as they, seemed best And all the doubt is now--shall I be fit?_ "_What in the mist lies but the Tower itself? The square squat turrets, blind as the fool's heart, Built of grey stone, without a counterpart In the whole world. The tempest's mocking elf Points to the shipman thus the unseen shelf He strikes on, only when the timbers start._" So mused CHILDE ROLAND! Chief of the white crest, With thine adventure doth the strain not fit Most strangely? Looms the Dark Tower turret-lit By autumn rays low, chilly, from the west, So waterishly wan. Oh! crowning test Of mortal valour and of human wit! Lead the Forlorn Hope on! E'en Hopes Forlorn Do not fail always. Scale the craggy height! Cheer on your clamorous followers to the fight. Citadels deemed impregnable, in scorn _Have_ mocked their rash beleaguerers at morn To see them swarm their battlements ere night. And you, your courage seems to master Fate And mock at Time. Yet Time and Fate, at last, In the greatest life-game have the latest cast. Heroic 'tis to see you, strong, elate, Heading the onset, and in _Punch's_ pate Rings the old rhyme of the romantic past. "There they stood, ranged along the hillsides--met To view the last of me, a living frame For one more picture! in a sheet of flame I saw them and I knew them all. And yet Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set And blew. '_CHILDE ROLAND to the Dark Tower came._'" * * * * * CONTRIBUTED BY ONE "_IN STATU PUPILLARI_."--Great changes are expected in Egypt. It is said that a certain well-known oculist, no, we beg his pardon, we should have described him as "Ophthalmic Surgeon," whose name is something between "Crotchet" and "Cricket," and whose recent evidence in a police-court was quite "an eye-opener" to the worthy magistrate and the prisoners, is going out to remove the First Cataract. We wish him every possible success. He will be returned for the next Parliament as the Member for Eye. * * * * * [Illustration: THE "FORLORN HOPE."] * * * * * [Illustration: _"BREEZES"_ --_in the "Daily Graphic" Office!!_