Fear no unlicensed entry, Heed no bombastic talk, While guards the British Sentry Pall Mall and Birdcage Walk. Let European thunders Occasion no alarms, Though diplomatic blunders May cause a cry "To arms!" Sleep on, ye pale civilians; All thunder-clouds defy: On Europe's countless millions The Sentry keeps his eye! Should foreign-born rapscallions In London dare to show Their overgrown battalions, Be sure I'll let you know. Should Russians or Norwegians Pollute our favoured clime With rough barbaric legions, I'll mention it in time. So sleep in peace, civilians, The Continent defy; While on its countless millions The Sentry keeps his eye! [Illustration] THE CUNNING WOMAN On all Arcadia's sunny plain, On all Arcadia's hill, None were so blithe as BILL and JANE, So blithe as JANE and BILL. No social earthquake e'er occurred To rack their common mind: To them a Panic was a word-- A Crisis, empty wind. No Stock Exchange disturbed the lad With overwhelming shocks-- BILL ploughed with all the shares he had, JANE planted all her stocks. And learn in what a simple way Their pleasures they enhanced-- JANE danced like any lamb all day, BILL piped as well as danced. Surrounded by a twittling crew, Of linnet, lark, and thrush, BILL treated his young lady to This sentimental gush: "Oh, JANE, how true I am to you! How true you are to me! And how we woo, and how we coo! So fond a pair are we! "To think, dear JANE, that anyways, Your chiefest end and aim Is, one of these fine summer days, To bear my humble name!" Quoth JANE, "Well, as you put the case, I'm true enough, no doubt, But then, you see, in this here place There's none to cut you out. "But, oh! if anybody came-- A Lord or any such-- I do not think your humble name Would fascinate me much. "For though your mates, you often boast You distance out-and-out; Still, in the abstract, you're a most Uncompromising lout!" [Illustration] Poor BILL, he gave a heavy sigh, He tried in vain to speak-- A fat tear started to each eye And coursed adown each cheek. For, oh! right well in truth he knew That very self-same day, The LORD DE JACOB PILLALOO Was coming there to stay! The LORD DE JACOB PILLALOO All proper maidens shun-- He loves all women, it is true, But never marries one. Now JANE, with all her mad self-will, Was no coquette--oh no! She really loved her faithful BILL, And thus she tuned her woe: