THE SWORD OF SONG 
6
We’ll have the ham to logic’s sandwich 
Of indignation: last bread bland, which 
After our scorn of God’s lust, terror, hate, 
Prometheus-fired, we’ll butter, perorate 
With oiled indifference, laughter’s silver: 
“Omne hoc verbum valet nil, vir” ! 
 
Let me help Babu Chander Grish up ! 
As by a posset of Hunyadi38 
Clear mind!  Was Soudan of the Mahdi 
Not cleared by Kitchener ?  Ah, Tchhup ! 
Such nonsense for sound truth you dish up, 
Were I magician, no mere cadi, 
Not Samuel’s ghost you’d make me wish up, 
Nor Saul’s (the mighty son of Kish) up, 
But Ingersoll’s or Bradlaugh’s, pardie ! 
By spells and caldron stews that squish up, 
Or purifying of the Nadi39 
Till Stradivarius or Amati 
Shriek in my stomach !  Sarasate, 
Such strains !  Such music as once Sadi 
Made Persia ring with !  I who fish up 
No such from soul may yet cry: Vade 
Retro, Satanas !  Tom Bond Bishop !40 
 
You old screw, Pegasus !  Gee (Swish !) up ! 
(To any who correctly rhymes41 
With Bishop more than seven times 
I hereby offer as emolum- 
Ent, a bound copy of this volume.) 
 
These strictures must include the liar 
Copleston,42 Reverend F. B. Meyer, 
(The cock of the Dissenter’s midden, he !) 
And others of the self-same kidney:— 
How different from Sir Philip Sidney ! 
But “cave os, et claude id, ne 
Vituperasse inventus sim.” 
In English let me render him! 
’Ware mug, and snap potato-trap! 
Or elsely it may haply hap 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aim of poet. 
Indignation of 
poet.  Poet 
defies his uncle. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Whip and spur. 
Sporting offer. 
The Times Com- 
petition 
outdone. 
 
 
Sub-species of 
genus Christian 
included in 
poet’s strictures. 
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