p of sham Liberty, the spectre wears;
But he will plunge to depths of darkness Stygian
Whom anti-civic Violence ensnares.
Plain Justice, honest Hope are good to follow,
But Insubordination, fierce and blind,
Mouthing out furious threat or promise hollow.
Is the sworn foe of civilised mankind;
Breaking up ancient bonds of love and duty,
All social links that bear abiding test,
With no sound promise of a better beauty,
A fairer justice, or a truer rest.
No; patient Labour, with its long-borne burden
And guardian Force, with its thrice-noble trust,
Claim from the State the fullest, freest guerdon,
And all wise souls, all spirits fair and just,
Must back the Great Appeal that Time advances,
And Progress justifies in this our time.
But civic Violence, in all circumstances
Now like to hap, is anti-social crime,
Foul in its birth and fatal in its issue.
Tyrannic act, incendiary speech,
Recklessly rend the subtly woven tissue
That binds Society's organs each to each.
Strong Toiler, deft Auxiliar, stalwart Warder,
Your hour has struck, your tyrants face their doom,
But let hot haste unsettle temperate order,
And Hope's bright disc will feel eclipse's gloom.
This is a lying spirit, sly and sinister,
Its promise false, its loud incitements vain.
Not to your true advantage shall it minister,
Mere Goblin Gold its glittering show of Gain:
Spectre of Chaos and the Abyss, it flutters
Before you flaunting high its foolish fire,
But there's a lie in each loud word it utters,
And its true goal is Anarchy's choking mire!

* * * * *

TIME THE AVENGER!

On the 24th of June, 1871, _Mr. Punch_ sang, _apropos_ of the Germans
desiring to purchase Heligoland--

"Though to rule the waves, we may believe they aspire,
If their Navy grow great, we must let it;
But if one British island they think to acquire,
Bless their hearts, don't they wish they may get it?"

And they _have_ got it!

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE LYING SPIRIT.]

* * * * *

A GRUMBLE FOR THE GRENADIERS.

What is this your _Punch_ hears of you? Can't you dissipate his fears?
Did the bugle ring out vainly for the British Grenadiers?
Once the regiment was famous for its deeds of derring-do,
And you followed where the flag went when on alien winds it