one but dullards. Peace, Goodfellowship, Wit! By my
bauble, a triad that PYTHAGORAS himself might have favoured! Talking
of Threes, Kaiser, it's your third visit to us--and, believe me, you
are thrice welcome.

_Emperor_. "Yea, and I thank your pretty sweet wit for it. But
look you, pray, all you that kiss my lady Peace at home" (as _Jack
Falstaff_ put it), that--you gird not too suspiciously at those who
would fain embrace her abroad!

_Mr. Punch_. Well quoted, Sir, though not directed to _mine_ address.
But "A good wit will make use of anything. I will turn diseases to
commodity." Two diseases of the time are, faction and fussiness--the
one a fever, the other a prurigo. The one makes little of greatness,
the other makes much of littleness. You have been the mark of both,
young Hohenzollern!

_Emperor_. "An't please you, it is the disease of not listening, the
malady of not marking, that _I_ am troubled withal."

_Mr. Punch_. _Falstaff_ again, and pertinently applied. Fitly did the
Fat Knight say that he was not only witty himself, but the cause that
wit is in other men.

_Prince_. By cock and pye, _Poins_,--_Punch_ I mean--am _I_ to be out
of this tournament of tags, this joust of quotations? Marry, not so!

[_Grasps the EMPEROR's hand cordially._

"The Prince of WALES doth join with all the world
In praise of--Kaiser WILHELM; by my hopes,
I do not think a braver gentleman,
More active-valiant, or more valiant-young,
More daring, or more bold, is now alive
To grace this latter age with noble deeds."

_Mr. Punch_. Bravo! "Delivered with good respect." Your Royal Highness
has fairly capped us! _Harry Monmouth_, KAISER, could not more fitly
have

"Trimmed up your praises with a princely tongue;
Spoke your deserving like a chronicle."

and _Harry Hotspur_ less deserved the praise.

_Emperor_. "I will imitate the honourable Romans in brevity." I can
but thank you both! (_To the PRINCE._)

"By heavens, I cannot flatter; I defy
The tongues of soothers; but a braver place
In my heart's love hath no man than yourself."

_Mr. Punch_. That's as it should be. If 'twere not always wholly
so--but no matter! I love not to speak in needless or heedless
dispraise of dignities, of "Shouting Emperors," or "Madcap Princes,"
but rather--

"As in reproof of many tales devised,--
Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear,--
By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers."

Sweet WILL