the 'unt.
Lor! 'ow they did scoot up and down that there stage at the
double, old man,
All their legs on the waggle, like flies, and their armour a-chink
as they ran!

Old _Shylock_ turns up quite permiskus, and always upon the full
trot;
He seemed mixed up with Portias, and Doges, smart gals, and the
dickens knows wot.
All kep waving their arms like mad semy-phores, doin' the akrybat
prank,
As if they was swimming in nothink, or 'ailing a 'bus for the Bank.

I sez to a party beside me, "Old man, wot the doose does it _mean_?"
Sez he, "A dry attic, yer know, of wich Venice, yer see, wos the
Queen.
That cove in a nightcap's the Doge; for an old 'un he _can_ move
about.
They had G.O.M.'s, mate, in Venice; of that there is not the least
doubt.

"That's VETTORE PISANI, the Hadmiral; t'other is General ZENO
Defending the State, I persoom, and they're 'aving a fust-class
old beano.
Wy PEDRO THE SECOND, of Cyprus, and _Portia_ is made a rum blend
With Turps Siccory's Revels, and so on, no doubt we shall twig at
the hend."

I sez, "Thankee! that's werry instructive. You _do_ know a lot,
mate, _you_ do!"
Then the fight at Chioggia came on. Sech a rum pully-haully all
through.
But the Victory Percession wos proper, and so was the All Frisky
_feet_,
And the way as they worked the gondolers, them streaky-legged
chaps, wos a treat.

But the best o' the barney came arter. I took a gondoler, old man,
Sort o' wobbly black coffin afloat, and perpelled on the rummiest
plan
With one oar and a kind of notched post. But a dressy young party
in pink
'Ad a seat in my ship, and seemed skeery. _I_ cheered 'er up--wot
do _you_ think?

"No danger," sez I, "not a mossel! Now is there, old lollipop-legs?
Sit 'ere, Miss, and trim the old barky! Go gently now, young
'Am-and-Eggs!
'Ow much for yer mustard-striped kicksies? Way-oh! Wy, you nearly
run down
The Ryhalto that time, you young josser. Look hout, Miss, he'll
crack your sweet crown!"

_Larf_, CHARLIE? She did a fair chortle. I _'ave_ sech a way with
the shes.
We 'ad six sixpennorths together--I tell you 'twos go-as-you-please!
Modern Venice, took out of a toy-box, with palaces fourteen foot
'igh.