Classic Poem

" SAY , whose can yonder chariot be
That thunders on so fast;
And who was he that sat within?
I marked him as he past. "

" 'Twas Arthur, Duke of Wellington,
Who in that chariot sat,
All in his martial cloak, and in
His proudly-plumed cocked-hat "

" Not Arthur, Duke of Wellington,
That poster fierce could be,
Nor yet a living nobleman.
Some Demon Duke is he "

" 'Twas he — to Folkestone he is bound,
To town by rail to wend;
Wherefrom to Windsor he must hie,
A Council to attend "

With whizz and whistle, snort and puff,
The Duke is borne to town,
Nor stops until near London Bridge
The train hath set him down.

There waits a brougham on Wellington:
To Apsley House he flies,
Whereat a messenger in red
Doth meet his Grace's eyes.

" How now, thou scarlet messenger;
Thy tidings briefly tell "
" The Queen invites your Grace to dine
To-morrow. "
" Very well "

To Paddington by cab, to Slough
By steam — away, away!
To Windsor, thence, he goes by fly;
But there he must not stay —

For that his Grace at Walmer hath
A tryst this night to keep;
And he hath warned his serving-men
He shall be back to sleep

The Council's o'er; back posts his Grace,
As fast as fast might be.
Hurrah! hurrah! well speeds the Duke —
He'll be in time for tea.

The morrow comes; again away
The noble Duke is gone
To Folkestone, and to London Bridge,
And thence to Paddington.

" Away, away to Paddington,
As fast as ye can drive;
'Twixt eight and nine the Queen doth dine:
Be there by half-past five "

Fast have they fled, right fleetly sped,
And Paddington is won.
" How, office-swain, about the train? "
" 'Tis just this instant gone. "

" Your Grace, we just have missed the train,
It grieveth me to say "
" To Apsley House! " then cried the Duke,
" As quickly as you may. "

The loud halloo of " Go it, you! "
Beneath the gas-light's glare,
O'er wood and stone they rattle on,
As fast as they can tear.

On, on they went, with hue and cry,
Until the Duke got home,
The axle-trees on fire well nigh,
The horses in a foam

Out stepp'd the Duke, serene and cool,
And calmly went upstairs,
And donn'd the dress, the which, at Court,
He generally wears.

" Windsor I may not reach in time
To make my toilet there;
So thus the hour I will employ,
Which I, perforce, must spare.

" What is't o'clock? " " Your Grace, near seven. "
" Then bear me hence again;
And mark me — this time take good care
You do not miss the train. "

Off, off again, the coachman drives,
With fury fierce and fell,
'Mid whoop and shout from rabble rout,
And oath, and scream, and yell.

To right and left a way they cleft
Amid the bustling throng;
While, meteor-like, the carriage-lamps
Flash'd as they flew along.

Hurrah! Hurrah! the station's nigh
" What ho, there! Shout amain!
Here comes the Duke, he's going down;
Give word to stop the train. "

The engineer and stoker hear;
Duke Arthur takes his place;
Behold him now, on way to Slough,
Borne at a whirlwind's pace.

" At Slough who stops? " His Grace out pops,
His ticket is resigned.
" To Windsor haste, like felon chased,
Or I shall be behind. "

Off bounds the hack, while, far aback,
The night-hawk plies his wing;
The race is run, the Castle's won,
" Come, this is just the thing. "

At half-past eight, for Queens don't wait,
The noble guests appear
In banquet-hall; and of them all
The Duke brings up the rear.


MORAL.


" 'Tis money, " as the proverb says,
" That makes the mare to go "
The Duke has cash to cut a dash;
Would we could all do so!