Secretary for War. “AH, YOUR MAJESTY HAD IN YOUR TIMES NO TIMES TO RECKON WITH!”]

* * * * *

TIMES CHANGE.

    ["The ‘Ranges Act’ constitutes ... a standing menace to rights
    of common wherever commons and open spaces exist.”—­The
    Times.]

  “The old order changes, yielding place to new.” 
    By Phoebus, you are right, mellifluous TENNYSON! 
  Could Norman WILLIAM this conjuncture view,
    He’d greet our Progress with—­well, scarce a benison;
  He, though ranked high ’midst monarchs and commanders,
  Had the same weakness as our troops in Flanders.

  ROBERT the Devil’s ruthless son would clear
    A county to make coverts, deer-runs, chaces. 
  What had he thought of modern notions queer
    Concerning Common Rights and Open Spaces? 
  “The People—­who are varlets!—­still oppose them,
  Whether the Powers that be make or enclose them!”

  “The People versus Powers that Be!” Ah, yes! 
    Imperious Norman, that’s a modern trial
  That’s always being argued more or less;
    The Press keeps now such vigilant espial
  On every grasping would-be public plunderer. 
  You, Sire, had not to reckon with “The Thunderer!”

  Times change, stark soldier, and we have the Times
    Premier to check and snub Chief Secretaries. 
  Counting land-grabbing high among earth’s crimes
    Would have amazed you!  Public judgment varies. 
  You and your wolf-hound, WILLIAM, would not now
  Try a “clean sweep,”—­without a general row.

  Ask OTTO!  He is somewhat in your style,
    But he could tell you what new risks environ
  The ancient art of Ruling.  You may smile
    At Print and Paper versus Blood and Iron,
  But Sovereign and Crown, though loved by many,
  Stand now no chance against the Popular Penny.

  Ask Malwood’s Squire again!  He knows right well
    The New Democracy,—­and the New Forest;
  Our great Plantagenet, a true blue “Swell,”
    Fights for the People when their need is sorest. 
  In Norman BILLY he’d own small belief;
  The People’s WILLIAM is his favourite chief.

  Your ghostly presence in these verdant glades
    Might startle STANHOPE, musing on his Ranges,
  But not the angriest of Royal Shades
    May now arrest the progress of Time’s changes. 
  True, much is yielded yet to Swelldom’s “Sport,”
  But some aver that even its time is short.

  No, Clearances and Rights of Common, now
    Own not the sway of autocrats capricious. 
  Small use, great Shade, to knit that haughty brow,
    And swear your action would be expeditious. 
  The days of Curfew and of Forest Law
  Are passed. We’re swayed by Justice—­and Free Jaw!

* * * * *