It was a gallant Irishman, and thus I heard him sing—­
  “To legislate at Westminster’s a dull decorous thing: 
  But O in merry Austria’s deliberative hall,
  Bedad, the fun and divilment is simply kolossal!

  “No base procedure rules restrain those wild untutored Czechs,
  They have no vile formalities the patriot’s soul to vex: 
  While we must catch the Speaker’s eye before a word is said,
  In free and happy Austria they blacken it instead.

  “Cold water oft on me to throw is Mr Gully’s whim,
  But Dr Abrahamovitch has buckets thrown on him: 
  Quite pleasant and familiar are their dealings with the Chair—­
  We ‘pull’ sometimes the Speaker’s ’leg’—­they always pull his hair!

  “When, for my own metropolis, I quit this formal scene,
  And Ireland’s native Parliament shall sit in College-green,
  To keep the fun alive and fresh we’ll bring a Czech or two
  (The Czechs but not the Balances that Mr Gladstone knew): 

  “We’ll have no dictatorial rule—­no Peels or Gullys there—­
  But Dr Abrahamovitch shall fill the Speaker’s chair: 
  ’Tis he shall guide by gentle arts our legislative aims,
  While Mr Dillon tweaks his nose and Healy calls him names.”

  It was an Irish patriot, and thus I heard him say—­
  “O set me in Vienna’s walls, beneath the Kaiser’s sway! 
  For since Home Rule I cannot get, ’tis there that I would be,
  A-chivying the President, an Austrian M.P.!”

BROKEN VOWS

  O party, pledged in years agone to change our sad condition,
  How have you left your task undone and quite resigned your Mission! 
  How changed the time since tongue and pen our feuds combined to smother,
  And Harcourt walked with Healy then as brother walks with brother!

  We from Coercion’s darkest gloom saw Erin’s star re-risen,
  You hob-and-nobbed with patriots, whom yourselves had sent to prison: 
  It was our schemes of mutual good such close allies that made us: 
  You spoke as we decreed you should, we voted as you bade us: 

  ‘Twas we, when fain you were to fare on Office’ loaves and fishes,
  ’Twas we alone who put you there despite your country’s wishes: 
  While you, when some our acts would blame, proved nought
        could be absurder
  Than rent to call a legal claim, or landlord-shooting murder.

  Yet why recount our ancient loves which now you turn your backs on? 
  The maxim old it only proves—­you ne’er should trust a Saxon: 
  Deceitful still, his promised plan he docks, interprets, hedges,
  And when he thinks he safely can, he turns and breaks his pledges!

  True Celts despise the paltry baits wherewith you try to feed ’em: 
  What! offer your diminished rates to men who pine for Freedom! 
  On County Councils ne’er can thrive a People’s aspirations,
  No local Government can give a place among the Nations!