Читать книгу Fiscal Ballads - Graham Harry - Страница 4

THE COLONIES

I've been 'earing, round the pubs,

As the British Lion's cubs

Is a gettin' out of 'and, and stubborn-'earted;

For the Colonies, they say,

Is a driftin' right away,

From the Motherland wot seed 'em safely started.

But it's only Little Englanders, Protectionists, an' such,

Keeps a-'owling an' a-crying as the Empire's 'out o' touch.'

There was Canada, I know;

Kipling said as she 'ad snow,

Which (o' course) was met with angry contradictions;

Then Haustralia come next,

An' one Guv'nor found a text

To remind 'em of their ancestors' convictions.

It's unfortunit, but still we must admit it for a fact,

As we Englishmen is hev'rvwhere notorious for tact.

But wotever folks may shout

An' make grievances about,

There's uncommon little grounds as they can go on;

For the strength o' Hempire lies