Punch . h Laymen have wills to speak, or wits to know ?At length the vote is cast; attendant Muses Of art and history, wondering, record,A great mans chosen; but the man refuses— And they who hoped and feared alike are floored! Was t that Sir Edwin thought the place above him, Or that he thought himself above the place ?Wast that he better loved the crowds that love him ? Would rather live for great work than for base ?Wast that the Academy would less be winners, Than he a loser, by that chain opprest ?Wast that he shirked the speeches at the dinners, Or that the Lions_sat upon his chest ? Wha
Punch . h Laymen have wills to speak, or wits to know ?At length the vote is cast; attendant Muses Of art and history, wondering, record,A great mans chosen; but the man refuses— And they who hoped and feared alike are floored! Was t that Sir Edwin thought the place above him, Or that he thought himself above the place ?Wast that he better loved the crowds that love him ? Would rather live for great work than for base ?Wast that the Academy would less be winners, Than he a loser, by that chain opprest ?Wast that he shirked the speeches at the dinners, Or that the Lions_sat upon his chest ? Whateer the cause, the Academy is baffled, And cannot boast a Landseer on its throne;What if the robe and chain were to be raffled, And trust the hazard of the die alone ?Methinks that were as wise mode of selection, As this by ballot, with closed doors, eyes, ears;Or choose the worst, and to the worlds objection, Reply, Was he not chosen by his Peers! 52 PUNCH. OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [February 3, THE FESTIVE SEASON. (THE HOUSE IS FULL OF VISITORS—REGINALD SLEEPS IN HIS FATHERS BEDROOM.) Papi. Why, how s this, Reginald ? Not in Bed yet ? It s nearly Four oclock ! You should have been AsleepHours ago ! Reginald. Haw! And pray, why me in particular, Papa? THE MEXICAN DUET. Arranged for Mr. Seward and the Emperor Louis Napoleon. Mr. Seward. Now, Louis N., I want to know, When you 11 get out of Mexico ? Your stopping there is quite a blow At our great doctrine called Nap. France takes no bidding from a foe, I know what to her name I owe, No threats from Bunkum, Bosh, & Co., Shall have the power to make me Seward. Now, really, if you answer so, We must commence to pick the Nap. The crow, indeed—your notions low, The eagles form my banners Seward. And we aint got no eagle, no ? As good a bird as yours, mon Nap. The sovereign whom I took in tow, I mean to keep in statu Seward. Be off, and rest content to sow
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