Punch (64.1873)

228

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[Mat 31, 1873.

PUNCH'S DERBY PROPHECY.

UNCH had the greatest pleasure in receiving the ac-
counts of Mb. Geobge Smith's splendid successes in
Assyria. His discovery of ancient tablets and other
records, and his masterly interpretation thereof glad-
dened our soul, and we said in the purest Assyrian, a
tongue known to Ourself alone, " Bomitat men shad-
docky Vash gimmy snork dubbletoother" which means,
"The noble and learned Smith shall discover some-
thing for TJs." "We waived the slight detail of ap-
plying to the British Museum or to the Daily Telegraph upon the subject*
as we knew that both would be proud and delighted at our availing our-
selves of the services of their illustrious Envoy. "We telegraphed to
Mb. Smith, and invited him to ascertain whether he could not find a
Prophecy or two that would be useful to us for the Derby, especially as one
of our regular Prophets has fiercely abjured all sporting topics, and the other
is gone to Vienna. "We had a most delightful answer from Mosul. Mb.
Smith has come upon a tablet containing about two Columns of Prophecy,
prepared by a Babylonian Astronomer, who lived in the reigns of Rimini-
jiminy and Belligofuster, and, though it is partially damaged, he has been
able to make out as much as is needful. The Babylonian Prophet will be
found quite as safe a guide as any of the Guessers at home, who give you a
ba'porth of prophecy in a sack full of circumbendibus and slang. "We translated the inscriptions ourselves, in order to save Mb. Smith as much trouble as
possible, but we need hardly say that the British Museum and the Daily Telegraph are heartily welcome to make whatever use they please of our
version. This is the translation :—

In the reign of a good Queen, And her son, even her eldest son, shall And men's hearts shall be in a blaze.

Revered, beloved, look on, All shall run, but one only shall re-

By the Sea-island made of Chalk, As the fiery beasts strive for the prize. ceive the prize.
Shall the horses be brought forth ; The great cry shall go up, It shall be called the Silken Ribbon,

And its hue shall be that of the
heavens

As they rarely show in the Sea-isle of
Chalk.