Punch (35.1858)

A NEW CHAPTER OE AL KORAN. INTITULED, THE RAIMENT. REVEALED TO THE PROPHET

PUNCH, IN THE STREET WHICH IS CALLED FLEET.

IN THE NAME OF THE PROPHET—PETTICOATS !

ND there came unto me a vision, which was perspicuous, yea, and profitable. And behold a maiden,
dusky, but lovely as the summer night when the moon hideth her face and the silver stars come forth
like diamonds in the crown of a King. Her form, modestly but lightly attired, was graceful as is that of
the gazelle, or of the emerald virgin, Norah, whose gown is sung by the Western poet, Timotjr. Her name
was India. And there were sounds of rejoicing and gratulation, and thunder of cannons, and rushing
of rockets, and banging of squibs, and cracking of crackers, and blazing of lights. Lo, it was the first
day of the eleventh month, and Asia shouted and said, Victoria, even the Queen of the Isles, is now
our Empress, and her glory shall be uplifted. And I said, It is well, I, even I, Punch, did this thing
for her. Then I saw in my vision, that to the sweet maiden, India, as she stood in her soft beauty,
there came a fair sister, fairer than she, and her look was as that of a woman who is not afraid to look upon
the face of a man, or to smack the same if need be, or none. Upon her head was a helmet, and behold
her skirts stuck out like unto the hoops of old, and as she came, men stood aside to make a wide path
for her, and some, stricken by the hem of her garments, rubbed their ancles, as in pain. Nevertheless
all admired her, for she was comely, and the robe gave her a goodly Presence. Then I, Punch, marked
the end, which whoso marketh in wisdom shall make his mark in the days. And I knew the name of