Punch: Punch (84.1883)

50

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [February 3, 1883.

TWO QUEENS OF BEAUTY.-APHRODITE-ALEXANDRA.

Venus loquitur:—

As Queen to Queen—of Beauty, I am come,
Heart-Sovereign of your northern island home,
Lipped, like my Paphos, by the whitening foam.
Thanks-bearer to that gentle royal heart,

Which knows right well that Beauty’s better part
Is still to deal the balm, not wing the dart.

Thanks-bearer ! ’Tis an office gladly borne
By her who ruled in the earth’s radiant morn,
Which she who ruleth now need scarcely scorn.

Lady, you’ve bettered Lesbia. All her crying
Could not again set one dead sparrow flying,

Your word shall save a myriad birds from dying.

The “ Tournaments of Doves ” have shamed your isle,
And isle-born Venus thanks you without guile,

Who will not crown stick lists with your bright smile.

Let them their Queen of Beauty rather seek

Mid such hard dames as sat, with unblanched cheek,

What time Rome’s lists with guiltless blood would reek.

My favourite birds in red-flecked heaps they lay,

Your English chivalry! Brave quarry, they,

“ Butchered to make a British holiday.

Not in your sight ! The grave rebuke is just.

Let Sport—and lucre—sway them, if they must,

To wanton slaughter. Yet not long, I trust.