Sisters, from far upon my senses steals
A sound of crackers and of Catherine wheels,
By which I know the Senate in debate
Decides our future and the country's fate:
And lo! a herald from the city's stir
I see arrive--the usual Messenger.
_Enter a Messenger_
_M._ O maiden guardians of this sacred shrine--
_Ch._ Observe the rules: you've had your single line.
_M._ Say, is the Lady Principal at home?
_Ch._ Thou speak'st, as one for information come.
_M._ I ask the question, for I wish to know.
_Ch._ By shrewd conjecture one might guess 'twas so.
_M._ Go, tell your Lady I would speak with her.
_Ch._ About what thing? what quest dost thou prefer?
_M._ I bear a tale I hardly dare to tell.
_Ch._ Why vex her ears, when ours will do as well?
_M._ Hear then the facts which with self-seeing eyes
I witnessed, not receiving from another.
For when I came within those doors august
Where sat the Boule, doubting if to grant
The boon of honour which the women ask,
Or not: and like some Thracian Hellespont
Tides of opinion flowed in different ways,
Until obeying some divine decree
(This is a Nominative Absolute)
The hollow-bellied circle of a hat
Received their votes (and now, but not till now,
Observe my true apodosis begin)--
Arithmetic, supreme of sciences,
Proclaimed that persons to the number of
One thousand seven hundred and thirteen
Voted Non-Placet (or, It does not please),
While thrice two hundred, also sixty-two,
Voted for Placet on the other side;
Who, being worsted, come as suppliants
With boughs and fillets and the rest complete,
Winging the booted oarage of their feet
Within your gates: the obscurantist rout
Pursue them here with threats, and swear they'll drag them out!
Such is my tale: its truth should you deny,
I simply answer, that you tell a lie.