(IN BULGARIA.)
(_Shakspeare once again adapted to circumstances._)
_Enter_ ARIEL, _invisible, playing and singing_. FERDINAND _following
him_.
_Ariel's Song._
COME into Bulgarian Lands,
We stretch our hands;
'Tis a chance not to be miss'd.
When we have kiss'd
Your hand in loyal fealty there,
The Crown's sweet burden you may bear.
Hark! Hark!
_Burden._ Bow-wow! (_Dispersedly._)
Let the Russ bark!
_Burden._ Bow-wow! (_Dispersedly._)
Hark, hark! I hear
The strutting Gallic Chanticleer
Cry Cock-a-doodle-doo!
_Ferdinand._ Where should
this music be? In th' air, or th' earth?
It sounds once more, and sure it waits upon
_My_ forward footsteps. Sitting all alone,
Musing upon Prince ALEXANDER'S wreck,
This music crept upon me unawares,
Stirring my hope, and rousing Russia's passion,
With its sweet air. Thence have I followed it,
Or it hath drawn me rather:--but 'tis gone.
No, it begins again.
[Illustration]
_Ariel sings:_
Full fathom deep BATTENBERG lies,
Of _his_ chance chaos is made;
But you'll see, if you have eyes,
Your hopes ripen as his fade.
You may suffer a great change
Into a young King. Is't strange?
Fate which rings poor SANDY'S knell
Sounds your coronation bell.
Hark! dost hear it?--ding-dong-dell!
[_Burden._ Ding-dong!
_Ferdinand._ This ditty doth decoy, yet fright me,--rather.
This is no common chance. A golden crown
Fate proffers me:--I see it,--shall I wear it?
[_Left considering._
* * * * *
"FINIS CORONAT OPUS."
THE summary given in an evening paper last week of a well-known suit,
now happily at an end, is instructive. Four years ago the plaintiff was
absolutely without means, and apparently utterly friendless. The man who
had wronged her offered her (amongst other infamous actions) a miserable
pittance to expatriate herself and to cease to "annoy" him. She called
in the assistance of the Press; and now she retires with provision for
herself and innocent child, her character re-established, and a sum of
money that our grandfathers would have called a "plum." The paper that
championed her was plucky, and as the result has proved, in the right.
Praise to whom praise is due. Acknowledgment is due to the _P. M. G._
* * * * *