THE LAUREATE AT LAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 295, 13 December 1899, Page 5

THE LAUREATE AT LAST.

A SUPBBME EFFORT.

Spurred to'a mighty effort by Kipling's last verses Alfred Austin has iat length broken out thusly: — INFLEXIBLE AS FATE. Tv n« cede malis. sed contra audentior ito. Aeneidos VI., 95. When for a passing hour Rome's manly sway Felt the sharp shock of Cannae's adverse day. Forum, and fieM, and Senate House were rent. With cries of nor misgiving nor lament, Only of men contending then who should Purchase the spot on which the victor stood. Legion on legion sprang up from the 'ground, - , Gleamed through the land, then over ocean wound, • . , Till Soipio's eagles swarmed on Afric s shore, . , And Carthage perished, to insult no more. Not less resolved than Rome, now England stands, _, • . Facing foul fortune with unfaltering - hands, ~, _, Through her vast realms is neither tear nor feud, ••• ' ', _ ' But, calm in strength, and steeled in fortitude, ..-'•_. ... She fills the gaps nor haggle in the strife. Th at-will nor lag nor haggle in the strife. Till having backward rolled the lawless tide - , . _ . , ' Of trusted treason, tyranny and pride. Her flag hath brought, inflexible as Fate, Charter of freedom to a fettered state. -ALFRED AUSTIN. One marvels that the good man's friends didn't prevent him publishing such flapdoodle. The fourth line, "With cries of nor misgiving nor lament," is probably the most awkward and inept ever written by recognised bard.

"G.H.P." has, as have probably most people, been struck by certain illustrations inthe latest poetic effusion of the Poet Laureate, and sends us the following ingenious parody:— .

When for a passing hour "Rome's" manly sway. Felt the sharp shock of Cannae's adverse «lay,

No wonder'"fields" (for once) with cries were "rent" At this most unpoetical event. 'Tis said great Joshua bade the Sun stand still, Your rhyme would make it double down the hill. But bards should shun such phrases as ~ "of nor," Not often used in English verse before; And your "rent field" and "forum" ope for tis. A gulf—of—bathos-worthy Curtius, Filled by that bard who (only) ' understands How England "faces" fortune with her "hands." While flags "inflexible" not waving wide "Bring" freedom's charters and "roll back" the tide. Poor England 'mid disaster and despair Finds (in the "Times") she's something worse to bear, Jejune as dust, insensible as Fate, The dismal twaddle of her laureate.