Page:Edward the Seventh.pdf/12

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ii
PROLOGUE.

II.

Upon her track a steamer bore down, And her freight was the wearer of England's crown, She was mann'd by a crew of pick'd seamen, And the most Serene Prince Leiningen.

Away she tore at a slashing rate, For woel if the train two seconds should wait;

And woe to the yacht that dared to stay When the Queen of England passed that way. Oh! the Mistletoe bow !

III.

The Mistletoe crept along like a snail, For the wind scarce bellied a single sail; The steamer was going at sixteen knots, For the Queen was dying to see her Scots; And several lubbers of high degree

Were on her bridge, but they didn't see That they'd seal'd the helpless Mistletoe’s fate,

If they kept their course at such a rate. Oh

the Mistletoe bow !

IV,

Now close ahead was the Mistletoe seen,

One turn of the helm would have cleared her, clean ; But why should the German Prince in command Trouble his head, or raise his hand,

An impudent Englishman's yacht to spare 2– What right had she got to be sailing there 2 How dare a Manchester banker be

'Twixt the wind and his Serenity ? Oh! the Mistletoe bow !