The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 104,
January 7, 1893, by Various

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Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 104, January 7, 1893

Author: Various

Editor: Francis Burnand

Release Date: August 21, 2008 [EBook #26385]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH, CHARIVARI, JANUARY 7, 1893 ***

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PUNCH,

OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOLUME 104.

JANUARY 7th 1893.

LONDON: PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 85, FLEET STREET, AND SOLD BY ALL
BOOKSELLERS.

1893.

LONDON: BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.

* * * * *

PREFACE

SCENE--_The Elysian Fields, a flower-gemmed bank, by a flowing stream,
beneath the sylvan shade of unfading foliage._ Mr. PUNCH--_who is free
of all places, from Fleet Street to Parnassus--discovered, in Arcadian
attire, attempting "numerous verse" on a subject of National
importance--to wit, the approaching Royal Marriage._

_Mr. Punch._ Propt on this "bank of amaranth and moly,"
Beneath the shade of boughs _un_melancholy,
I meditate on AEstas and on Hymen!
Pheugh! _What_ a Summer! Torrid drought doth try men,--
And fields and farms; yet when our Royal MAY
Weds--in July--'tis fit that Phoebus stay
His fiery car to welcome her! By Jove,
That sounds Spenserian! Illustrious Love
Epithalamion demands, and lo!
We've no official Laureate, to let flow,
With Tennysonian dignity and sweetness,
Courtly congratulation. DRYDEN's neatness,
Even the gush of NAHUM TATE or PYE
Are not available, so PUNCH must try
His unofficial pen. My tablets, TOBY!
This heat's enough to give you hydrophoby!
Talk about Dog-days! Is that nectar iced?
Then just one gulp! It beats the highest priced
And creamiest champagne. Now, silence, Dog,
And let me give my lagging Muse a jog!

[_Writes, with one eye on the portraits of the_ Duke of YORK
_and the_ Princess MAY, _the other on the iced nectar-cup._