nd motley host,
Mean boundless mischief, the Palladium's gone
If they are not repulsed. It _must_ be done,
Come what, come will. PRIAM has trimmed his sails
To popular winds until the pilot fails
To know the old and carefully charted course.
His wisdom, and brave ARTHUR-HECTOR's force,
May yet prove vain if no auxiliar hand
Help yon Anarchic legions to withstand.
The Amazonian host? Aha! Well hit!
Scruple to take she-helping? Not a bit
Too late for proud punctilio. No, this Queen
Is not so lovely, of such royal mien,
As hers who witched ACHILLES e'en in death.
An elderly Amazon of shortish breath,
With gingham huge and gig-lamps, though she hold
That "Property" buckler broad and bossed with gold
Is scarce a Siren--of the ancient style;
More of Minerva's frown than Venus' smile!
But then, eight hundred thousand!!! There's the rub.
Recruited from the Platform and the Tub,
With Middle-aged and Propertied Amazons,
Ilium may master e'en the Myrmidons.
Come, anti-revolutionaries, come!
Strike Anarchy dead, and Socialism dumb!
Accept new arms, ye maiden cohorts! Take
The weapon that shall make ACHILLES shake,
And reinforce, against the wiles of Greece,
The powers of Property, Privilege, and Peace!

* * * * *

OPTIMISM.

"All's for the best," smirks fatuous DIVES. He
_Means_, "I'm the best, and therefore all's for _me_."

* * * * *

[Illustration: ARMING THE AMAZONS.

PRIAM (_loquitur_). "ACCEPT NEW ARMS, YE MAIDEN COHORTS! TAKE
THE WEAPON THAT SHALL MAKE ACHILLES SHAKE,
AND REINFORCE, AGAINST THE WILES OF GREECE,
THE POWERS OF PROPERTY, PRIVILEGE, AND PEACE!"]

* * * * *

ONLY FANCY!

We understand that Mr. GLADSTONE has followed, with much interest, the
speeches delivered in the country last week, and was observed to be
visibly affected at the touching spectacle of the final reconciliation
of Lord SALISBURY and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN at Birmingham. "They toil
not, neither do they spin," he said, furtively wiping away a tear;
"nevertheless, they seem made for each other's company."

* * * * *

[Illustration: "A Fantasy of Disordered Imagination."]

The Right Hon. Gentleman will take his turn next week, and a report
is current in interested quarters, that he as g