full-blown in 1804); but we cannot understand what pretext there could
be for a few English old women and children expressing their "loyalty"
to the present "EMPEROR."

Their "Majesties" entered the lower town, having been "washed, just
washed in a shower," which came on as they approached the
Sous-Prefecture, and a vast crowd of umbrellas was all that could be
seen by the assembled multitude. There was all the usual humbug of
receiving the keys, which are never used, and would of course refuse to
fit the lock, which in its turn would inevitably decline to act, and the
Imperial couple were then dragged about in the rain, under the drippings
from the festoons and through the theatrical arches, one of which was
designed after the _Arc d'etoile_, being itself in reality an _arc de
toile_--or arch of canvas. No sooner had their "Majesties" left the town
than our old friend BOREAS began to puff and blow through all the
streets, which he very rapidly cleared of all their "thousand additional
lights," sending the paper lanterns through the air on all sides, and
whisking away the evergreen festoons, which were instantly turned into
skipping ropes by the delighted _gamins_. Thus, like everything else,
the whole affair of the "EMPEROR'S" visit to Boulogne was speedily blown
over.

* * * * *

FREEBOOTER OF THE CASTLE.

An Outlaw bold, I quarter hold in a goodly castle free,
Which I wot the Lord, of his own accord, would scarce allow to me.
And I scorn to sleep in the donjon keep; but the room of state is mine,
And I work the beef of the fat old thief, and I tope the old rogue's
wine.

For, sooth to say, upon his prey, I banquet as I will,
And hereby ye know that my Lord also doth plunder, fleece, and pill,
He spoils and takes, yet no law breaks, the statute keeps within,
As a man may do the traveller who doth shear to the very skin.

The lion's feed, through his own greed, the little jackal supplies,
So I make my boot of another's fruit, and feast on another's prize.
My eyes flash out, and for joy I shout, the wayfarer to view,
He is game, I ween, that mine Host so keen and his serfs for me pursue.

In glee I skip as I think they'll strip him of all that his poke can
hold,
As they hack with a will and a brandished bill and hew out the victim's
gold,
And screw and wring with a long long string, to squeeze out more and
more:
It pleases me so t