Allotments here, an old-age pension ;

Insurance, or that blessed thing, 320

Tariff, as poverty-prevention.
The Ring. Even as you'll see an auction-ring

Bid high, bid low, nor guess a knock-out.
So at the poll with shop-dressing:
The rival traders set their stock out, 325

198



THE SEETHING

Having agreed to pool the plunder.
How comes it else one Court will lock out
Those whom it stands to serve ? A wonder !

To grant land-holding by an Act,

And split the awarding of it asunder^ — 330

'Twixt whom ? 'Twixt who had and who lackt ?

Nay, but ^twixt squire at home and squire

In County Council ! Sober fact.
So this : the village-mote's desire

May not by village be effected; 335

No, but by them who own or hire
The villagers — 'tis true, elected —

True, but who knows his country's quips

Will know why Hodge is not neglected
At 'lection times, by ladyships. 340

Then nostrums fly for Hodge's fancy:

A tax on corn now ! Best of tips :
By some sleight-handed nigromancy

Wages will run upstairs to meet it.
Some say the thing is more than chancy; 345
You need but name it to defeat it.
These offer land; those say, "Absurd!

What's land to Hodge? He cannot eat it."
But none so far as I have heard

Say, "He is wrong'd; let wrong be righted." 350

Ransom indeed's an ugly word
For lips of councillors beknighted,

Or set upon the broad high-road

199



THE SONG OF THE PLOW

Where limber tongue may be requited.
