Plantagenet, or Tudor;
Nor your projections, or your niches,
Affluent of crowns and sculptile riches,
Will scare the foul intruder.

He'll care not for your harp a whistle,
Nor lion, horse, rose, shamrock, thistle,
Horn'd head, or _Honi soit_;
Nor puppy-griffs, though doubtless meant
Young senators to represent,
Like Samson, armed with jaw.

Only consult your sober senses,
And ponder well the consequences,
If in some moment evil,
The old sinner should take Speaker's chair,
Make Black Rod fetch the nobles there,
And with them play the devil!

Then do not fail, great architect,
Assembled wisdom to protect
From Satan's visitation.
With horse-shoe fortify each gate,
Each lion's paw; and then the State
Is safe from ruination.


[Illustration]