Who a wondrous reputation in a hero-patriot bore,
Until "rescued" by brave STANLEY,
Who declared him weak, unmanly.
Oh! 'tis strange how heroes _can_ lie about Afric's shore.

Then BARTTELOT and TROUP,
JEPHSON, JAMESON--a group
Who each of each "made soup"--off each other tried to score;
And in many a verjuiced "vollum"
STANLEY's jovial "Rear Column"
Was discussed in manner solemn, anent Afric's shore.

Then the "foreign element"
To it tooth and nail _they_ went,
And the Battle of the Heroes it grew livelier than before.
Now that man, and now this man,
Now DE BRAZZA and now WISSMANN,
Made it hot for poor Old England upon Afric's shore.

Now comes PETERS! He has slanged
STANLEY awfully, and banged
The "Rescue" party badly. It is getting a big bore,
When, with tempers hot as Indies,
Heroes smash each other's windies,
Pursuing of their shindies about Afric's shore.

It is doubtless "moighty fine,"
Being what _Titmarsh_ called "a line,"
And it does Society's "sowl" good (no doubt) to hear him roar;
But 'tis folly to suppose