Then "_La République_" and "_La Russie_," linked,
Pair off, 'midst acclamations:
Yes, I proclaimed--and never winced or winked--
_That_ "brotherhood of nations!"

"A delegation of young children," Ah!
And they were not the only ones.
"Men are but children of a larger--" Bah!
Wise and strong _men_ are--lonely ones.
Most men--French-men--have touches of the child,
Fondness for show, fine phrases--
Pst! Here my _rôle_'s not cynical, but mild,
And open as dawn-daisies.

"_J'embrasse la Russie!_" That was rather neat
For "_Faute-de-Mieux_," at any rate.
Wondrous the magic power of _blague_, and "bleat"
On Man--_mouton_ degenerate!
That "_Bête Humaine_," as ZOLA dubs him. Gr--r--r!
The real brutes are braver;
The tiger, when in chase of prey, won't purr,
Nor will the Bear, then, slaver.

The Bear! Reminds me of a horrid dream
I had that night. A funny one,
But startling! I awoke with such a scream!
I dreamt some link (a money one?)
Bound me to a big Bruin, rampant, tall,
A regular Russian Shagbag,
In whose close hug I felt extremely small,