This compromising document was never sold to us:
Potztausend!" said the Chancellor, "upon my honour, no!
We have not got and do not want your precious Bordereau!"

This rather struck the Ministers, in Paris where they sat:
They took and read the Bordereau: they had not yet done that.
'Twas found to mention obvious facts which any one might know--
No horrid revelations lurked within the Bordereau!

And did they set poor Dreyfus free, the due amends to make,
Regain the public confidence by owning their mistake,
And cease for popularity by sordid means to bid?
These are the things they might have done; but this is what they did:--

They said, those Gallic Ministers, "Undoubtedly it's true
The document has not been sold, and is not worth a _sou_;
But as the man's in prison now, why, there he's got to stay--
_Que voulez-vous_?" they simply said, "it is a _Chose Jugée_!"

This artless little narrative is specially designed
To illustrate the workings of the Gallic statesman's mind;
And till they change those processes and mould their ways anew,
It is not yet in Paris that I want to be a Jew.




UNSELFISH DEVOTION

Ye Concerts who plan for the welfare of Man