One extract more and we
have done. A gold medal in the department of Hermeneutical Science to
the ingenious individual, who, after any length of study, can succeed in
unriddling this tremendous passage from "Master Hugues of Saxe-Gotha,"
the organist:--
First you deliver your phrase
--Nothing propound, that I see,
Fit in itself for much blame or much praise--
Answered no less, where no answer needs be:
Off start the Two on their ways!
Straight must a Third interpose,
Volunteer needlessly help--
In strikes a Fourth, a Fifth thrusts in his nose,
So the cry's open, the kennel's a-yelp,
Argument's hot to the close!
One disertates, he is candid--
Two must dicept,--has distinguished!
Three helps the couple, if ever yet man did:
Four protests, Five makes a dart at the thing wished--
Back to One, goes the case bandied!
One says his say with a difference--
More of expounding, explaining!
All now is wrangle, abuse, and vociferance--
Now there's a truce, all's subdued, self-restraining--
Five, though, stands out all the stiffer hence.
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