In praise of many a noble name,
Let lesser poets chaunt a paean;
The deathless fame will I proclaim
Of others, more plebeian.
Let minstrels sing of Montagues,
Of Scots and Brabazons and Percys,
While lovers of the Muse ( or Meux )
On Lambtons base their verses.
My lyre, which neither mocks nor mimics,
Shall laud the humbler patronymics.
Though Talbots may have led the van,
And fought the battles of the nation,
‘ Twas but a simple Elliman
Invented embrocation!
Though Churchills many a triumph won,
And Stanleys made their world adore them,
‘ Twas Pickford — ay, and Paterson —
Who‘ carried’ all before them!
Not twice, in our rough island story,
Was Smith synonymous with glory!
The snob may snigger, if he likes;
But on the rolls of Greater Britain
The famous name of William Sikes
Immortally is written;
And when men speak, in sneering tones,
Of Brown, Jones, Robinson ( They do so! ),
I always cite John Brown, Burne-Jones
And Robinson Caruso,
And thus, with bright examples, teach‘ em
That Beecham's quite as good as Beauchamp!