But the scenes wos 'splendiferous, CHARLIE. About arf a mile o'
stage front,
With some thousands of 'eroes and supers, as seemed all the time
on the 'unt.
Lor! 'ow they did scoot up and down that there stage at the
double, old man,
All their legs on the waggle, like flies, and their armour a-chink
as they ran!
Old _Shylock_ turns up quite permiskus, and always upon the full
trot;
He seemed mixed up with Portias, and Doges, smart gals, and the
dickens knows wot.
All kep waving their arms like mad semy-phores, doin' the akrybat
prank,
As if they was swimming in nothink, or 'ailing a 'bus for the Bank.
I sez to a party beside me, "Old man, wot the doose does it _mean_?"
Sez he, "A dry attic, yer know, of wich Venice, yer see, wos the
Queen.
That cove in a nightcap's the Doge; for an old 'un he _can_ move
about.
They had G.O.M.'s, mate, in Venice; of that there is not the least
doubt.
"That's VETTORE PISANI, the Hadmiral; t'other is General ZENO
Defending the State, I persoom, and they're 'aving a fust-class
old beano.
Wy PEDRO THE SECOND, of Cyprus, and _Portia_ is made a rum blend
With Turps Siccory's Revels, and so on, no doubt we shall twig at
the hend.
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