Leader of Chorus. Ho! friends, a stranger cometh; by his dress

Some nobleman of leisure, I should guess;

Come, let us seem to labour, lest he strafe;

A soldier ever eye-washes the Staff.

Chorus start work, singing.

Brighter than the queenly rose,

Brighter than the setting sun,

Brighter than old Ginger's nose

The raiment of the gilded one.

The red tab points towards each breast,

The red band binds his forehead stern;

The rainbow ribbons on his chest

Proclaim what fires within him burn.

Upon his throne amid the din

He sits serene—yet sometimes stoops

To take a kindly interest in

The trousers issued to the troops.

Enter Staff Officer.

Staff Officer. Ho, slaves! your Colonel seeking have I come.

L. of C. This is his house, but he is far from home.

Staff O. And whither gone? Reply without delay.

L. of C. Ask of the Captain. See, he comes this way.

Enter Captain from dug-out.

Captain. Immaculate stranger, hail! What lucky chance

Has brought you to this dirty bit of France?

Staff O. Not chance. A conscientious Brigadier

Has sent me hither.

Captain. And what seek you here?

Staff. I seek your Colonel.

Captain. He is up the line.

'Tis said the foe will soon explode a mine,

And we must be prepared should he attack.

Staff O. I think I will await his coming back.

Captain. Then chance to me at least has been most kind;

Come, let me lead you where a drink you'll find.

Chorus.

Beyond the distant bower,

Where skirted men abide

And in an uncouth language

Their skirted children chide;

Beyond the land of sunshine,

Where never skies are blue,

There lives a silent people

Who know a thing or two.

All is not gold that glitters,

And sirops are rather sad;

All is not Bass that's "bitters,"

And Gallic beer is bad;

But out of the misty regions

Where loom the mountains tall

There comes the drink of princes—

Whisky, the best of all.

Staff O. This is my seventh drink, and yet, alas!

The Colonel comes not.

Captain. Fill another glass.

Staff O. I will [he does]. The bottle's finished, I'm afraid.

Captain. It does not matter. I drink lemonade.

L. of C. A doom descends upon this house, I fear;

That was the only bottle left us here.

Enter Herald.

Herald. The Colonel comes. Let no ill-omened word

Escape the barrier of your teeth. I heard

Men say his temper's in an awful state;

Therefore beware lest some untoward fate

Befall you;