‘ WHAT'S IN A NAME?’

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!