The shades of night had fallen at last, <br />When through the house a shadow passed, <br />That once had been the Genial Dan, <br />But now become a desperate man, <br />At question time he waited near, <br />And on the Premier's startled ear <br />A voice fell like half a brick -- <br />"Did ye, or did ye not, pay Crick <br />Did ye?" <br />By land and sea the Premier sped, <br />But found his foe where'er he fled, <br />The sailors swore -- with whitened lip -- <br />That Neptune swam behind the ship: <br />When to the stern the Premier ran, <br />Behold, 'twas no one else but Dan, <br />And through the roaring of the gale <br />That clarion voice took up the tale, <br />"Ahot there! Answer, straight and slick! <br />Did not the Ministry pay Crick <br />Did they?" <br /> <br />In railway trains he sought retreat, <br />But soon, from underneath the seat, <br />With blazing eye and bristling beard, <br />His ancient enemy appeared, <br />And like a boiling torrent ran <br />The accents of the angry Dan -- <br />"Tell me, John See, and tell me quick <br />Did not ye pay your shares to Crick <br />Did ye?"<br /><br />Andrew Barton Paterson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-ballad-of-that-p-n/
