My favourite quotes from Hilaire Belloc

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Charles Augustus Fortescue

. . . . . . . .

He sought, when it was in his power,

For information twice an hour,

And as for finding Mutton-Fat

Unappetising, far from that!

He often, at his Father's Board,

Would beg them, of his own accord,

To give him, if they did not mind,

The Greasiest Morsels they could find

. . . .  .cont'd

Jim, who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion

There was a Boy, his name was Jim;

His Friends were very good to him.

They gave him Tea, and Cakes, and Jam,

And slices of delicious Ham,

And Chocolate with pink inside

And little Tricycles to ride,

And read him Stories through and through,

And even took him to the Zoo.

You know—at least you ought to know,

For I have often told you so—

That Children never are allowed

To leave their Nurses in a Crowd;

Now this was Jim's especial Foible,

He ran away when he was able,

And on this inauspicious day

He slipped his hand and ran away.

He hadn't gone a yard when—Bang!

With open Jaws, a lion sprang,

And hungrily began to eat

The Boy: beginning at his feet.

Now, just imagine how it feels

When first your toes and then your heels,

And then by gradual degrees,

Your shins and ankles, calves and knees,

Are slowly eaten, bit by bit.

No wonder Jim detested it!

No wonder that he shouted "Hi!"

The Honest Keeper heard his cry,

Though very fat he almost ran

To help the little gentleman.

. . . . . . . . . cont'd

The Lion, having reached his Head, the Miserable Boy was dead

and the conclusion was:

. . .  always keep a-hold of Nurse

For fear of finding something worse

Mary Lunn 

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