A Gentleman and a Gamester

Hilaire Belloc had several selves, even several poetic selves. Some have expressed irritation at the clear pleasure with which he kills off the bad children of his cautionary tale, though for my own part I think their fates largely to be just; consider that of Henry King:

The Chief Defect of Henry King
Was chewing little bits of String.
At last he swallowed some which tied
Itself in ugly Knots inside.

Physicians of the Utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their Fees,
"There is no Cure for this Disease.

"Henry will very soon be dead.''
His Parents stood about his Bed
Lamenting his Untimely Death,
When Henry, with his Latest Breath,

Cried, "Oh, my Friends, be warned by me,
That Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, and Tea
Are all the Human Frame requires...''
With that, the Wretched Child expires.

He also had a violent exuberant democratic self:

On Two Ministers of State

Lump says that Caliban's of gutter breed,
And Caliban says Lump's a fool indeed,
And Caliban and Lump and I are all agreed.

The Pacifist

Pale Ebenzer thought it wrong to fight,
But Roaring Bill (who killed him) thought it right.

And a courteous chivalric self:

A Trinity

Of three in One and One in three
My narrow mind would doubting be
Till Beauty, Grace and Kindness met
And all at once were Juliet.

Juliet

How did the party go in Portman Square?
I cannot tell you; Juliet was not there.

And how did Lady Gaster's party go?
Juliet was next me and I do not know.

And many more which I will introduce in the future.