<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Alliterativism</h1><h1 align="center" class="head">(The Latest School)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">See</span> the flying French depart</p><p class="line">Like the bees of Bonaparte,</p><p class="line">Swarming up with a most venomous vitality.</p><p class="line">Over Baden and Bavaria,</p><p class="line">And Brighton and Bulgaria,</p><p class="line">Thus violating Belgian neutrality.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And the injured Prussian may</p><p class="line">Not unreasonably say</p><p class="line">"Why, it cannot be so small a nationality!</p><p class="line">Since Brixton and Batavia,</p><p class="line">Bolivia and Belgravia,</p><p class="line">Are bursting with the Belgian neutrality."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Beluchistan and Bonn,</p><p class="line">Braemar and Babylon</p><p class="line">All feel the French offence against legality,</p><p class="line">And Boston and Bilbao</p><p class="line">And Bucks and Bulawayo</p><p class="line">Will perish for their Belgian neutrality.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">By pure Alliteration</p><p class="line">You may trace this curious nation,</p><p class="line">And respect this somewhat scattered principality;</p><p class="line">When you see a B in Both</p><p class="line">You may take your Bible oath</p><p class="line">You are violating Belgian neutrality.</p></div><p class="byline">G. K. CHESTERTON</p><em>New Witness, August</em> 13, 1914</body></html> · Great War