Iolanthe, 16. 'When Britain really ruled the waves'

[@jamesbrice3267]

A timeless sentiment.

[@533nicky]

Lord Mount Ararat: When Britain really ruled the waves in Good Queen Bess' time The House of Peers made no pretence to intellectual eminence or scholarship sublime Yet Britain won her proudest bays in Good Queen Bess's glorious days! When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, as every child can tell, The House of Peers throughout the war did nothing in particular, and did it very well Yet Britain set the world ablaze in Good King George's glorious days! And while the House of Peers withholds its legislative hand And noble statesmen to not itch to interfere in matters which they do not understand As bright will shine Great Britain's rays as in King George's glorious days!

[@paulhall170]

Such biting lyrics from the master poet of Great Britain!

[@richardcleveland8549]

The G&S operettas are presented as comedies (well, except for "Yeomen of the Guard"), and while there are many comic moments, there's also a great deal of quite savage Gilbertian satire. No one was safe from that pen dipped in gall. Poor Gilbert received his knighthood in 1907 - twenty-four years after Sullivan received his . . . perhaps because some of WSG's barbs struck too close to the powerful.

[@hans-jorgciesinski8878]

Britische Selbstironie der feinsten Art. Hoffentlich machen sie auch mal über den Brexit.

[@hans-jorgciesinski8878]

Ich wollte sagen: Hoffentlich machen sie so etwas auch über den Brexit.