OLD PROPHECIES.
[TO THB EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Perhaps you may think the two following scraps of pro- phecy worth printing. The first was current in the newspapers at the beginning of the Russian War, and purported to have been written at the time of the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453 :— " In twice two hundred years the Bear The Crescent shall assail, But if the Cock and Bull unite, The Bear shall not prevail.
But look, in twice ten years again, Let Islam know and fear, The Cross shall wax, the Crescent wane, Grow pale and disappear."
it is not yet twice ten years since the conclusion of the struggle, and the Crescent is in difficulties, military and financial, which may well be the beginning of the end. If they should prove to be so, the prophecy may claim a very fair degree of fulfilment.
The second appeared in Punch some time between Sadowa and Sedan. I am sorry that I cannot give the date, but am certain of the accuracy of my quotation. It is remarkable for uniting in the happiest manner gross irreverence with false foresight, and should not be allowed to fall into oblivion :—
" The monarch of Pruitsia's devotion is such,
He thinks Providence favours the needle-gun much ; If be meets with the Chassepot, perhaps he may find That Providence frequently changes its mind."
Previous page
