Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Politics

    Describes the bloody conflict between the Hapsburg and Hohenzollern empires as if they were two eagles that had earlier 'lived happily together' and dismembered 'a poor Danish cock o' the wood' who 'objected to Germanisation'. Notes how 'In couples they hunt keen as beagles' but 'fall out in dividing their prey, / On what's called "want of honour 'mong Eagles"'. Proceeds to describe the increasing friction between the birds, each appealing 'to the buzzards and kites that around / Uneasily sidled and shuffled'—a reference to other European nations with interests in this political situation. Notes how, after the 'tearing of talons, the rending of beaks' the 'Eagle of France' sailed in 'To avert the catastrophe dreaded', and urged its brother eagles to save their 'talons and claws' for prey. Concludes with a description of how the eagles agree to hold a congress to settle the issue.