An Alphabet of celebrities, Olivier Herford (1ª parte)

A´s Albert Edward, well meaning but flighty,
who invited King Arthur, the blameless and mighty,
to meet Alcibiades and Aphrodite.

 B is for Bernhardt, who fails to awaken

much feeling in Bismarck, Barabbas, and Bacon.

C is Columbus, who tries to explain

how to balance an egg—to the utter disdain

of Confucius, Carlyle, Cleopatra, and Cain.

 D is for Diogenes, Darwin, and Dante,

who delight in the dance Of a Darling Bacchante.

 E is for Edison, making believe

He's invented a clever contrivance for Eve,

Who complained that she never could laugh in her sleeve.

 F is for Franklin, who fearfully shocks

the feelings of Fenelon, Faber, and Fox.

G is Godiva, whose great bareback feat

though Gounod and Goldsmith implore and entreat.

 H is for Handel, who pours out his soul

through the bagpipes to Howells and Homer, who roll

on the floor in an ecstasy past all control.

I is for Ibsen, reciting a play

while Irving and Ingersoll hasten away.

 J is for Johnson, who only says "Pish!"

to Jonah, who tells him his tale of a fish.

K is the Kaiser, who kindly repeats

some original verses to Kipling and Keats.

L is Lafontaine, who finds he's unable to interest Luther and Liszt in his fable,

while Loie continues to dance on the table.

M is Macduff, who's prevailed upon Milton

and Montaigne and Manon to each try a kilt on.

 N is Napoleon, shrouded in gloom,

with Nero, Narcissus, and Nordau, to whom 
he's explaining the manual of arms with a broom.