Democrats are unhappy that President Bush is attempting to paint them as the party of “cut and run” on Iraq.

They should be thankful that Mr. Bush has no talent for poetry. Otherwise, he might do to them what the English poet Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864) once did to the French politician Francois Guizot (1787-1874).

Guizot was prime minister to King Louis Philippe of France. In the eyes of many, he was too deferential to the opinions of the king, and too slow to appreciate the need for democratic reforms. When Louis Philippe was overthrown in the Revolution of 1848, Guizot fled to England – allegedly disguised as a valet.

He was welcomed into exile by a derisive broadside from Landor, so savage as to be worthy of the poet’s name. Landor wrote:

Guizot, in haste to cut and run,
A lackey’s livery has put on.
But whosoever calls disguise,
In him the lackey’s livery, lies.

At least Mr. Bush is not calling the Democrats lackeys. At least not yet.