s: Shall not thine hand forego it at the last?


s: Lo, thy sure hour shall take thee by the hair


s: Sleeping, or when thou knowest not, or wouldst fly;


s: And as men died much mightier shalt thou die.


s: Yea, they are dead, men much more worth than thou;


s: The sense of them is shed about thee now:


s: Feel not thy brows a wind blowing from far?


s: Aches not thy forehead with a future star?


s: The light that thou may'st make out of thy name


s: Is in the wind of this same hour that drives,


s: Blown within reach but once of all men's lives;


s: And he that puts forth hand upon the flame


s: But these men that the lessening years behold,


s: Who sit the most part without flame or crown,


s: And brawl and sleep and wear their life-days down


s: With joys and griefs ignobler than of old,


s: And care not if the better day shall be -


s: And sees with instant eyes the naked thought


s: Whereof the vision as a web was wrought,


s: I saw beneath a heaven of cloud and gleam,


s: Ere yet the heart of the young sun waxed brave,


s: In the hoar heaven was hardly beam or breath,


s: And all the coloured hills and fields were grey,


s: And the wind wandered seeking for the day,


s: And wailed as though he had found her done to death


s: And this grey hour had built to bury her


s: There lying, and over it the prophet's face


s: Fixed; and the face was not of Tiresias,


s: As though their light it was that made the skies.


s: Such eyes should God's have been when very love


s: Looked forth of them and set the sun aflame,


s: And such his lips that called the light by name


s: And bade the morning forth at sound thereof;


s: And like a star's his look compassionate.


s: Like a star's gazed on of sad eyes so long


s: It seems to yearn with pity, and all its fire


s: And heave as though the light would bring forth song;


s: Yet from his face flashed lightning on the land,


s: And like the thunder-bearer's was his hand.


s: The steepness of strange stairs had tired his feet,


s: And his lips yet seemed sick of that salt bread


s: Wherewith the lips of banishment are fed;


s: But nothing was there in the world so sweet


s: As the most bitter love, like God's own grace,


s: Wherewith he gazed on that fair buried face.


s: Grief and glad pride and passion and sharp shame,


s: Wrath and remembrance, faith and hope and hate


s: Were in his eyes as an incorporate flame


s: That burned about her, and the heart thereof


s: And central flower was very fire of love.


s: But all about her grave wherein she slept


s: Were noises of the wild wind-footed years


s: Whose footprints flying were full of blood and tears,


s: Shrieks as of Maenads on their hills that leapt


s: And yelled as beasts of ravin, and their meat


s: Was the rent flesh of their own sons to eat:


s: And fiery shadows passing with strange cries,


s: And Sphinx-like shapes about the ruined lands,


s: And the bright body laid therein as dead,


s: That bowed down silent on that sleeping slave


s: Who was the lady of empire from her birth


s: And light of all the kingdoms of the earth.


s: Within the compass of the watcher's hand


s: All strengths of other men and divers powers


s: Were held at ease and gathered up as flowers;


s: His heart was as the heart of his whole land,


s: Twilight and dawn and night and labouring day.


s: Even now men seeing seemed at his lips to see


s: The trumpet of the judgment that should be,


s: And in the breath that made the mountains bow


s: The strong wind of the coming of the Lord


s: Had blown as flame upon him, and brought down


s: On his bare head from heaven fire for a crown,


s: To smite and lighten, and on what ways he trod


s: There fell from him the shadow of a God.


s: Pale, with the whole world's judgment in his eyes,


s: He stood and saw the grief and shame endure


s: That he, though highest of angels might not cure,


s: And the same sins done under the same skies,


s: And the same slaves to the same tyrants thrown,


s: And fain he would have slept, and fain been stone.


s: But with unslumbering eyes he watched the sleep


s: That sealed her sense whose eyes were suns of old;


s: And the night shut and opened, and behold,


s: The same grave where those prophets came to weep,


s: But she that lay therein had moved and stirred,


s: And where those twain had watched her stood a third.


s: The tripled rhyme that closed in Paradise


s: With Love's name sealing up its starry speech -


s: The tripled might of hand that found in reach


s: All crowns beheld far off of all men's eyes,


s: Song, colour, carven wonders of live stone -


s: These were not, but the very soul alone.


s: The living spirit, the good gift of grace,


s: The faith which takes of its own blood to give


s: That the dead veins of buried hope may live,


s: Came on her sleeping, face to naked face,


s: And from a soul more sweet than all the south


s: Breathed love upon her sealed and breathless mouth.


s: Between her lips the breath was blown as fire,


s: And through her flushed veins leapt the liquid life,


s: And with sore passion and ambiguous strife


s: The new birth rent her and the new desire,


s: The sense to hearken and the soul to see.


s: And the third prophet standing by her grave


s: Stretched forth his hand and touched her, and her eyes


s: Opened as sudden suns in heaven might rise,


s: And her soul caught from his the faith to save;


s: Faith above creeds, faith beyond records, born


s: Of the pure, naked, fruitful, awful morn.


s: For in the daybreak now that night was dead


s: The light, the shadow, the delight, the pain,


s: The purpose and the passion of those twain,


s: Seemed gathered on that third prophetic head,


s: And all their crowns were as one crown, and one


s: His face with her face in the living sun.


s: For even with that communion of their eyes


s: His whole soul passed into her and made her strong;


s: And all the sounds and shows of shame and wrong,


s: The hand that slays, the lip that mocks and lies,


s: Temples and thrones that yet men seem to see -


s: Maiden most beautiful, mother most bountiful, lady of lands,


s: See for thy sake what we bring to thee, Italy, here in our hands.


s: This is the banner thy gonfalon, fair in the front of thy fight,


s: Red from the hearts that were pierced for thee, white as thy


s: Green as the spring of thy soul everlasting, whose life-blood is


s: Take to thy bosom thy banner, a fair bird fit for the nest,


s: Out of thine hands thou shalt give us as surely deliverance from


s: Turn to us, speak to us, Italy, mother, but once and a word,


s: Ah, by the faith and the hope and the love that have need of thee


s: Who is against her but all men? and who is beside her but thou?


s: Art thou not better than all men? and where shall she turn but to


s: Lo, not a breath, not a beam, not a beacon from midland to sea;


s: Stand on her side in the vanward of ages, and strike on her part!


s: Faster than stars from the sun shall they fly, being lighter than


s: Green thing to green in the summer makes answer, and rose-tree to


s: Lily by lily the year becomes perfect; and none of us knows


s: What thing is fairest of all things on earth as it brightens and


s: Freedom, that made thee, our mother, and suckled her sons at thy


s: Take to thy bosom the nations, and there shall the world come to


s: Here where the bent-grass burns to brown


s: Crawls to the cliff-side and looks down,


s: Through wind-worn heads of heath and stiff


s: Stared on the dead round heaven and sighed,


s: And felt through all time's murmur thrill


s: Who knows what life and death are worth,


s: With all her bloom and blood and breath,


s: From all years dead and all things done,


s: Sprang, and the stagnant wells were stirred


s: Out of all lives that thought hears breathe


s: And time brings truth, and truth makes free,


s: And freedom fills time's veins with power,


s: And white waves laughed and turned and fled


s: The long green heaving sea-field through,


s: As the snakes of the night-time that creep


s: They shall eat of its fruit and wax fat:


s: They shall see the desire of their sight,


s: Though the ways of the seasons be steep,


s: They shall climb with face to the light,


s: Seeing how with covered face and plumeless wings,


s: Lay Freedom couched between the thrones of kings,


s: And bleeding from base wounds, and vexed with alien air.


s: Who was it, who, put poison to thy mouth,


s: Who lulled with craft or chant thy vigilant eyes,


s: O light of all men, lamp to north and south,


s: Eastward and westward, under all men's skies?


s: For if thou sleep, we perish, and thy name


s: Dies with the dying of our ephemeral breath;


s: And if the dust of death o'ergrows thy flame,


s: Heaven also is darkened with the dust of death.


s: If thou be mortal, if thou change or cease,


s: If thine hand fail, or thine eyes turn from Greece,


s: Thy firstborn, and the firstfruits of thy fame,


s: God is no God, and man is moulded out of shame.


s: From the steel-bound snows of the north,


s: In the notes wherewith man's passion worships woe;


s: It would move with pulse of war the limbs of peace,


s: Till she flushed and trembled and became divine.


s: It is better that war spare but one or two


s: Than that many live, and liberty be slain.)


s: As a man-child should deliverance come to Greece,


s: As a saviour should the child be born on earth.


s: The kingdoms and their kings stand by to see;


s: "And if we serve, what ails ye to be free?


s: We are warm, clothed round with peace and shame;


s: But ye lie dead and naked, dying for a name."


s: O kings and queens and nations miserable,


s: O fools and blind, and full of sins and fears,


s: With these it is, with you it is not well;


s: Ye have one hour, but these the immortal years.


s: These for a pang, a breath, a pulse of pain,


s: Have honour, while that honour on earth shall be:


s: Ye for a little sleep and sloth shall gain


s: Scorn, while one man of all men born is free.


s: Even as the depth more deep than night or day,


s: The sovereign heaven that keeps its eldest way,


s: So without chance or change, so without stain,


s: The heaven of their high memories shall nor wax nor wane.


s: All the clamour, all the splendour, all the slain,


s: All the lights and sounds of war, the fates and fears;


s: Soul by soul transfigured in funereal fire,


s: Hate made weak by love, and love made strong by hate.


s: With triumphant lamentation made for each,


s: Let the world salute their ruin and their rest.


s: Death, with flame in hand, an open bloodred flower,


s: Passed, and where it bloomed no bloom of life remained.


s: O sombre heart of earth and swoln with grief,


s: That in thy time wast as a bird for mirth,


s: Dim womb of life and many a seed and sheaf,


s: And full of changes, ancient heart of earth,


s: From grain and flower, from grass and every leaf,


s: Thy mysteries and thy multitudes of birth,


s: From hollow and hill, from vales and all thy springs,


s: From all shapes born and breath of all lips made,


s: From thunders, and the sound of winds and wings,


s: From light, and from the solemn sleep of shade,


s: From the full fountains of all living things,


s: Bear witness all the ways of death and life


s: If thou be with us in the world's old strife,


s: Gather in thy great breast the dews that fall,


s: Mother, thy sleeping sons in death's dim hall.


s: Bear witness if these be not as they were;


s: From mouths of men and memories like as air.


s: Where death and freedom found one lion's lair,


s: Thy ministrant white hands cleanse earth of crime;


s: Among the chains and crowns of poisonous peace;


s: Can melt her mists and bid her snows decrease;


s: But turn again the beauty of thy brows on Greece;


s: Give her the glories of thine eyes to see;


s: For love's sake of the souls that cry for thee;


s: We call thee and we charge thee that all these be free.


s: It does not hurt.  She looked along the knife


s: Smiling, and watched the thick drops mix and run


s: Down the sheer blade; not that which had been done


s: Could hurt the sweet sense of the Roman wife,


s: But that which was to do yet ere the strife


s: Could end for each for ever, and the sun:


s: Nor was the palm yet nor was peace yet won


s: While pain had power upon her husband's life.


s: It does not hurt, Italia.  Thou art more


s: Than bride to bridegroom; how shalt thou not take


s: The gift love's blood has reddened for thy sake?


s: Was not thy lifeblood given for us before?


s: And if love's heartblood can avail thy need,


s: And thou not die, how should it hurt indeed?


s: Orpheus, the night is full of tears and cries,


s: Can even thine eyes be certain of her head


s: Who never passed out of thy spirit's eyes,


s: But stood and shone before them in such wise


s: As when with love her lips and hands were fed,


s: And with mute mouth out of the dusty dead


s: Strove to make answer when thou bad'st her rise.


s: Yet viper-stricken must her lifeblood feel


s: The fang that stung her sleeping, the foul germ


s: Even when she wakes of hell's most poisonous worm,


s: Though now it writhe beneath her wounded heel.


s: Turn yet, she will not fade nor fly from thee;


s: Cleave thou, thou at least, to the right.


s: Not thy gold nor the strength of thy ships,


s: Hast thou said it, and hast thou forgot?


s: By the slaves that had slain their France,


s: Knowing nought if she would not or would,


s: Through her sleep as of new-stamped gold.


s: "With dreams and with words and with light


s: Thou hast wrapped thyself round all night;


s: Thou hast shut up thine heart from the right,


s: That was beautiful then, that was blest,


s: Wilt thou turn from me fighting, and fly,


s: "Thou hast put out the soul of thy sight;


s: Thou hast sought to my foemen as friend,


s: With the light that is risen on the lands,


s: With the change of the fresh-coloured skies;


s: As the wells of her slumber were stirred


s: That are many and strange and unwritten,


s: In the ears of the charmed world saying,


s: While the thrones of the throned men stand,


s: Fire and wild light of hope and doubt and fear,


s: Wind of swift change, and clouds and hours that veer


s: As the storm shifts of the tempestuous year;


s: Cry wellaway, but well befall the right.


s: Hope sits yet hiding her war-wearied eyes,


s: Doubt sets her forehead earthward and denies,


s: But fear brought hand to hand with danger dies,


s: Dies and is burnt up in the fire of fight.


s: Hearts bruised with loss and eaten through with shame


s: Turn at the time's touch to devouring flame;


s: Grief stands as one that knows not her own name,


s: Nor if the star she sees bring day or night.


s: No song breaks with it on the violent air,


s: But shrieks of shame, defeat, and brute despair;


s: Yet something at the star's heart far up there


s: Burns as a beacon in our shipwrecked sight.


s: O strange fierce light of presage, unknown star,


s: Whose tongue shall tell us what thy secrets are,


s: What message trembles in thee from so far?


s: Cry wellaway. but well befall the right.


s: From shores laid waste across an iron sea


s: Where the waifs drift of hopes that were to be,


s: Across the red rolled foam we look for thee,


s: Across the fire we look up for the light.


s: From days laid waste across disastrous years,


s: From hopes cut down across a world of fears,


s: We gaze with eyes too passionate for tears,


s: Where faith abides though hope be put to flight.


s: Old hope is dead, the grey-haired hope grown blind


s: That talked with us of old things out of mind,


s: Dreams, deeds and men the world has left behind;


s: Yet, though hope die, faith lives in hope's despite.


s: Ay, with hearts fixed on death and hopeless hands


s: We stand about our banner while it stands


s: Above but one field of the ruined lands;


s: Cry wellaway, but well befall the right.


s: Though France were given for prey to bird and beast,


s: Though Rome were rent in twain of king and priest,


s: The soul of man, the soul is safe at least


s: That gives death life and dead men hands to smite.


s: Are ye so strong, O kings, O strong men?  Nay,


s: Waste all ye will and gather all ye may,


s: Yet one thing is there that ye shall not slay,


s: Even thought, that fire nor iron can affright.


s: The woundless and invisible thought that goes


s: Free throughout time as north or south wind blows,


s: Far throughout space as east or west sea flows,


s: And all dark things before it are made bright.


s: Thy thought, thy word, O soul republican,


s: O spirit of life, O God whose name is man:


s: What sea of sorrows but thy sight shall span?


s: With all its coils crushed, all its rings uncurled,


s: The one most poisonous worm that soiled the world


s: Is wrenched from off the throat of man, and hurled


s: Into deep hell from empire's helpless height.


s: Like a dead snake divided of the plough,


s: The rotten thing lies cut in twain; but thou,


s: Thy fires shall heal us of the serpent's bite.


s: Ay, with red cautery and a burning brand


s: Purge thou the leprous leaven of the land;


s: Take to thee fire, and iron in thine hand,


s: Till blood and tears have washed the soiled limbs white.


s: We have sinned against thee in dreams and wicked sleep;


s: Smite, we will shrink not; strike, we will not weep;


s: Let the heart feel thee; let thy wound go deep;


s: Cry wellaway, but well befall the right.


s: Wound us with love, pierce us with longing, make


s: Our hearts for our sin-offerings lest they break,


s: And mould them with thine hands and give them might.


s: Then, when the cup of ills is drained indeed,


s: Will we come to thee with our wounds that bleed,


s: With famished mouths and hearts that thou shalt feed,


s: And see thee worshipped as the world's delight.


s: There shall be no more wars nor kingdoms won,


s: But in thy sight whose eyes are as the sun


s: All names shall be one name, all nations one,


s: All souls of men in man's one soul unite.


s: That heaven seems one with, shall these things not be?


s: O earth, our earth, shall time not make us free?


s: Songs that with storm-crossed wings and eyes


s: I charge you faint not all night through


s: For love's sake that was breathed on you


s: That sounds and smells of death, and hath


s: Seen through the black wind's tangled hair,


s: Whose blessings have not strength to bless


s: Nor smite with thunders of their thought.


s: One thought they have, even love; one light,


s: Truth, that keeps clear the sun by night;


s: "Let there be Rome"--and there was Rome.


s: Whereby the sun shines, and wherethrough


s: Law, life, and light, on the world's way,


s: The sun-god; from their star-like stations


s: Fled, crowned with fires of tribulations,


s: Drave with their dead things down the dark,


s: Helmless; their whole world, throne by throne,


s: Fell, and its whole heart turned to stone,


s: Hopeless; their hands that touched our ark


s: Thundering; then all hell with one throe


s: Heaved, and brought forth beneath the stroke


s: Death; and all dead things moved and woke


s: Thundering, and all the old world-wide woe;


s: Still with blind hands and robes blood-wet


s: With brows and lips that thirst and threat,


s: And shuddering ere dawn bursts her bars,


s: Still kings for fear and slaves for hate


s: Look back and stretch back hands to take


s: Gifts of night's giving, ease and sleep,


s: Flowers of night's grafting, strong to steep


s: That shift and veer by night like flames,


s: Shouts and blown trumpets, ghosts that glide


s: Strong hearts of men with hope and doubt.


s: Their young wings weaken, plume by plume


s: And close against man's frauds and feuds,


s: And their tongues call they know not whom


s: One light, one law, that burns up strife,


s: Sees force take dowerless fraud to wife,


s: Sees death made drunk with war, sees time


s: And whole flame of town-swallowing graves;


s: That hear the harsh hours clap sharp wings


s: From wreck to wreck as the world swings;


s: The fire wherewith their presence glows,


s: And breathes and burns men's hearts with heat;


s: And fast-bound fires that might burn clean


s: What they have seen, what they have heard,


s: Foiled with false trusts and thwart designs,


s: Stripped of green days and hopes in leaf,


s: Parts breathless heaven from breathing sea.


s: With scars and crowns on head and breast,


s: Thou sawest, when all the world was blind,


s: That taste the sweet dark sea, and swims


s: Right eastward under strengthening skies,


s: And laughs from all his heart with love;


s: Strikes, and sees all the spray flash red,


s: For joy wherewith the sea's heart burns;


s: In the ear of souls that should be free;


s: And seek strange helmsmen, and are slaves.


s: Then, as earth's helpless hopes go down,


s: Let earth's self in the dark tides drown.


s: Free, boundless, fearless, perfect, one,


s: Was it Love brake forth flower-fashion, a bird with gold on his


s: Her pilgrimage to Avignon to recall the Pope into Italy as its


s: chronicler who should do justice at once to the ardour of her


s: well-nigh nauseated with contemplation of endless sanctities and


s: Non vedo il lauro a il ferro ond' eran carchi


s: With black blood dripping from her eyes.


s: In lone Glenartney's thickets lies couched the lordly stag,


s: The dreaming terrier's tail forgets its customary wag;


s: And plodding ploughmen's weary steps insensibly grow quicker,


s: It is (in fact) the evening--that pure and pleasant time,


s: When stars break into splendour, and poets into rhyme;


s: When in the glass of Memory the forms of loved ones shine -


s: And when, of course, Miss Goodchild's is prominent in mine.


s: Miss Goodchild!--Julia Goodchild!--how graciously you smiled


s: Upon my childish passion once, yourself a fair-haired child:


s: When I was (no doubt) profiting by Dr. Crabb's instruction,


s: And sent those streaky lollipops home for your fairy suction!


s: "She wore" her natural "roses, the night when first we met" -


s: Her golden hair was gleaming 'neath the coercive net:


s: "Her brow was like the snawdrift," her step was like Queen Mab's,


s: The parlour-boarder chasseed tow'rds her on graceful limb;


s: The onyx decked his bosom--but her smiles were not for him:


s: With ME she danced--till drowsily her eyes "began to blink,"


s: And evermore, when winter comes in his garb of snows,


s: And the returning schoolboy is told how fast he grows;


s: Shall I--with that soft hand in mine--enact ideal Lancers,


s: And dream I hear demure remarks, and make impassioned answers:-


s: I know that never, never may her love for me return -


s: At night I muse upon the fact with undisguised concern -


s: But ever shall I bless that day:  (I don't bless, as a rule,


s: The days I spent at "Dr. Crabb's Preparatory School.")


s: And yet--we two MAY meet again--(Be still, my throbbing heart!) -


s: One night I saw a vision--'Twas when musk-roses bloom


s: I stood--WE stood--upon a rug, in a sumptuous dining-room:


s: One hand clasped hers--one easily reposed upon my hip -


s: And "BLESS YE!" burst abruptly from Mr. Goodchild's lip:


s: I raised my brimming eye, and saw in hers an answering gleam -


s: My heart beat wildly--and I woke, and lo! it was a dream.


s: From heaven to earth, from earth to heaven:


s: And tore our clothes, and inked our collars;


s: Real love, at that time, was the fashion;


s: His feet were large, his hands were pimply,


s: Of goose--I thought I should have fainted.


s: (None ever did that I've heard tell of;)


s: The town she was, of course, the belle of.


s: The thought--the dream--that she had offers.


s: When the school-bell cut short our strife,


s: In boy's veins, than in theirs whose cheeks


s: Friend--the 'long' but not 'stern swell,' {15a}


s: Drooped o'er saddened eyes, when vagrant


s: "Bring hither, bring hither my bag so red,


s: Fleet is his foot as the wild roebuck's:


s: Then forth in a hurry did they twain fare,


s: The gent, and the son of the stout porter,


s: Who fled like an arrow, nor turned a hair,


s: For by two of the clock must I needs away."


s: "That may hardly be," the clerk did say,


s: "The tender Grace of a day that is past."


s: Else, this heart shall soon cease throbbing;


s: Travellers ask, "Who killed Cock Robin?"


s: C is her Chaperone, who cheated at cards:


s: D is the Deuxtemps, with Frank of the Guards:


s: E is the Eye which those dark lashes cover:


s: I is the Ice which spent nature demanded:


s: J is the Juvenile who hurried to hand it:


s: L is the Lace which composed the chief part.


s: M is the old Maid who watch'd the girls dance:


s: N is the Nose she turned up at each glance:


s: P is the Partner who wouldn't keep time:


s: Q 's a Quadrille, put instead of the Lancers:


s: R the Remonstrances made by the dancers:


s: S is the Supper, where all went in pairs:


s: T is the Twaddle they talked on the stairs:


s: U is the Uncle who 'thought we'd be going':


s: V is the Voice which his niece replied 'No' in:


s: The night-wind's shriek is pitiless and hollow,


s: And I sit desolate, like that "one swallow"


s: Who found (with horror) that he'd not brought spring:


s: Lonely as he who erst with venturous thumb


s: Drew from its pie-y lair the solitary plum.


s: And to my gaze the phantoms of the Past,


s: The cherished fictions of my boyhood, rise:


s: The fixed expression of her grandam's eyes;


s: I hear the fiendish chattering and chuckling


s: Which those misguided fowls raised at the Ugly Duckling.


s: The House that Jack built--and the Malt that lay


s: Within the House--the Rat that ate the Malt -


s: Punished the poor thing for its venial fault -


s: The Worrier-Dog--the Cow with Crumpled horn -


s: And then--ah yes! and then--the Maiden all forlorn!


s: O Mrs. Gurton--(may I call thee Gammer?)


s: Thou more than mother to my infant mind!


s: I loved thee better than I loved my grammar -


s: I used to wonder why the Mice were blind,


s: And what--I don't know still--was meant by "quite contrary"?


s: Has phrased it--which is possibly explicit,


s: Still ask, when coming on the word, 'What is it?'


s: There were more things in Mrs. Gurton's eye,


s: Mayhap, than are dreamed of in our philosophy.


s: No doubt the Editor of 'Notes and Queries'


s: Or 'Things not generally known' could tell


s: That word's real force--my only lurking fear is


s: That the great Gammer "didna ken hersel":


s: For passing in this way to Scottish phraseology).


s: Alas, dear Madam, I must ask your pardon


s: Starting (I think) from Mistress Mary's garden:-


s: For Master G. to read at miscellaneous times.


s: There is a youth, who keeps a 'crumpled Horn,'


s: (Living next me, upon the selfsame story,)


s: And ever, 'twixt the midnight and the morn,


s: The tune is good; the habit p'raps romantic;


s: But tending, if pursued, to drive one's neighbours frantic.


s: When the young Dawn is "trampling out the stars," -


s: I hear that youth--with more than usual power


s: And pathos--struggling with the first few bars.


s: Should be put down by law--but that's perhaps Utopian.


s: Who knows what "things unknown" I might have "bodied


s: Forth," if not checked by that absurd Too-too?


s: But don't I know that when my friend has plodded


s: Through the first verse, the second will ensue?


s: Considering which, dear Madam, I will merely


s: Send the aforesaid book--and am yours most sincerely.


s: Mentioned "rent," which "p'raps I'd pay;"


s: Now o'er the landscape crowd the deepening shades,


s: The red deer couches in the forest glades,


s: And faint the echoes of the slumberous sea:


s: And ere I rest, one prayer I'll breathe for thee,


s: Thoughts of thee linger, as the soft starbeams


s: Linger on Merlin's rock, or dark Sabrina's streams.


s: And watch far off the glimmering roselight break


s: O'er the dim mountain-peaks, ere yet one ray


s: Pierced the deep bosom of the mist-clad lake.


s: Oh! who felt not new life within him wake,


s: And his pulse quicken, and his spirit burn -


s: (Save one we wot of, whom the cold DID make


s: Feel "shooting pains in every joint in turn,")


s: When first he saw the sun gild thy green shores, Lucerne?


s: And years have past, and I have gazed once more


s: On blue lakes glistening beneath mountains blue;


s: And all seemed sadder, lovelier than before -


s: Of that red matron, whom the flies would worry,


s: (Flies in those parts unfortunately do,)


s: Who walked so slowly, talked in such a hurry,


s: And with such wild contempt for stops and Lindley Murray!


s: O Isabel, the brightest, heavenliest theme


s: Since "Peggy's locks" made Burns neglect his team,


s: And Stella's smile lured Johnson from his tea -


s: I may not tell thee what thou art to me!


s: But ever dwells the soft voice in my ear,


s: Whispering of what Time is, what Man might be,


s: Would he but "do the duty that lies near,"


s: And cut clubs, cards, champagne, balls, billiard-rooms, and beer.


s: "Dr. Birch's young friends will reassemble to-day, Feb. 1st."


s: What all young ladies, whate'er their grade is,


s: And hint in fact, with your well-known tact,


s: With vest blood-spotted and cut carotid,


s: Through the streets, with tranquil mind,


s: In those old days which poets say were golden -


s: (Perhaps they laid the gilding on themselves:


s: And, if they did, I'm all the more beholden


s: To those brown dwellers in my dusty shelves,


s: Who talk to me "in language quaint and olden"


s: Of gods and demigods and fauns and elves,


s: Pans with his pipes, and Bacchus with his leopards,


s: And staid young goddesses who flirt with shepherds:)


s: In those old days, the Nymph called Etiquette


s: (Appalling thought to dwell on) was not born.


s: They had their May, but no Mayfair as yet,


s: No fashions varying as the hues of morn.


s: Just as they pleased they dressed and drank and ate,


s: Sang hymns to Ceres (their John Barleycorn)


s: And danced unchaperoned, and laughed unchecked,


s: Yet do I think their theory was pleasant:


s: And oft, I own, my 'wayward fancy roams'


s: Back to those times, so different from the present;


s: When no one smoked cigars, nor gave At-homes,


s: Nor smote a billiard-ball, nor winged a pheasant,


s: Nor 'did' their hair by means of long-tailed combs,


s: Nor--most astonishing of all--drank Beer.


s: No, they did not drink Beer, "which brings me to"


s: (As Gilpin said) "the middle of my song."


s: Not that "the middle" is precisely true,


s: Or else I should not tax your patience long:


s: I was unlucky--sinned against, not sinning -


s: When Cowper wrote down 'middle' for 'beginning.'


s: So to proceed.  That abstinence from Malt


s: Has always struck me as extremely curious.


s: The Greek mind must have had some vital fault,


s: That they should stick to liquors so injurious -


s: (Wine, water, tempered p'raps with Attic salt) -


s: And not at once invent that mild, luxurious,


s: And artful beverage, Beer.  How the digestion


s: Got on without it, is a startling question.


s: Such as dyspepsia might make attacks on?


s: Were they abstract ideas--(like Tom Noddy


s: And Mr. Briggs)--or men, like Jones and Jackson?


s: Then Nectar--was that beer, or whiskey-toddy?


s: Some say the Gaelic mixture, _I_ the Saxon:


s: I think a strict adherence to the latter


s: Might make some Scots less pigheaded, and fatter.


s: That the real beverage for feasting gods on


s: Is a soft compound, grateful to the nose


s: And also to the palate, known as 'Hodgson.'


s: To be a peer:  and this I would lay odds on,


s: (Though in his Memoirs it may not appear,)


s: That that man owed his rise to copious Beer.


s: Names that should be on every infant's tongue!


s: Shall days and months and years and centuries pass,


s: And still your merits be unrecked, unsung?


s: And wished that lyre could yet again be strung


s: Which once rang prophet-like through Greece, and taught her


s: Misguided sons that "the best drink was water."


s: How would he now recant that wild opinion,


s: And sing--as would that I could sing--of you!


s: I was not born (alas!) the "Muses' minion,"


s: And he (we know) but strives with waxen pinion,


s: Sponsor at last to some now nameless sea.


s: Oh! when the green slopes of Arcadia burned


s: And on Cithaeron's brow the reaper turned,


s: (Humming, of course, in his delightful way,


s: The Nymphs were when they saw his lifeless clay;


s: And how rock told to rock the dreadful story


s: That poor young Lycidas was gone to glory:)


s: What would that lone and labouring soul have given,


s: How had the mists that dimmed his eye been riven,


s: If his own grandmother had died unshriven,


s: In two short seconds he'd have recked it not;


s: Such power hath Beer.  The heart which Grief hath canker'd


s: Coffee is good, and so no doubt is cocoa;


s: Was written, real Falernian winged the pen.


s: When a rapt audience has encored 'Fra Poco'


s: Recruits her flagging powers with bottled stout.


s: But what is coffee, but a noxious berry,


s: What is Falernian, what is Port or Sherry,


s: But vile concoctions to make dull heads ache?


s: Nay stout itself--(though good with oysters, very) -


s: Is not a thing your reading man should take.


s: He that would shine, and petrify his tutor,


s: Should drink draught Allsop in its "native pewter."


s: But hark! a sound is stealing on my ear -


s: A soft and silvery sound--I know it well.


s: Its tinkling tells me that a time is near


s: O blessed Bell!  Thou bringest beef and beer,


s: Thou bringest good things more than tongue may tell:


s: Seared is (of course) my heart--but unsubdued


s: But on one statement I may safely venture;


s: I go.  One pound of British beef, and then


s: What Mr. Swiveller called a "modest quencher;"


s: That home-returning, I may 'soothly say,'


s: "Fate cannot touch me:  I have dined to-day."


s: (The bench is short, but I am shorter) -


s: Flanked by stout girls with steeple hats,


s: Print a tale so dark as thou could'st tell!


s: In the sapphire West the eve yet lingered,


s: Bathed in kindly light those hill-tops cold;


s: Fringed each cloud, and, stooping rosy-fingered,


s: Changed Rhine's waters into molten gold; -


s: While still nearer did his light waves splinter


s: Into silvery shafts the streaming light;


s: For the glory that was thine that night.


s: Like a day-dream, passed the pageant by,


s: And I saw but those lone hills, uprearing


s: Then I turned, and on those bright hopes pondered


s: Ah! why starts each eyeball from its socket,


s: As, in Hamlet, start the guilty Queen's?


s: There, deep-hid in its accustomed pocket,


s: Lay my sole pipe, smashed to smithereens!


s: Streets, which foot of traveller shrinks from,


s: There, the long dim galleries threading,


s: Thence we turned, what time the blackbird


s: I marked a big tear quivering on the lid


s: Of her deep-lustrous eye, and knew that hers


s: Were days of bitterness.  But, "Oh! what stirs"


s: I said "such storm within so fair a breast?"


s: Came feebly up:  with one wild cry she prest


s: Each singly to her heart, and faltered, "Heaven be blest!"


s: Of a black ship that steamed towards Blackwall.


s: She walked upon MY FIRST.  Her stately neck


s: Bent o'er an object shrouded in her shawl:


s: I could not see the tears--the glad tears--fall,


s: Yet knew they fell.  And "Ah," I said, "not puppies,


s: From hearts who KNOW what tasting misery's cup is,


s: As Niobe's, or mine, or Mr. William Guppy's."


s: Spake John Grogblossom the coachman to Eliza Spinks the cook:


s: Then Eliza Spinks made answer, blushing, to the coachman John:


s: "John, I'm born and bred a spinster:  I've begun and I'll go on.


s: Endless cares and endless worrits, well I knows it, has a wife:


s: Cooking for a genteel family, John, it's a goluptious life!


s: There's soci'ty--James the footman;--(not that I look after him;


s: But he's aff'ble in his manners, with amazing length of limb;) -


s: "Never durst the missis enter here until I've said 'Come in':


s: If I saw the master peeping, I'd catch up the rolling-pin.


s: I have read in some not marvellous tale,


s: To be vanished and gone, tho' the lamps upon


s: And his head sunk down, and a Lethe crept


s: O'er his powerful brain, and the young man slept.


s: Then they laid him with care in his moonlit bed:


s: But first--having thoughtfully fetched some tar -


s: Adorned him with feathers, aware that the weather's


s: Uncertainty brings on at nights catarrh.


s: They staid in his room till the sun was high:


s: But still did the feathered one give no sign


s: Of opening a peeper--he might be a sleeper


s: Such as rests on the Northern or Midland line.


s: Dropped one, then both feet to the ground,


s: Up, by an ingenious movement, trousers innocent of brace,


s: Briskly flourishing a cudgel in his pleased companion's face;


s: If he preluded with hornpipes each successive thing he did,


s: From a sun-browned cheek extracting still an ostentatious quid;


s: And expectorated freely, and occasionally cursed:-


s: Then have you beheld, depicted by a master's hand, MY FIRST.


s: O my countryman! if ever from thy arm the bolster sped,


s: In thy school-days, with precision at a young companion's head;


s: If 'twas thine to lodge the marble in the centre of the ring,


s: Or with well-directed pebble make the sitting hen take wing:


s: When along the misty valleys fieldward winds the lowing herd,


s: And the early worm is being dropped on by the early bird;


s: And the myriad voice of Nature calls thee to MY SECOND up:-


s: Hie thee to the breezy common, where the melancholy goose


s: Stalks, and the astonished donkey finds that he is really loose;


s: Till a stiffness seize thy elbows, and the general public wake -


s: Now have skirts, and minds, grown ampler;


s: Smiled, as--springing from the war-horse


s: 'Twill be done, ere your eye may twinkle.


s: Shall I borrow the wand of a Moorish enchanter,


s: And bid a decanter contain the Levant, or


s: The brass from the face of a Mormonite ranter?


s: Shall I go for the mule of the Spanish Infantar -


s: (That _R_, for the sake of the line, we must grant her,) -


s: And race with the foul fiend, and beat in a canter,


s: Like that first of equestrians Tam o' Shanter?


s: I talk not mere banter--say not that I can't, or


s: Sold it me to kill rats)--I will die instanter."


s: Whispered mournfully, "Go for--MY SECOND."


s: She said, and the red from Sir Hugh's cheek fled,


s: And "Nay," did he say, as he stalked away


s: And on bended knee I have pressed MY WHOLE -


s: So, with such noise, poured down MY FIRST,


s: "Buttons, I think there's thieves about;


s: And--conscious p'raps of pleasing caps -


s: And "Things," thought he of Houndsditch,


s: While one hope lingers, the cracksman's fingers


s: Art thou beautiful, O my daughter, as the budding rose of April?


s: Are all thy motions music, and is poetry throned in thine eye?


s: Then hearken unto me; and I will make the bud a fair flower,


s: Study first Propriety:  for she is indeed the Polestar


s: I walked in the Forest; and above me stood the Yew,


s: Stood like a slumbering giant, shrouded in impenetrable shade;


s: He that can afford the price, his be the precious treasure,


s: Learn how "love is the dram-drinking of existence;"


s: And how we "invoke, in the Gadara of our still closets,


s: And how Devereux's family chaplain "made and unmade kings:"


s: How Eugene Aram, though a thief, a liar, and a murderer,


s: Yet, being intellectual, was amongst the noblest of mankind.


s: Yet once more, O ye laurels! and once more


s: I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude,


s: Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.


s: Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear,


s: For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime,


s: Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer:


s: Who would not sing for Lycidas?  He knew


s: Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.


s: Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,


s: Without the meed of some melodious tear.


s: Begin then, sisters, of the sacred well,


s: That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring;


s: Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string.


s: With lucky words favour my destined urn,


s: And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud:


s: For we were nursed upon the self-same hill,


s: Fed the same flock by fountain, shade, and rill.


s: Together both, ere the high lawns appeared


s: We drove afield, and both together heard


s: What time the gray fly winds her sultry horn,


s: Battening our flocks with the fresh dews of night,


s: Oft till the star that rose, at evening, bright,


s: Toward Heaven's descent had sloped his westering wheel.


s: Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute,


s: Rough satyrs danced, and fauns with cloven heel


s: From the glad sound would not be absent long,


s: And old Damaetas loved to hear our song.


s: But oh, the heavy change, now thou art gone,


s: Now thou art gone, and never must return!


s: Thee, shepherd, thee the woods, and desert caves


s: With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown,


s: The willows, and the hazel copses green,


s: Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays.


s: Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze,


s: Or frost to flowers, that their gay wardrobe wear,


s: Such, Lycidas, thy loss to shepherd's ear


s: Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep


s: Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas?


s: For neither were ye playing on the steep,


s: Where your old bards, the famous Druids, lie;


s: Nor yet where Deva spreads her wizard stream:


s: Had ye been there, for what could that have done?


s: What could the muse herself that Orpheus bore,


s: The muse herself for her enchanting son,


s: When by the rout that made the hideous roar,


s: His gory visage down the stream was sent,


s: Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore?


s: To tend the homely slighted shepherd's trade,


s: And strictly meditate the thankless muse?


s: Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise


s: To scorn delights, and live laborious days,


s: But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,


s: And think to burst out into sudden blaze,


s: Comes the blind fury with the abhorred shears,


s: And slits the thin-spun life.  "But not the praise,"


s: Phoebus replied, and touched my trembling ears;


s: "Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,


s: Set off to the world, nor in broad rumour lies,


s: But lives and spreads aloft by those pure eyes,


s: And perfect witness of all-judging Jove;


s: Of so much fame in Heaven expect thy meed."


s: O fountain Arethuse, and thou honoured flood,


s: Smooth-sliding Mincius, crowned with vocal reeds,


s: That strain I heard was of a higher mood:


s: He asked the waves, and asked the felon winds,


s: What hard mishap had doomed this gentle swain?


s: And questioned every gust of rugged wings,


s: That blows from off each beaked promontory:


s: And sage Hippotades their answer brings,


s: That not a blast was from his dungeon strayed,


s: The air was calm, and on the level brine


s: Sleek Panope with all her sisters played.


s: Built in the eclipse, and rigged with curses dark,


s: That sunk so low that sacred head of thine.


s: Next Camus, reverend sire, went footing slow,


s: Inwrought with figures dim, and on the edge,


s: Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe.


s: "Ah! who hath reft," quoth he, "my dearest pledge?"


s: (The golden opes, the iron shuts amain).


s: He shook his mitred locks, and stern bespake:


s: "How well could I have spared for thee, young swain,


s: Creep, and intrude, and climb into the fold!


s: Of other care they little reckoning make,


s: Than how to scramble at the shearer's feast,


s: Blind mouths! that scarce themselves know how to hold


s: A sheep-hook, or have learned aught else the least


s: That to the faithful herdsman's art belongs!


s: What reeks it them?  What need they?  They are sped;


s: And when they list, their lean and flashy songs


s: Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw;


s: The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,


s: But swollen with wind, and the rank mist they draw,


s: Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread:


s: Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw


s: Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more."


s: Return, Alpheus, the dread voice is past,


s: That shrunk thy streams; return, Sicilian muse,


s: And call the vales, and bid them hither cast


s: Their bells and flowerets of a thousand hues.


s: Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers use


s: Of shades, and wanton winds, and gushing brooks,


s: On whose fresh lap the swart star sparely looks,


s: Throw hither all your quaint enamelled eyes,


s: That on the green turf suck the honeyed showers,


s: And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.


s: Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies,


s: The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine,


s: The white pink, and the pansy freaked with jet,


s: The musk-rose, and the well-attired woodbine,


s: With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head,


s: And every flower that sad embroidery wears:


s: And daffodillies fill their cups with tears,


s: To strow the laureate hearse where Lycid lies.


s: Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise.


s: Ay me! whilst thee the shores and sounding seas


s: Wash far away, where ere thy bones are hurled,


s: Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide


s: Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world;


s: Or whether thou, to our moist vows denied,


s: Where the great vision of the guarded mount


s: Looks toward Namancos and Bayona's hold;


s: Look homeward, angel now, and melt with ruth:


s: And, O ye dolphins, waft the hapless youth.


s: Weep no more, woeful shepherds, weep no more,


s: Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor;


s: And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore


s: Flames in the forehead of the morning sky:


s: Through the dear might of him that walked the waves,


s: Where other groves and other streams along,


s: With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,


s: And hears the unexpressive nuptial song,


s: In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.


s: There entertain him all the saints above,


s: That sing, and singing in their glory move,


s: And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.


s: Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more;


s: Henceforth thou art the genius of the shore,


s: In thy large recompense, and shalt be good


s: To all that wander in that perilous flood.


s: Thus sang the uncouth swain to the oaks and rills,


s: While the still morn went out with sandals gray,


s: He touched the tender stops of various quills,


s: With eager thought warbling his Doric lay:


s: And now the sun had stretched out all the hills,


s: And now was dropped into the western bay;


s: At last he rose, and twitched his mantle blue,


s: Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.


s: En! iterum laurus, iterum salvete myricae


s: Pallentes, nullique hederae quae ceditis aevo.


s: Has venio baccas, quanquam sapor asper acerbis,


s: Decerptum, quassumque manu folia ipsa proterva,


s: Maturescentem praevortens improbus annum.


s: Causa gravis, pia cansa, subest, et amara deum lex;


s: Nec jam sponte mea vobis rata tempora turbo.


s: Nam periit Lycidas, periit superante juventa


s: Imberbis Lycidas, quo non praestantior alter.


s: Quis cantare super Lycida neget?  Ipse quoque artem


s: Norat Apollineam, versumque imponere versu


s: Non nullo vitreum fas innatet ille feretrum


s: Flente, voluteturque arentes corpus ad auras,


s: Indotatum adeo et lacrymae vocalis egenum.


s: Quare agite, o sacri fontis queis cura, sorores,


s: Cui sub inaccessi sella Jovis exit origo:


s: Incipite, et sonitu graviore impellite chordas.


s: Lingua procul male prompta loqui, suasorque morarum


s: Sit pudor:  alloquiis ut mollior una secundis


s: Pieridum faveat, cui mox ego destiner, urnae:


s: Et gressus praetergrediens convertat, et "Esto"


s: Dicat "amoena quies atra tibi veste latenti:"


s: Pavit uterque greges ad fontem et rivulum et umbram.


s: Tempore nos illo, nemorum convexa priusquam,


s: Aurora reserante oculos, caepere videri,


s: Urgebamus equos ad pascua:  novimus horam


s: Aridus audiri solitus qua clangor asili;


s: Rore recentes greges passi pinguescere noctis


s: Saepius, albuerat donec quod vespere sidus


s: Hesperios axes prono inclinasset Olympo.


s: Fistula disparibus quas temperat apta cicutis:


s: Saltabant Satyri informes, nec murmure laeto


s: Capripedes potuere diu se avertere Fauni;


s: Damaetasque modos nostros longaevus amabat.


s: Jamque, relicta tibi, quantum mutata videntur


s: Rura--relicta tibi, cui non spes ulla regressus!


s: Te sylvae, teque antra, puer, deserta ferarum,


s: Incultis obducta thymis ac vite sequaci,


s: Decessisse gemunt; gemitusque reverberat Echo.


s: Non salices, non glauca ergo coryleta videbo


s: Molles ad numeros laetum motare cacumen:-


s: Quale rosis scabies; quam formidabile vermis


s: Depulso jam lacte gregi, dum tondet agellos;


s: Sive quod, indutis verna jam veste, pruinae


s: Floribus, albet ubi primum paliurus in agris:


s: Tale fuit nostris, Lycidam periisse, bubulcis.


s: Qua, Nymphae, latuistis, ubi crudele profundum


s: Delicias Lycidam vestras sub vortice torsit?


s: Nam neque vos scopulis tum ludebatis in illis


s: Quos veteres, Druidae, Vates, illustria servant


s: Nomina; nec celsae setoso in culmine Monae,


s: Nec, quos Deva locos magicis amplectitur undis.


s: Vae mihi! delusos exercent somnia sensus:


s: Venissetis enim; numquid venisse juvaret?


s: Numquid Pieris ipsa parens interfuit Orphei,


s: Pieris ipsa suae sobolis, qui carmine rexit


s: Corda virum, quem terra olim, quam magna, dolebat,


s: Tempore quo, dirum auditu strepitante caterva,


s: Ora secundo amni missa, ac foedata cruore,


s: Lesbia praecipitans ad litora detulit Hebrus?


s: Eheu quid prodest noctes instare diesque


s: Pastorum curas spretas humilesque tuendo,


s: Nilque relaturam meditari rite Camoenam?


s: Nonne fuit satius lusus agitare sub umbra,


s: (Ut mos est aliis,) Amaryllida sive Neaeram


s: Sectanti, ac tortis digitum impediisse capillis?


s: Scilcet ingenuum cor Fama, novissimus error


s: Illa animi majoris, uti calcaribus urget


s: Spernere delicias ac dedi rebus agendis.


s: Quanquam--exoptatam jam spes attingere dotem;


s: Jam nec opinata remur splendescere flamma:-


s: Caeca sed invisa cum forfice venit Erinnys,


s: Quae resecet tenui haerentem subtemine vitam.


s: "At Famam non illa," refert, tangitque trementes


s: Phoebus Apollo aures.  "Fama haud, vulgaris ad instar


s: Floris, amat terrestre solum, fictosque nitores


s: Queis inhiat populus, nec cum Rumore patescit.


s: Vivere dant illi, dant increbrescere late


s: Puri oculi ac vox summa Jovis, cui sola Potestas.


s: Fecerit ille semel de facto quoque virorum


s: Arbitrium:  tantum famae manet aethera nactis."


s: Fons Arethusa! sacro placidus qui laberis alveo,


s: Frontem vocali praetextus arundine, Minci!


s: Sensi equidem gravius carmen.  Nunc cetera pastor


s: Exsequor.  Adstat enim missus pro rege marino,


s: Seque rogasse refert fluctus, ventosque rapaces,


s: Quae sors dura nimis tenerum rapuisset agrestem.


s: Compellasse refert alarum quicquid ab omni


s: Spirat, acerba sonans, scopulo, qui cuspidis instar


s: Prominet in pelagus; fama haud pervenerat illuc.


s: Haec ultro pater Hippotades responsa ferebat:


s: "Nulli sunt,nostro palati carcere venti.


s: Straverat aequor aquas, et sub Jove compta sereno


s: Lusum exercebat Panope nymphaeque sorores.


s: Quam Furiae struxere per interlunia, leto


s: Fetam ac fraude ratem,--malos velarat Erinnys, -


s: Credas in mala tanta caput mersisse sacratum."


s: Cui setosa chlamys, cui pileus ulva:  figuris


s: Idem intertextus dubiis erat, utque cruentos


s: Quos perhibent flores, inscriptus margine luctum.


s: "Nam quis," ait, "praedulce meum me pignus ademit?"


s: Post hos, qui Galilaea regit per stagna carinas,


s: Post hos venit iturus:  habet manus utraque clavim,


s: (Queis aperit clauditque) auro ferrove gravatam.


s: Mitra tegit crines; quassis quibus, acriter infit:


s: "Scilicet optassem pro te dare corpora leto


s: Sat multa, o juvenis:  quot serpunt ventribus acti,


s: Vi quot iter faciunt spretis in ovilia muris.


s: Hic labor, hoc opus est, pecus ut tondente magistro


s: Praeripiant epulas, trudatur dignior hospes.


s: Capti oculis, non ore! pedum tractare nec ipsi


s: Norunt; quotve bonis sunt upilionibus artes.


s: Sed quid enim refert, quove eat opus, omnia nactis?


s: Fert ubi mens, tenue ac deductum carmen avenam


s: Radit stridentem stipulis.  Pastore negato


s: Suspicit aegra pecus:  vento gravis ac lue tracta


s: Tabescit; mox foeda capit contagia vulgus.


s: Quid dicam, stabulis ut clandestinus oberrans


s: Expleat ingluviem tristis lupus, indice nullo?


s: Illa tamen bimanus custodit machina portam,


s: Stricta, paratque malis plagam non amplius unam."


s: En, Alphee, redi!  Quibus ima cohorruit unda


s: Voces praeteriere:  redux quoque Sicelis omnes


s: Musa voca valles; huc pendentes hyacinthos


s: Fac jaciant, teneros huc flores mille colorum.


s: O nemorum depressa, sonant ubi crebra susurri


s: Umbrarum, et salientis aquae, Zephyrique protervi;


s: Queisque virens gremium penetrare Canicula parcit:


s: Picturata modis jacite huc mihi lumina miris,


s: Mellitos imbres queis per viridantia rura


s: Mos haurire, novo quo tellus vere rubescat.


s: Huc ranunculus, ipse arbos, pallorque ligustri,


s: Quaeque relicta perit, vixdum matura feratur


s: Pnimula:  quique ebeno distinctus, caetera flavet


s: Flos, et qui specie nomen detrectat eburna.


s: Ardenti violae rosa proxima fundat odores;


s: Serpyllumque placens, et acerbo flexile vultu


s: Verbascum, ac tristem si quid sibi legit amictum.


s: Quicquid habes pulcri fundas, amarante:  coronent


s: Narcissi lacrymis calices, sternantque feretrum


s: Tectus ubi lauro Lycidas jacet:  adsit ut oti


s: Saltem aliquid, ficta ludantur imagine mentes.


s: Me miserum!  Tua nam litus, pelagusque sonorum


s: Ossa ferunt, queiscunque procul jacteris in oris;


s: Sive procellosas ultra Symplegadas ingens


s: Jam subter mare visis, alit quae monstra profundum;


s: Sive (negavit enim precibus te Jupiter udis)


s: Cum sene Bellero, veterum qui fabula, dormis,


s: Namancum atque arces longe prospectat Iberas.


s: Verte retro te, verte deum, mollire precando:


s: Et vos infaustum juvenem delphines agatis.


s: Ponite jam lacrymas, sat enim flevistis, agrestes.


s: Non periit Lycidas, vestri moeroris origo,


s: Marmorei quanquam fluctus hausere cadentem.


s: Sic et in aequoreum se condere saepe cubile


s: Luciferum videas; nec longum tempus, et effert


s: Demissum caput, igne novo vestitus; et, aurum


s: Ceu rutilans, in fronte poli splendescit Eoi.


s: Sic obiit Lycidas, sic assurrexit in altum;


s: Illo, quem peditem mare sustulit, usus amico.


s: Nunc campos alios, alia errans stagna secundum,


s: Rorantesque lavans integro nectare crines,


s: Audit inauditos nobis cantari Hymenaeos,


s: Laetitiamque affert.  Hic illum, quotquot Olympum


s: Praedulces habitant turbae, venerabilis ordo,


s: Circumstant:  aliaeque canunt, interque canendum


s: Majestate sua veniunt abeuntque catervae,


s: Omnes ex oculis lacrymas arcere paratae.


s: Ergo non Lycidam jam lamentantur agrestes.


s: Divus eris ripae, puer, hoc ex tempore nobis,


s: Grande, nec immerito, veniens in munus; opemque


s: Poscent usque tuam, dubiis quot in aestubus errant.


s: Haec incultus aquis puer ilicibusque canebat;


s: Processit dum mane silens talaribus albis.


s: Multa manu teneris discrimina tentat avenis,


s: Dorica non studio modulatus carmina segni:


s: Et jam sol abiens colles extenderat omnes,


s: Jamque sub Hesperium se praecipitaverat alveum.


s: Surrexit tandem, glaucumque retraxit amictum;


s: Cras lucos, reor, ille novos, nova pascua quaeret.


s: That breaks the coast.  But fetch the wine,


s: O quot odoriferi voitatis in aere venti,


s: Tuque sedens Parnassus ubi caput erigit ingens,


s: Dextra veni, Clio:  teque docente canam.


s: Jam suaves somnos Tholus affectare Theatri


s: Alectus consanguineam quo tempore Erinnyn,


s: Lustra sed ecce labans claudo pede Lemnia linquit


s: Teter habet Venerem terribilisque Cyclops.


s: Electri nebulas, potioraque somnia vero;


s: Quotque placent pueris gaudia, quotque joci;


s: Omnia tristiae fas concessisse superbae:


s: Admissum Pietas scitque premitque nefas.


s: Respice!  Nonne vides ut Erostratus alter ad aedem


s: Rursus agat flammas, spreta Diana, tuam?


s: Mox, Acheronteis quas Parca eduxit ab antris,


s: O ubi purpurei motus pueri alitis? o qui


s: Me mihi turbineis surripis, angor, aquis!


s: Duc, labyrintheum, duc me, mare, tramite recto


s: Quo rapidi fontes, pigra caterva, ruunt!


s: Jamque--soporat enim pectus Vindicta Virago;


s: Gorgoneique greges praeceps (adverte!) feruntur -


s: Sim, precor, o! semper sim tibi junctus ego.


s: And flowers to wither at the North-wind's breath,


s: Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!


s: Eve for glad meetings at the joyous hearth,


s: Night for the dreams of sleep, the voice of prayer,


s: But all for thee, thou mightiest of the earth!


s: The feverish hour of mirth and song and wine:


s: There comes a day for grief's overwhelming shower,


s: A time for softer tears:  but all are thine.


s: May look like things too glorious for decay,


s: And smile at thee!--but thou art not of those


s: That wait the ripen'd bloom to seize their prey!


s: Sed, Mors, cuncta tibi tempera vindicas.


s: "Let us turn hitherward our bark," they cried,


s: "And, 'mid the blisses of this happy isle,


s: And then, refreshed, our tasks resume again,


s: O heroes, sprung from many a godlike line,


s: What will ye do, unmindful of your fame,


s: But they, by these prevailing voices now


s: Lured, evermore draw nearer to the land,


s: Nor saw the wrecks of many a goodly prow,


s: Or seeing, feared not--warning taking none


s: From the plain doom of all who went before,


s: Whose bones lay bleaching in the wind and sun,


s: "Quin hue," fremebant, "dirigimus ratem:


s: "Qucquid agunt homines, nostri est farrago libelli."


s: Acris hyems jam venit:  hyems genus omne perosa


s: Foemineum, et senibus glacies non aequa rotundis:


s: Apparent rari stantes in tramite glauco;


s: Radit iter, cogitque nives, sua tela, juventus.


s: Trux matrona ruit, multos dominata per annos,


s: Digna indigna minans, glomeratque volumina crurum;


s: Per plateas bacchatur; eum chorus omnis agrestum


s: Ridet anhelantem frustra, et jam jamque tenentem


s: Quod petit; illud agunt venti prensumque resorbent.


s: Post, ubi compositus tandem votique potitus


s: Sedit humi; flet crura tuens nive candida lenta,


s: Et vestem laceram, et venturas conjugis iras:


s: Itque domum tendens duplices ad sidera palmas,


s: At juvenis (sed cruda viro viridisque juventus)


s: Quaerit bacciferas, tunica pendente, {145a} tabernas:


s: Pervigil ecce Baco furva depromit ab arca


s: Splendidius quiddam solito, plenumque saporem


s: Laudat, et antiqua jurat de stripe Jamaicae.


s: Manillas vocat; hoc praetexit nomine caules.


s: Scire potestates herbarum, te quoque quanti


s: Circumstent casus, paucis (adverte) docebo.


s: Praecipue, seu raptat amor te simplicis herbae, {145b}


s: Procuratorem fugito, nam ferreus idem est.


s: Candida:  de coelo descendit [Greek text].


s: Nube vaporis item conspergere praeter euntes


s: Jura vetant, notumque furens quid femina possit:


s: Odit enim dulces succos anus, odit odorem;


s: Mille modis reliqui fugiuntque feruntque laborem.


s: Hic vir ad Eleos, pedibus talaria gestans,


s: Fervidus it latices, nec quidquam acquirit eundo:  {146a}


s: Ille petit virides (sed non e gramine) mensas,


s: Pollicitus meliora patri, tormentaque {146b} flexus


s: Per labyrintheos plus quam mortalia tentat,


s: Acre tuens, loculisque pilas immittit et aufert.


s: Sunt alii, quos frigus aquae, tenuisque phaselus


s: Captat, et aequali surgentes ordine remi.


s: His edura cutis, nec ligno rasile tergum;


s: Par saxi sinus:  esca boves cum robore Bassi.


s: Tollunt in numerum fera brachia, vique feruntur


s: Per fluctus:  sonuere viae clamore secundo:


s: Et picea de puppe fremens immane bubulcus


s: Invocat exitium cunctis, et verbera rapto


s: Stipite defessis onerat graviora caballis.


s: Nil humoris egent alii.  Labor arva vagari,


s: Flectere ludus equos, et amantem devia {147a} currum.


s: Nosco purpureas vestes, clangentia nosco


s: Signa tubae, et caudas inter virgulta caninas.


s: Stat venator equus, tactoque ferocior armo


s: Surgit in arrectum, vix auditurus habenam;


s: Et jam prata fuga superat, jam flumina saltu.


s: In caput, ut scrobibus quae sint fastigia quaerant;


s: Eque rubis aut amne pigro trahere humida crura,


s: Et foedam faciem, defloccatumque galerum.


s: Sanctius his animal, cui quadravisse rotundum {148a}


s: Musae suadet amor, Camique ardentis imago,


s: Inspicat calamos contracta fronte malignos,


s: Perque Mathematicum pelagus, loca turbida, anhelat.


s: Circum dirus "Hymers," nec pondus inutile, "Lignum,"


s: "Salmoque," et pueris tu detestate, "Colenso,"


s: Ungue omnes, omnes insignes aure canina. {148b}


s: Fervet opus; tacitum pertentant gaudia pectus


s: Tutorum; "pulchrumque mori," dixere, "legendo."


s: Nec vero juvenes facere omnes omnia possunt.


s: Atque unum memini ipse, deus qui dictus amicis,


s: Et multum referens de rixatore {148c} secundo,


s: Nocte terens ulnas ac scrinia, solus in alto


s: Degebat tripode; arcta viro vilisque supellex;


s: Et sic torva tuens, pedibus per mutua nexis,


s: Sedit, lacte mero mentem mulcente tenellam.


s: Et fors ad summos tandem venisset honores;


s: Sed rapidi juvenes, queis gratior usus equorum,


s: Subveniunt, siccoque vetant inolescere libro.


s: Improbus hos Lector pueros, mentumque virili


s: Laevius, et durae gravat inclementia Mortis:  {149a}


s: Agmen iners; queis mos aliena vivere quadra, {149b}


s: Et lituo vexare viros, calcare caballos.


s: Torquibus in rigidis et pelle Libystidis ursae;


s: Admiramur opus {149c} tunicae, vestemque {149d} sororem


s: Iridis, et crurum non enarrabile tegmen.


s: Hos inter comites implebat pocula sorbis


s: Infelix puer, et sese reereabat ad ignem,


s: "Evoe, {150a} BASSE," fremens:  dum velox praeterit aetas;


s: Venit summa dies; et Junior Optimus exit.


s: Saucius at juvenis nota intra tecta refugit,


s: Horrendum ridens, lucemque miserrimus odit:


s: Informem famulus laqueum pendentiaque ossa


s: Mane videt, refugitque feri meminisse magistri.


s: Di nobis meliora!  Modum re servat in omni


s: Qui sapit:  haud ilium semper recubare sub umbra,


s: Haud semper madidis juvat impallescere chartis.


s: Nos numerus sumus, et libros consumere nati;


s: Sed requies sit rebus; amant alterna Camenae.


s: Nocte dieque legas, cum tertius advenit annus:


s: Tum libros cape; claude fores, et prandia defer.


s: Quartus venit:  ini, {150b} rebus jam rite paratis,


s: Exultans, et coge gradum conferre magistros.


s: His animadversis, fugies immane Barathrum.


s: His, operose puer, si qua fata aspera rumpas,


s: Tu rixator eris.  Saltem non crebra revises


s: Ad stabulum, {151a} et tota moerens carpere juventa;


s: Classe nec amisso nil profectura dolentem


s: Tradet ludibriis te plena leporis HIRUDO. {151b}


s: Yet on fresh billows seaward wilt thou ride,


s: O ship?  What dost thou?  Seek a hav'n, and there


s: And the swift south-west wind hath maimed thy mast,


s: And thy yards creak, and, every cable lost,


s: Too rudely.  Goodly canvas is not thine,


s: Nor gods, to hear thee now, when need is sorest:-


s: Pale seamen little trust the gaudy sail:


s: Flee--what of late sore burden was to me,


s: Pure Faith, and Truth that loves the light,


s: Hard lot!  Yet light their griefs who BEAR


s: Thine is the flower-crown'd bowl, for thee shall die,


s: Whose budding horns, half-seen, half-hid,


s: Challenge to dalliance or to strife--in vain!


s: Soon must the hope of the wild herd be slain,


s: Fierce glows the Dog-star, but his fiery beam


s: Toucheth not thee:  still grateful thy cool stream


s: And henceforth thou shalt be a royal fountain:


s: My harp shall tell how from yon cavernous mountain,


s: Thus late, bring to a close all thy delinquencies,


s: Nearing swiftly the grave--(that not an early one) -


s: Blurring stars which were else cloudlessly brilliant.


s: Suits not equally thee:  rightly devastates


s: Wild as Thyad, who wakes stirred by the kettle-drums.


s: Like some kid at his play, holds she her revelry:


s: Wools more fitly become--not din of harpsichords,


s: Not casks drained by an old lip to the sediment.


s: With frost, the streams have ceased to flow.


s: To be:  nor, young man, scorn the dance,


s: Better far, what comes, to bear it.  Haply many a wintry blast


s: May move, nor kings' frowns shake his will


s: Would crash round him still self-possest.


s: Jove's wandering son reached, thus endowed,


s: Sits splendour-girt:  Priam's perjured sons


s: "Wide-feared, to far-off climes be borne


s: With hand that spares not things divine.


s: Tied by this law, such fates are willed;


s: Too fond, too bold, their grandsires' home.


s: Of brass; and thrice my Greeks shall hew


s: In chains their sons', their husbands' fall."


s: Stay, Muse; nor, wayward still, rehearse


s: Lambs play on, the wolf their neighbour:


s: Lyce, the gods have listened to my prayer;


s: The gods have listened, Lyce.  Thou art grey,


s: And, wine-flushed, woo slow-answering Love with weak


s: Shrill pipings.  With young Chia He doth dwell,


s: He marked the withered oak, and on he flew


s: Intolerant; shrank from Lyce grim and wrinkled,


s: Not purple, not the brightest gem that glows,


s: Brings back to her the years which, fleeting fast,


s: Oh, where is all thy loveliness? soft hue


s: And motions soft?  Oh, what of Her doth rest,


s: Fair, and far-famed, and subtly sweet, thy face


s: Ranked next to Cinara's.  But to Cinara fate


s: That fiery youth may see with scornful brow


s: Lo! smoking in the stubborn plough, the ox


s: Falls, from his lip foam gushing crimson-stained,


s: And sobs his life out.  Sad of face the ploughman


s: Moves, disentangling from his comrade's corpse


s: The lone survivor:  and its work half-done,


s: Abandoned in the furrow stands the plough.


s: Not shadiest forest-depths, not softest lawns,


s: May move him now:  not river amber-pure,


s: That volumes o'er the cragstones to the plain.


s: Powerless the broad sides, glazed the rayless eye,


s: And low and lower sinks the ponderous neck.


s: What thank hath he for all the toil he toiled,


s: The stored-up feast hath wrought no harm to him:


s: Green leaf and taintless grass are all their fare;


s: The clear rill or the travel-freshen'd stream


s: Their cup:  nor one care mars their honest sleep.


s: Scarce midway were we yet, nor yet descried


s: The stone that hides what once was Brasidas:


s: When there drew near a wayfarer from Crete,


s: The horned herd was his care:  a glance might tell


s: Slung o'er his shoulder was a ruddy hide


s: Torn from a he-goat, shaggy, tangle-haired,


s: That reeked of rennet yet:  a broad belt clasped


s: A patched cloak round his breast, and for a staff


s: A gnarled wild-olive bough his right hand bore.


s: Soon with a quiet smile he spoke--his eye


s: Twinkled, and laughter sat upon his lip:


s: "And whither ploddest thou thy weary way


s: For now the lizard sleeps upon the wall,


s: The crested lark hath closed his wandering wing.


s: Speed'st thou, a bidd'n guest, to some reveller's board?


s: Or townwards, to the treading of the grape?


s: For lo! recoiling from thy hurrying feet


s: The pavement-stones ring out right merrily."


s: All strangest things the multitudinous years


s: Bring forth, and shadow from us all we know.


s: Falter alike great oath and steeled resolve;


s: And none shall say of aught, 'This may not be.'


s: As new-dipt steel am weak and all unsexed


s: But I will journey seaward--where the shore


s: My sin, and flee that wrath that weighs me down.


s: And, lighting somewhere on an untrodden way,


s: I will bury this my lance, this hateful thing,


s: Deep in some earth-hole where no eye shall see -


s: Night and Hell keep it in the underworld!


s: For never to this day, since first I grasped


s: The gift that Hector gave, my bitterest foe,


s: Have I reaped aught of honour from the Greeks.


s: So true that byword in the mouths of men,


s: "A foeman's gifts are no gifts, but a curse."


s: Wherefore henceforward shall I know that God


s: Is great; and strive to honour Atreus' sons.


s: Princes they are, and should be obeyed.  How else?


s: Do not all terrible and most puissant things


s: Yet bow to loftier majesties?  The Winter,


s: Who walks forth scattering snows, gives place anon


s: Of weary Night doth in her turn stand by,


s: And let shine out, with her white steeds, the Day:


s: Stern tempest-blasts at last sing lullaby


s: To groaning seas:  even the arch-tyrant, Sleep,


s: Doth loose his slaves, not hold them chained for ever.


s: And shall not mankind too learn discipline?


s: _I_ know, of late experience taught, that him


s: Whom I may yet call Friend:  and him who loves me


s: Who, reaching Friendship's port, have there found rest.


s: But, for these things they shall be well.  Go thou,


s: Lady, within, and there pray that the Gods


s: May fill unto the full my heart's desire.


s: Like honour:  bid young Teucer, if he come,


s: To care for me, but to be YOUR friend still.


s: For where my way leads, thither I shall go:


s: Though now is my dark hour, that I have peace.


s: Standing ashore to descry one afar-off mightily struggling:


s: Not that a neighbour's sorrow to you yields blissful enjoyment;


s: Those calm heights of the sages, which have for an origin Wisdom;


s: Wander amidst Life's paths, poor stragglers seeking a highway:


s: Watch mind battle with mind, and escutcheon rival escutcheon;


s: Gaze on that untold strife, which is waged 'neath the sun and the


s: Up as they toil to the surface whereon rest Riches and Empire.


s: O race born unto trouble!  O minds all lacking of eyesight!


s: 'Neath what a vital darkness, amidst how terrible dangers,


s: Parted and past from the Body, the Mind too bask in a blissful


s: Dream, all fear of the future and all anxiety over!


s: So, as regards Man's Body, a few things only are needful,


s: (Few, tho' we sum up all,) to remove all misery from him;


s: Aye, and to strew in his path such a lib'ral carpet of pleasures,


s: Statues of youth and of beauty may not gleam golden around him,


s: (Each in his right hand bearing a great lamp lustrously burning,


s: Whence to the midnight revel a light may be furnished always);


s: Yet still he, with his fellow, reposed on the velvety greensward,


s: Shall, though they lack great riches, enjoy all bodily pleasure.


s: Who beneath crimson hangings and pictures cunningly broidered


s: Tosses about, than from him who must lie in beggarly raiment.


s: Therefore, since to the Body avail not Riches, avails not


s: Heraldry's utmost boast, nor the pomp and the pride of an Empire;


s: Spread with a stir and a ferment, and bid War's image awaken,


s: Straightway your mind as you gaze, Death seem no longer alarming,


s: But, if (again) all this be a vain impossible fiction;


s: If of a truth men's fears, and the cares which hourly beset them,


s: But all-boldly amongst crowned heads and the rulers of empires


s: For, as a young boy trembles, and in that mystery, Darkness,


s: Sees all terrible things:  so do we too, ev'n in the daylight,


s: Ofttimes shudder at that, which is not more really alarming


s: Fly not the bright sunbeam, nor the ivory shafts of the Day-star:


s: Now, how moving about do the prime material atoms


s: What power says unto each, This must be; how an inherent


s: Elasticity drives them about Space vagrantly onward; -


s: I shall unfold:  thou simply give all thyself to my teaching.


s: Matter mingled and massed into indissoluble union


s: Does not exist.  For we see how wastes each separate substance;


s: Still Universal Nature abides unchanged as aforetime.


s: Whereof this is the cause.  When the atoms part from a substance,


s: So that, as one thing wanes, still a second bursts into blossom,


s: Soon, in its turn, to be left.  Thus draws this Universe always


s: Gain out of loss; thus live we mortals one on another.


s: Bourgeons one generation, and one fades.  Let but a few years


s: Pass, and a race has arisen which was not:  as in a racecourse,


s: One hands on to another the burning torch of Existence.


s: Sing, O daughter of heaven, of Peleus' son, of Achilles,


s: Him whose terrible wrath brought thousand woes on Achaia.


s: Many a stalwart soul did it hurl untimely to Hades,


s: Since that far-off day, when in hot strife parted asunder


s: Atreus' sceptred son, and the chos'n of heaven, Achilles.


s: Say then, which of the Gods bid arise up battle between them?


s: Zeus's and Leto's son.  With the king was kindled his anger:


s: Then went sickness abroad, and the people died of the sickness:


s: For that of Atreus' son had his priest been lightly entreated,


s: Chryses, Apollo's priest.  For he came to the ships of Achaia,


s: Bearing a daughter's ransom, a sum not easy to number:


s: And in his hand was the emblem of Him, far-darting Apollo,


s: "Chiefs sprung of Atreus' loins; and ye, brazen-greaved Achaians!


s: Priam's city to raze, and return unscathed to your homesteads:


s: Only my own dear daughter I ask; take ransom and yield her,


s: Rev'rencing His great name, son of Zeus, far-darting Apollo."


s: Then from the host of Achaians arose tumultuous answer:


s: Disdainful he dismissed him, a right stern fiat appending:-


s: "Woe be to thee, old man, if I find thee lingering longer,


s: Yea or returning again, by the hollow ships of Achaians!


s: In my own home, yea in Argos, afar from the land of her fathers,


s: Following the loom and attending upon my bed.  But avaunt thee!


s: Go, and provoke not me, that thy way may be haply securer."


s: Voiceless he went by the shore of the great dull-echoing ocean,


s: Thither he got him apart, that ancient man; and a long prayer


s: Prayed to Apollo his Lord, son of golden-ringleted Leto.


s: "Lord of the silver bow, whose arm girds Chryse and Cilla, -


s: Cilla, loved of the Gods,--and in might sways Tenedos, hearken!


s: Oh! if, in days gone by, I have built from floor unto cornice,


s: Afterward smote he the host.  With a rankling arrow he smote them


s: So when all were collected and ranged in a solemn assembly,


s: Straightway rose up amidst them and spake swift-footed Achilles:-


s: Back, re-seeking our homes, (if a warfare MAY be avoided);


s: All by the Power of the Art, which he gained from Phoebus Apollo.


s: "Peleus' son!  Thou demandest, a man heavenfavor'd, an answer


s: Touching the Great King's wrath, the afar-off-aiming Apollo:


s: Therefore I lift up my voice.  Swear thou to me, duly digesting


s: Over the Argives all:  and upon him wait the Achaians.


s: Aye is the battle the king's, when a poor man kindleth his anger:


s: Still on the morrow abideth a rage, that its end be accomplished,


s: Serving aright, to the armies aloud God-oracles op'nest:


s: Who now sits in his glory, the topmost flower of the armies."


s: Then did the blameless prophet at last wax valiant and answer:


s: "Lo!  He doth not reprove us of prayer or of oxen unoffered;


s: But for his servant's sake, the disdained of king Agamemnon,


s: No price asked, no ransom; and ships bear hallowed oxen


s: Chryse-wards:- then, it may be, will he shew mercy and hear us."


s: Atreus' warrior son, Agamemnon king of the nations,


s: Sore grieved.  Fury was working in each dark cell of his bosom,


s: And in his eye was a glare as a burning fiery furnace:


s: Leaving the thing which is good all unspoke, all unaccomplished.


s: Lo! this day to the people thou say'st, God-oracles opening,


s: Clytemnestra my wife:  unto her Briseis is equal,


s: Equal in form and in stature, in mind and in womanly wisdom.


s: Still, even thus, am I ready to yield her, so it be better:


s: Better is saving alive, I hold, than slaying a nation.


s: Meanwhile deck me a guerdon in her stead, lest of Achaians


s: I should alone lack honour; an unmeet thing and a shameful.


s: See all men, that my guerdon, I wot not whither it goeth."


s: Then unto him made answer the swift-foot chieftain Achilles:


s: "O most vaunting of men, most gain-loving, off-spring of Atreus!


s: How shall the lords of Achaia bestow fresh guerdon upon thee?


s: Surely we know not yet of a treasure piled in abundance:


s: Yield thou the maid to the god.  So threefold surely and fourfold


s: Grant that of yon proud walls not one stone rest on another."


s: {15a}  "The kites know well the long stern swell


s: {51a}  "Poor moralist, and what art thou?


s: {145a}  tunica pendente:  h. e.  'suspensa e brachio.'  Quod


s: {145b}  herbae--avena .  Duo quasi genera artis poeta videtur


s: distinguere.   'Weed,' 'pipe,' recte Scaliger.


s: nitebantur.  Fecisse vero quemquam non liquet.


s: {148b}  aure canina.  Iterum audi Peile, 'dog's-eared.'


s: {148c}  rixatore.  non male Heins. cum Aldina, 'wrangler.'


s: {149b}  aliessa quadra.  Sunt qui de pileis Academicis accipiunt.


s: {149c}  opus tunicae, 'shirt-work.' Alii opes.  Perperam.


s: hodiernae, fibula revinctum, teste Virgillo:


s: Aurea purpuream subnectit fibula vestem.'


s: {150b}  Ini.  Sic nostri, 'Go in and win.'  rebus, 'subjects.'


s: There could be but one answer to the suggestion of Mr. Coventry


s: copyright library edition, while the best use of writing is


s: The world's cart-collar hugs his throat,


s: But, in his heart, his thoughts were rife


s: (The eighth), while through the fields they walk'd,


s: When those are still, who shared their bays


s: And, severing thus the truth from trope,


s: Those are our children's songs that come


s: Spirits, tho' match'd like hand and glove;


s: I've blush'd for love's abode, the heart;


s: New truths, they, like new stars, were there


s: Persuades the soul from height to height.


s: And sway'd the chestnut's thousand cones,


s: And shaped the clouds in waifs and zones,


s: I reach'd the Dean's, with heart and brain


s: No change had touch'd Dean Churchill:  kind,


s: Well might his thoughts be fix'd on high,


s: The rhythmic change of time's swift flow


s: Her life, all honour, observed, with awe


s: Who, kiss'd at Christmas, call'd me rude,


s: How changed!  In shape no slender Grace,


s: Her large sweet eyes, clear lakes of love.


s: Had found their touching curve and droop.


s: Spread to the rest, and freedom brought.


s: Said Mildred, and what plums from Spain!


s: And, pleased, we talk'd the old days o'er;


s: Seem'd then, seems still, excuse for pride;


s: That hymn for which the whole world longs,


s: My thoughts lie cramp'd in narrow scope,


s: (By praise increased), till both shall soar,


s: From her who wields the powers of love?)


s: Or like that ship if the ice-field splits,


s: And all thank God with their warming wits,


s: And hoist fresh sails, that make the breeze


s: Out of the North, where life did freeze,


s: And 'but for that,' thought I, 'I should!'


s: Who strives to please, my pleasure numbs,


s: Whose care to please with pleasing comes.


s: Like fox-glove buds, in pairs disclosed.


s: Her heart's reserve, brought out to show


s: The neat-writ lines.  She, void of guile,


s: The restless heart, which, when I knelt,


s: This conscience free, this fertile peace,


s: 'This calm and more than conquering love,


s: As now the cloud which seems dispersed.'


s: I laugh'd at Mildred's laugh, which made


s: Neglect their crowns, and stoop to mate;


s: Though whiteness, in the dark, is black!


s: And found their cousin, Frederick Graham


s: Retorting his forced smiles, the shrouds


s: His ship, was; he should leave next day,


s: I watch'd.  Her farewell show'd me plain


s: But scarce could tell, so strange my whim,


s: From thoughts of love, humbled, and thus


s: And, then, I dream'd that I, her knight,


s: Though crown'd with all the soul desires,


s: No splendour 'neath the sky's proud dome


s: Which makes the sunshine bright; the flowers,


s: But for their hint of her, were nought.'


s: And praised the Flower-show and the Ball;


s: And Mildred's pinks had gain'd the Prize;


s: And watch'd where, black with scarlet tans,


s: Proud Psyche stood and flash'd like flame,


s: The sweet hour lapsed, and left my breast


s: To fix'd aims grew, that ask'd for pray'r.


s: We sign'd the lease for seven years more,


s: If Heaven postpones or grants her pray'r,


s: Truth without love were less than nought;


s: And full of truth not shaped by thought,


s: But, looking backward through his tears,


s: Pays light for that which leaves the heart


s: Where, through the senses' silvery haze,


s: She's drawn herself by what she attracts.


s: Well-pleased to harry true love's course;


s: And cross where they themselves approve.


s: Wretched were life, if the end were now!


s: While thus I grieved, and kiss'd her glove,


s: They had learn'd and practised Purcell's glee,


s: The Postscript was:  Her sisters and she


s: Sad law, which leaves King Love uncrown'd


s: With bale more sweet than others' bliss,


s: This fond, self-sanction'd, wilful zest,


s: Her love.  A dear, good Girl! she'd have


s: That, though his blessing and his pray'r


s: Had help'd, should help, my suit, yet he


s: He ceased, and gave his hand.  He had won


s: Well, well, would I take more wine?  Then go


s: Fill'd me with love, and seem'd to enhance


s: Fronting the wind that flutter'd blythe,


s: And loved her shape, and kiss'd her feet,


s: She approach'd, all mildness and young trust,


s: Forgets to breathe, and bursts in sighs;


s: You are the world's love, life, and glee:


s: Some say, 'It lightens,' some say, 'No.'


s: What's that, which, ere I spake, was gone?


s: And some give thanks, and some blaspheme,


s: Lo, there, whence love, life, light are pour'd,


s: And soon return'd with smiles; and then,


s: Plans fix'd, to which the Dean said 'Yes,'


s: I could not else than grieve.  What cause?


s: And grasp'd, the thought smote, like a knife,


s: How passing good breathes sweetest breath;


s: More black than bright, commending death


s: With eyes made bright by what they view'd,


s: By those same gusts that shook her curls


s: Breathed with a heart unfreighted, free,


s: The thought that she might ne'er be mine


s: For shade; and there, in converse sweet,


s: To the country round.  My life went well,


s: That scowl'd their chill gloom from above,


s: Through passionate duty love springs higher,


s: That, though swathed round with benefits,


s: Give thanks for nought, if you've no more,


s: That nought, with thanks, is blest before


s: Ev'n then, though darkening all my hope,


s: The bell rang, and, with shrieks like death,


s: And through the lingering crowd I broke,


s: Sought the hill-side, and thence, heart-sick,


s: 'My Wife,' 'my Wife,' ah, tenderest word!


s: And, thought of in that passionate mood,


s: The precinct!  Once, through yonder gate,


s: She turn'd her face, and laugh'd, with light


s: Where one bright star engross'd the blue.


s: That she's so scorn'd, when falsely dight


s: What's that which Heaven to man endears,


s: Than the heart says, with floods of tears,


s: 'Ah, that's the thing which I would be!'


s: Not new-made saints, their feelings iced,


s: Not these:  but souls, found here and there,


s: Who, should their own life plaudits bring,


s: And finds in them, not bonds, but wings.


s: So cleanse their lives from earth's alloy,


s: Love, kiss'd by Wisdom, wakes twice Love,


s: Cheep'd, 'Here am I, Sweet; are you there?'


s: Thenceforth, and through that pray'r, I trod


s: Was not of the flesh, though that was fair,


s: And fresh as Spring, for Spring attired;


s: By this bright spring-tide of pure love,


s: Nor would'st thou lower the least the height


s: 'Tis truth (although this truth's a star


s: Know, death must come and love must come,


s: Forget the heavens from which they fall.


s: But he who casts Heaven's truth to swine


s: She's not of the earth, although her light,


s: Which tells him that the embrace of love


s: This learn'd I, watching where she danced,


s: Pleased, as I hoped, to please my sight.


s: Her fairness with its thanks for praise.


s: And ask'd her for the next dance.  'Yes.'


s: 'No,' had not fall'n with half the force.


s: Gave thanks that, when we stumble and fall,


s: And sighs, 'If those sweet tales be truths,


s: Some stroke that frightens her to death,


s: Vanquish'd, takes warmth from his desire;


s: 'Tis heaven where'er she turns her head;


s: But still she flies.  Should she be won,


s: She yields; she's chased to death, undone,


s: Cloak'd round with sleep from his despair,


s: The wretch, whom she found fit for scorn,


s: This marks the Churl:  when spousals crown


s: Which sweet love has for ev'n the clown,


s: Her lowlier mien; that match'd with this;


s: Till once, through lanes returning late,


s: Their coming stay'd, who, friends to me,


s: Twice rose, twice died my trembling word;


s: Her dress, that touch'd me where I stood,


s: Her look, her love, her form, her touch,


s: She, answering, own'd that she loved too.


s: The hopeless heights of hope were scaled


s: The whole world's wealthiest and its best,


s: So fiercely sought, appear'd when found,


s: Where, ten years since, he carved her name;


s: And words were growing vain, when Briggs,


s: Preserv'd the rabbits, drove the brougham,


s: Here brought the Post down, Mrs. Vaughan's


s: Scarce look'd at; for the 'Second Book,'


s: Was thus commenced, while o'er them shook


s: Touch'd it, and stared, and scream'd for life,


s: And stretch'd her hand for Vaughan to kiss,


s: But she turn'd pale, for, lo, the beast,


s: With shriek, with laughter, and with shout;


s: Too late for song!  Who henceforth sings,


s: Must fledge his heavenly flight with more


s: Who made three kites, on which were drawn,


s: It heav'nward rush'd till scarce descried,


s: Then pitch'd and dropp'd for want of tail.


s: I reach'd the Dean's.  One blind was down,


s: Though nine then struck.  My bride to be!


s: Hold out this skein of silk.'  So pass'd


s: 'How were her sisters?'  'Well.'  At last


s: 'I hoped to have seen Miss Churchill too.'


s: Last night you quarrell'd!  Here she is.'


s: The thought half chokes her in her throat;


s: Whence, Parthian-like, she slaying flies;


s: His flattering look, which seems to wear


s: His skilful suit, which leaves her free,


s: And keeps her conscience safe, while he,


s: With half the bliss, takes all the blame;


s: Stands dizzied, shock'd, and flush'd, like one


s: For what were love should reverence cease?


s: The conqueror, though the walls are down,


s: Divorced from self, where late 'twas due,


s: That, where 'tis seen, discretion's there.


s: With true love's treacherous confidence,


s: She spoke this speech, and mark'd its sense,


s: '"You, with your looks and catching air,


s: To think of Vaughan!  You fool!  You know,


s: You're sure he'll do great things some day!


s: Nonsense, he won't; he's dress'd too well.


s: Yes, I'll take wine; he's mad, like her;


s: And you've shown common-sense, we're friends!'


s: 'These rose-leaves to my heart be press'd,


s: This scarf on.  Oh, your Petrarch!  There!


s: These "Good-nights," Felix, break my heart;


s: With love's bright arrows from her eyes,


s: From this fair land, which call'd me lord,


s: It's half-past twelve!'  'July, then, Sir!'


s: 'Well, come to-morrow,' at last he said,


s: And there, amidst the glittering showers,


s: Well, Heaven be thank'd my first-love fail'd,


s: As, Heaven be thank'd, our first-loves do!


s: But there danced she, who from the leaven


s: Which sweetly waived its right to scorn;


s: 'Though all the world were vile and sad,


s: Most sweet when noted least, were play'd;


s: The Churchills chiefly stirr'd his gall:


s: 'They err!  Good-night!  Here lies my course,


s: Through Wilton.'  Silence blest my ears,


s: I held my breath, and thought 'how bright!'


s: High thoughts had shaped the foolish brow,


s: The coward had grasp'd the hero's sword,


s: 'I'm not convinced by proofs but signs.'


s: With that full heart which thinks no praise


s: Should yield to him who call'd her Wife.


s: I nought would do, think, read, or speak,


s: The Statesman's learning!  Flush'd with power


s: How dull the crude, plough'd fields of fact


s: So loosed my chafing thoughts from school,


s: For as the worm whose powers make pause,


s: And thus she laugh'd and talk'd, whose 'No'


s: And turns, and puts his brows, that ache,


s: The trust that nought goes wrong by rule


s: Love, if there's heav'n, shall meet his dues,


s: Though here unmatch'd, or match'd amiss;


s: We'd such work, Sir, to clean the plate;


s: The Queen's Room, Sir, look'd quite like state.


s: Miss Smythe, when she went up, made bold


s: And cried, "How charming! all quite new;"


s: Had kill'd old Mrs. Vaughan with fright;


s: Miss Fry, Sir, laugh'd; they talk'd the rest


s: In French; and French Sir's Greek to me;


s: But, though they smiled, and seem'd to jest,


s: Good-day; and thank you for your prayer.'


s: Of the nuptial goddess, clasp'd a cloud;


s: His soul, through scorn of worldly care,


s: That 'plaining seems to cure his plight;


s: Of smiles and simple heaven grown tired,


s: Must doff their crowns to Love, for none


s: And, when you're false to me your glass,


s: Would you live on, home-worshipp'd, thus,


s: By sight not faith, while you they admire?


s: Faith removes mountains, much more love;


s: Said Nurse, 'The Dean's man brings it down.'


s: 'Nurse, give him that, with half-a-crown.'


s: How beat my heart, how paused my breath,


s: And when it flash'd I thought you spoke.'


s: 'Thy tears o'erprize thy loss!  Thy wife,


s: Hangs all the hedge with bridal wreaths,


s: Give thanks for every breath it breathes,


s: And each thing joins in Spring's refrain,


s: So these were green and those were gold;


s: Which, wandering through the woodland, stoop'd


s: Besides, where all things limp and halt,


s: That miss'd the gift which more endears;


s: The hour which might have been more kind,


s: She'll weep for nought, for his dear sake;


s: Her soul, that once with pleasure shook,


s: And what she thinks from what she'll say


s: Myst'ries that light would more perplex!


s: Nor would, which makes me bond and free,


s: 'I saw you take his kiss!'  ''Tis true.'


s: He thought I thought he thought I slept.'


s: By turns, my speech, in passion's style,


s: And, when all's said, there's something left,


s: 'Dear Felix!'  'Sweet, my Love!'  But there


s: Stoop!  Thank you!'  'May I have that lock?'


s: 'Not now.  Good morning, Aunt!'  'Why, Puss,


s: 'Here's Felix, Aunt.'  'Fox and green goose!


s: Aunt, you are friends!'  'Ah, to be sure!


s: Shall Love, where last I leave him, halt?


s: The foolish hie them post-haste through,


s: 'The bliss which woman's charms bespeak,


s: Each, rapturous, praised his lady's worth;


s: Her heart's so touch'd with others' woes


s: Life's meanness fills mine eyes with tears--'


s: 'You paint Miss Churchill!  Pray go on--'


s: With rapturous hearts, t'ward Sarum Spire


s: Clasp'd hands, less shy than words, confess'd


s: 'I kiss'd, and kiss'd with her consent!'


s: 'At Church, in twelve hours more, we meet!


s: That raised me from the earth with pride?


s: Which should have been delight and health


s: Forth, from the glittering spirit's peace


s: And thus, oh, strange, sweet half of me,


s: Cried, 'Look, my mother, here's the sea.


s: And honour'd, and kept free from smirch;


s: No less than Christ did love his Church,


s: 'Now, while she's changing,' said the Dean,


s: Fear comes at first; but soon, rejoiced,


s: You'll find your strong and tender loves,


s: The least force shakes, but none removes.


s: Yet think, while mending thus your Love,


s: I'm sure you'll like.  The charge is fair,


s: Whirl'd off at last, for speech I sought,


s: Aunt's parting gift.'  'She's always kind.'


s: 'The new wing spoils Sir John's old Hall:


s: Feasts satiate; stars distress with height;


s: Friendship means well, but misses reach,


s: The sand-shoes, look'd where, down the bay,


s: Sweet Stranger, now my three days' Wife.


s: Black in the brilliance, miles from shore.


s: 'Look, Love,' she said, 'there's Frederick Graham,


s: Sends forth to heaven great shows of fume,


s: Has figured--'  'You must paint the flame!'


s: But now, Sweet, for your praise and blame.'


s: The rhymes'--but Frank now blew his horn,


s: Ah, Ma'am, she'll soon be his in death!'


s: Vaughan, when his kind Wife's eyes were dry,


s: Said, 'This thought crosses me, my Dove;


s: Though, found at first, it had been higher?


s: Yet love makes death a dreadful thought!


s: He cheer'd her heart with tender praise,


s: 'How strange,' said he, ''twould seem to meet,


s: And fill'd her kind large eyes with joy,


s: THE "aesthetic" poetry is neither a mere reproduction of Greek


s: or medieval poetry, nor only an idealisation of modern life and


s: Goethe dealt.  Beyond them were the two other elements of the


s: from within, came later with Victor Hugo in France, with Heine in


s: In the Defence of Guenevere: and Other Poems, published by Mr.


s: William Morris now many years ago, the first typical specimen of


s: characteristic in them is the strange suggestion of a deliberate


s: choice between Christ and a rival lover.  That religion, monastic


s: new rival cultus that we see.  Coloured through and through with


s: sentiment were first devised, is the secret here of a borrowed,


s: paradise of ambitious refinements, the earthly love enters, and


s: Victor Hugo in Notre Dame de Paris.  The  strangest creations of


s: miracle or magic to the service of human passion.


s: The most popular and gracious form of Provencal poetry was the


s: waking-song is put sometimes into the mouth of a comrade of the


s: about to separate.  A modification of it is familiar to us all in


s: "Pray but one prayer for me 'twixt thy closed lips,


s: Think but one thought of me up in the stars,


s: The summer-night waneth, the morning light slips,


s: Faint and gray 'twixt the leaves of the aspen,


s: That are patiently waiting there for the dawn:


s: Patient and colourless, though Heaven's gold


s: Waits to float through them along with the sun.


s: Far out in the meadows, above the young corn,


s: The heavy elms wait, and restless and cold


s: The uneasy wind rises; the roses are dun;


s: Through the long twilight they pray for the dawn,


s: Round the lone house in the midst of the corn.


s: Over the tender, bow'd locks of the corn."


s: imaginative loves  of the Middle Age, with a superadded


s: spirituality of touch all its own, is in that!


s: desire, regret,  pity, and fear: and what corresponds to them in


s: animates his  subject by keeping it always close to himself,


s: "Noise of bells, such as in moonlit lanes


s: Rings from the grey team on the market night."


s: Nowhere but in England is there such a "paradise of birds," the


s: everywhere, pink-footed, grey-winged, flitting about the temple,


s: In handling a subject of Greek legend, anything in the way of an


s: century had not been, is as impossible as to become a little


s: facile.  But the choice life of the human spirit is always under


s: mixed lights, and in mixed situations, when it is not too sure of


s: overwrought spiritualities of the Middle Age to the earlier, more


s: from the sombre atmosphere of his cloister to natural light.  The


s: thoughts of the delirious night just over and make one's sense of


s: that with which the old church glass-stainer surrounds the mystic


s: Blocksberg: her mystic changes are Christabel's.  It is precisely


s: One characteristic of the pagan spirit the aesthetic poetry


s: Quotation marks have been left only at the beginning and end of a


s: The Pied Piper of Hamelin:  A Child's Story


s: The story told by the huntsman in "The Flight of the Duchess" is


s: interesting enough simply as a story, but the telling of it is


s: inimitable. One can see before him the devoted, kindly man,


s: somewhat clumsy of speech, as indicated by the rough rhymes, and


s: characteristically drawing his illustrations from the calling he


s: the difficulties of the young Duchess in this unloving artificial


s: continuance of aspiration is never for a moment lost.


s: As a bit of art, it is strikingly imaginative, and suggests the


s: Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew


s: "Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace


s: Perched him--" The chief's eye flashed; his plans


s: "You're wounded!" "Nay," the soldier's pride


s: "I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside,


s: "Incident of the French Camp." A story of modest heroism.


s: The incident related is said by Mrs. Orr to be a true one


s: of the siege of Ratisbon by Napoleon in 1809--except


s: of Bavaria on the right bank of the Danube, has endured


s: seventeen sieges since the tenth century, the last one being


s: The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway,


s: The church-spires flamed, such flags they had,


s: The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.


s: Had I said, "Good folk, mere noise repels--


s: But give me your sun from yonder skies!"


s: They had answered, "And afterward, what else?"


s: Nought man could do, have I left undone:


s: For the best of the sight is, all allow,


s: And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,


s: In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.


s: "The Patriot" is a hero's story of the reward and punishment


s: dealt him for his services within one year. To act


s: regardless of praise or blame, save God's, seems safer.


s: That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,


s: That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's hands


s: Worked busily a day, and there she stands.