s: Whips, chains--but these are things too serious


s: What's to be done?--Spa-Fields was clever;


s: But even _that_ brought gibes and mockings


s: For fear some wag should in his curst head


s: It must not be "_incog._" like _Bayes's_:


s: With (what these wags would call, so merry,)


s: But think, my Lord, we should not pass it o'er


s: "With _two_ such stars, for East and West?)


s: He's brought--and, sure, the very essence


s: "I'll play what tricks you please for you,


s: "At least you'll do the same for _my_ King."


s: He then should give them nine such grins,


s: The picture of King GEORGE (God bless him!)


s: Would, by CONFUCIUS, _much_ distress him!


s: The celebrated letter to Prince Hardenburgh (written, however, I


s: The _open countenance_, recommended by Lord Chesterfield.


s: Well, it _isn't_ the King, after all, my dear creature!


s: But _don't_ you go laugh, now--there's nothing to quiz in't--


s: For grandeur of air and for grimness of feature,


s: He _might_ be a King, DOLL, tho', hang him, he isn't.


s: At first, I felt hurt, for I wisht it, I own,


s: If for no other cause but to vex Miss MALONE,--


s: (The great heiress, you know, of Shandangan, who's here,


s: Showing off with _such_ airs, and a real Cashmere,


s: While mine's but a paltry, old rabbit-skin, dear!)


s: But Pa says, on deeply considering the thing,


s: "I am just as well pleased it should _not_ be the King;


s: "As I think for my BIDDY, so _gentille_ and _jolie_.


s: "Whose charms may their price in an _honest_ way fetch,


s: "That a Brandenburgh"--(what _is_ a Brandenburgh, DOLLY?)--


s: "Would be, after all, no such very great catch.


s: "If the REGENT indeed"--added he, looking sly--


s: (You remember that comical squint of his eye)


s: But I stopt him with "La, Pa, how _can_ you say so,


s: "When the REGENT loves none but old women, you know!"


s: Which is fact, my dear DOLLY--we, girls of eighteen,


s: And so slim--Lord, he'd think us not fit to be seen:


s: And would like us much better as old-as, as old


s: As that Countess of DESMOND, of whom I've been told


s: That she lived to much more than a hundred and ten,


s: And was killed by a fall from a cherry-tree then!


s: What a frisky old girl! but--to come to my lover,


s: Who, tho' not a King, is a _hero_ I'll swear,--


s: You shall hear all that's happened, just briefly run over,


s: Since that happy night, when we whiskt thro' the air!


s: Let me see--'twas on Saturday--yes, DOLLY, yes--


s: From that evening I date the first dawn of my bliss;


s: When we both rattled off in that dear little carriage,


s: Whose journey, BOB says, is so like Love and Marriage,


s: "Beginning gay, desperate, dashing, down-hilly,


s: "And ending as dull as a six-inside Dilly!"


s: Well, scarcely a wink did I sleep the night thro';


s: And, next day, having scribbled my letter to you,


s: With a heart full of hope this sweet fellow to meet,


s: I set out with Papa, to see Louis DIX-HUIT


s: Make his bow to some half-dozen women and boys,


s: Who get up a small concert of shrill _Vive le Rois_-


s: And how vastly genteeler, my dear, even this is,


s: Than vulgar Pall-Mall's oratorio of hisses!


s: The gardens seemed full--so, of Course, we walkt o'er 'em,


s: 'Mong orange-trees, clipt into town-bred decorum,


s: There staring, with not even a stitch on them, at you!


s: The ponds, too, we viewed--stood awhile on the brink


s: To contemplate the play of those pretty gold fishes--


s: "_Live bullion_," says merciless BOB, "which, I think,


s: "Would, if _coined_, with a little _mint_ sauce, be delicious!"


s: But _what_, DOLLY, what, is the gay orange-grove,


s: Or gold fishes, to her that's in search of her love?


s: In vain did I wildly explore every chair


s: Where a thing _like_ a man was--no lover sat there!


s: At the whiskers, mustachios and wigs that went past,


s: To obtain if I could but a glance at that curl,--


s: A glimpse of those whiskers, as sacred, my girl,


s: As the lock that, Pa says,is to Mussulman given,


s: For the angel to hold by that "lugs them to heaven!"


s: Alas, there went by me full many a quiz,


s: And mustachios in plenty, but nothing like his!


s: Disappointed, I found myself sighing out "well-a-day,"--


s: Thought of the words of TOM MOORE'S Irish Melody,


s: Something about the "green spot of delight"


s: (Which, you know, Captain MACKINTOSH sung to us one day):


s: Ah DOLLY, _my_ "spot" was that Saturday night,


s: And its verdure, how fleeting, had withered by Sunday!


s: We dined at a tavern--La, what do I say?


s: If BOB was to know!--a _Restaurateur's_, dear;


s: Where your _properest_ ladies go dine every day,


s: And drink Burgundy out of large tumblers, like beer.


s: Fine BOB (for he's really grown _super_-fine)


s: Condescended for once to make one of the party;


s: Of course, tho' but three, we had dinner for nine,


s: And in spite of my grief, love, I own I ate hearty.


s: Indeed, DOLL, I know not how 'tis, but, in grief,


s: I have always found eating a wondrous relief;


s: And BOB, who's in love, said he felt the same, _quite_--


s: "My sighs," said he, "ceased with the first glass I drank you;


s: "The _lamb_ made me tranquil, the _puffs_ made me light,


s: "And--now that all's o'er--why, I'm--pretty well, thank you!"


s: To _my_ great annoyance, we sat rather late;


s: About singing and cookery--BOBBY, of course,


s: Standing up for the latter Fine Art in full force;


s: And Pa saying, "God only knows which is worst,


s: "The French Singers or Cooks, but I wish us well over it--


s: "What with old LAÏ'S and VÉRY, I'm curst


s: "If _my_ head or my stomach will ever recover it!"


s: 'Twas dark when we got to the Boulevards to stroll,


s: And in vain did I look 'mong the street Macaronis,


s: When, sudden it struck me--last hope of my soul--


s: That some angel might take the dear man to TORTONI'S!


s: We entered--and, scarcely had BOB, with an air,


s: For a _grappe à la jardinière_ called to the waiters,


s: When, oh DOLL! I saw him--my hero was there


s: (For I knew his white small-clothes and brown leather gaiters),


s: A group of fair statues from Greece smiling o'er him,


s: And lots of red currant-juice sparkling before him!


s: Oh! DOLLY, these heroes--what creatures they are;


s: In the _boudoir_ the same as in fields full of slaughter!


s: As cool in the Beaujon's precipitous car,


s: As when safe at TORTONI'S, o'er iced currant water!


s: He joined us--imagine, dear creature, my ecstasy--


s: Joined by the man I'd have broken ten necks to see!


s: BOB wished to treat him with Punch _à la glace_,


s: But the sweet fellow swore that my _beaute_, my _grâce_,


s: And my _ja-ne-sais-quoi_ (then his whiskers he twirled)


s: Were to him, "on de top of all Ponch in de vorld."--


s: How pretty!--tho' oft (as of course it must be)


s: Both his French and his English are Greek, DOLL, to me.


s: But, in short, I felt happy as ever fond heart did;


s: And happier still, when 'twas fixt, ere we parted,


s: That, if the next day should be _pastoral_ weather.


s: We all would set off, in French buggies, _together_,


s: To see _Montmorency_--that place which, you know,


s: Is so famous for cherries and JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU.


s: His card then he gave us--the _name_, rather creased--


s: But 'twas CALICOT--something--a Colonel, at least!


s: After which--sure there never was hero so civil--he


s: Saw us safe home to our door in _Rue Rivoli_,


s: Where his _last_ words, as, at parting, he threw


s: A soft look o'er his shoulders, were--"How do you do!"


s: But, lord!--there's Papa for the post--I'm so vext--


s: _Montmorency_ must now, love, be kept for my next.


s: That dear Sunday night--I was charmingly drest,


s: And--_so_ providential!--was looking my best;


s: Such a sweet muslin gown, with a flounce--and my frills,


s: You've no notion how rich--(tho' Pa has by the bills)


s: And you'd smile had you seen, when we sat rather near,


s: Colonel CALICOT eyeing the cambric, my dear.


s: Then the flowers in my bonnet--but, la! it's in vain--


s: So, good-by, my sweet DOLL--I shall soon write again.


s: _Nota bene_--our love to all neighbors about--


s: Your Papa in particular--how is his gout?


s: P.S.--I've just opened my letter to say,


s: In your next you must tell me, (now _do_, DOLLY, pray,


s: For I hate to ask BOB, he's so ready to quiz,)


s: What sort of a thing, dear, a _Brandenburgh_ is.


s: The cars, on return, are dragged up slowly by a chain.


s: A fashionable _café glacier_ on the Italian Boulevards.


s: Yes, 'twas a cause, as noble and as great


s: A Nation's right to speak a Nation's voice,


s: And own no power but of the Nation's choice!


s: Such was the grand, the glorious cause that now


s: Hung trembling on NAPOLEON'S single brow;


s: Such the sublime arbitrament, that poured,


s: In patriot eyes, a light around his sword,


s: A hallowing light, which never, since the day


s: Of his young victories, had illumed its way!


s: Oh 'twas not then the time for tame debates,


s: Ye men of Gaul, when chains were at your gates;


s: When he, who late had fled your Chieftain's eye.


s: As geese from eagles on Mount Taurus fly,


s: Denounced against the land, that spurned his chain,


s: Myriads of swords to bind it fast again--


s: Myriads of fierce invading swords, to track


s: Thro' your best blood his path of vengeance back;


s: When Europe's Kings, that never yet combined


s: But (like those upper Stars, that, when conjoined,


s: Shed war and pestilence,) to scourge mankind,


s: Gathered around, with hosts from every shore,


s: And, in that coming strife, appalled to see


s: The world yet left one chance for liberty!--


s: No, 'twas not _then_ the time to weave a net


s: Of bondage round your Chief; to curb and fret


s: Your veteran war-horse, pawing for the fight,


s: When every hope was in his speed and might--


s: And coolly plan how freedom's _boughs_ should shoot,


s: When your Invader's axe was at the _root_!


s: No sacred Liberty! that God, who throws,


s: Thy light around, like His own sunshine, knows


s: How well I love thee and how deeply hate


s: Yet, in that hour, were France my native land,


s: I would have followed, with quick heart and hand,


s: To snatch my country from that damning doom,


s: That deadliest curse that on the conquered waits--


s: A Conqueror's satrap, throned within her gates!


s: True, he was false--despotic--all you please--


s: Had trampled down man's holiest liberties--


s: Had, by a genius, formed for nobler things


s: Than lie within the grasp of _vulgar_ Kings,


s: But raised the hopes of men--as eaglets fly


s: To dash them down again more shatteringly!


s: See Aellan, _lib_. v. _cap_. 29.,--who tells us that these


s: At last, DOLLY,--thanks to potent emetic,


s: Which BOBBY and Pa, grimace sympathetic,


s: Have swallowed this morning, to balance the bliss,


s: Of an eel _matelote_ and a _bisque d'écrevisses_--


s: I've a morning at home to myself, and sit down


s: To describe you our heavenly trip out of town.


s: How agog you must be for this letter, my dear!


s: Lady JANE, in the novel, less languisht to hear,


s: If that elegant cornet she met at Lord NEVILLE'S


s: Was actually dying with love or--blue devils.


s: But Love, DOLLY, Love is the theme _I_ pursue;


s: With Blue Devils, thank heaven, I have nothing to do--


s: Except, indeed, dear Colonel CALICOT spies


s: Any imps of that color in _certain_ blue eyes,


s: Which he stares at till _I_, DOLL, at _his_ do the same;


s: Then he simpers--I blush--and would often exclaim,


s: If I knew but the French for it, "Lord, Sir, for shame!"


s: Well, the morning was lovely--the trees in full dress


s: For the happy occasion--the sunshine _express_--


s: Had we ordered it, dear, of the best poet going,


s: It scarce could be furnisht more golden and glowing.


s: Tho' late when we started, the scent of the air


s: Was like GATTIE'S rose-water,--and, bright, here and there,


s: On the grass an odd dew-drop was glittering yet,


s: Like my aunt's diamond pin on her green tabbinet!


s: While the birds seemed to warble as blest on the boughs,


s: As if _each_ a plumed Calicot had for her spouse;


s: And the grapes were all blushing and kissing in rows,


s: And--in short, need I tell you wherever one goes


s: With the creature one loves, 'tis _couleur de rose_;


s: And ah! I shall ne'er, lived I ever so long, see


s: A day such as that at divine Montmorency!


s: There was but _one_ drawback--at first when we started,


s: The Colonel and I were inhumanly parted;


s: How cruel--young hearts of such moments to rob!


s: He went in Pa's buggy, and I went with BOB:


s: And, I own, I felt spitefully happy to know


s: That Papa and his comrade agreed but so-so.


s: For the Colonel, it seems, is a stickler of BONEY'S--


s: Served _with_ him of course--nay, I'm sure they were cronies.


s: So martial his features! dear DOLL, you can trace


s: Ulm, Austerlitz, Lodi, as plain in his face


s: As you do on that pillar of glory and brass,


s: Which the poor DUC DE BERRI must hate so to pass!


s: It appears, too, he made--as most foreigners do--


s: About English affairs an odd blunder or two.


s: For example misled by the names, I dare say--


s: And--sure such a blunder no mortal hit ever on--


s: Fancied the _present_ Lord CAMDEN the _clever_ one!


s: But politics ne'er were the sweet fellow's trade;


s: 'Twas for war and the ladies my Colonel was made.


s: And oh! had you heard, as together we walkt


s: Thro' that beautiful forest, how sweetly he talkt;


s: And how perfectly well he appeared, DOLL, to know


s: All the life and adventures of JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU?--


s: "'Twas there," said he--not that his _words_ I can state--


s: 'Twas a gibberish that Cupid alone could translate;--


s: But "there," said he, (pointing where, small and remote,


s: The dear Hermitage rose), "there his JULIE he wrote,--


s: "Upon paper gilt-edged, without blot or erasure;


s: "Then sauded it over with silver and azure,


s: "And--oh, what will genius and fancy not do!--


s: "Tied the leaves up together with _nonpareille_ blue!"


s: What a trait of Rousseau! what a crowd of emotions


s: From sand and blue ribbons are conjured up here!


s: Alas, that a man of such exquisite notions


s: Should send his poor brats to the Foundling, my dear!


s: "'Twas here too perhaps," Colonel CALICOT said--


s: As down the small garden he pensively led--


s: (Tho' once I could see his sublime forehead wrinkle


s: With rage not to find there the loved periwinkle)


s: "'Twas here he received from the fair D'ÉPINAY


s: "(Who called him so sweetly _her Bear_, every day,)


s: "That dear flannel petticoat, pulled off to form


s: "A waistcoat, to keep the enthusiast warm!"


s: Such, DOLL, were the sweet recollections we pondered,


s: As, full of romance, thro' that valley we wandered.


s: The flannel (one's train of ideas, how odd it is!)


s: Cambric, and silk, and--I ne'er shall forget,


s: For the sun was then hastening in pomp to its set.


s: And full on the Colonel's dark whiskers shone down,


s: When he askt me, with eagerness,--who made my gown?


s: The question confused me--for, DOLL, you must know,


s: And I _ought_ to have told my best friend long ago,


s: That, by Pa's strict command, I no longer employ


s: That enchanting _couturière_, Madame LE ROI;


s: But am forced now to have VICTORINE, who--deuce take her!--


s: It seems is, at present, the King's mantua-maker--


s: I mean _of his party_--and, tho' much the smartest,


s: LE ROI is condemned as a rank Bonapartist.


s: Think, DOLL, how confounded I lookt--so well knowing


s: The Colonel's opinions--my cheeks were quite glowing;


s: I stammered out something--nay, even half named


s: The _legitimate_ sempstress, when, loud, he exclaimed,


s: "Yes; yes, by the stitching 'tis plain to be seen


s: What a word for a hero!--but heroes _will_ err,


s: And I thought, dear, I'd tell you things _just_ as they were.


s: Besides tho' the word on good manners intrench,


s: I assure you 'tis not _half_ so shocking in French.


s: But this cloud, tho' embarrassing, soon past away,


s: And the bliss altogether, the dreams of that day,


s: The thoughts that arise, when such dear fellows woo us,--


s: The _nothings_ that then, love, are--_everything_ to us--


s: That quick correspondence of glances and sighs,


s: And what BOB calls the "Two-penny-post of the Eyes"--


s: Ah, DOLL! tho' I _know_ you've a heart, 'tis in vain,


s: To a heart so unpractised these things to explain.


s: They can only be felt, in their fulness divine,


s: By her who has wandered, at evening's decline,


s: Thro' a valley like that, with a Colonel like mine!


s: But here I must finish--for BOB, my dear DOLLY,


s: Whom physic, I find, always makes melancholy,


s: Is seized with a fancy for churchyard reflections;


s: And, full of all yesterday's rich recollections,


s: Is just setting off for Montmartre--"for _there_ is,"


s: Said he, looking solemn, "the tomb of the VÉRYS!


s: "Long, long have I wisht as a votary true,


s: "O'er the grave of such talents to utter my moans;


s: "And, to-day--as my stomach is not in good cue


s: "For the _flesh_ of the VÉRYS--I'll visit their _bones_!"


s: He insists upon _my_ going with him--how teasing!


s: This letter, however, dear DOLLY, shall lie


s: Unsealed in my drawer, that, if anything pleasing


s: Occurs while I'm out, I may tell you--good-by.


s: Oh, DOLLY, dear DOLLY, I'm ruined for ever--


s: I ne'er shall be happy again, DOLLY, never!


s: To think of the wretch--what a victim was I!


s: 'Tis too much to endure--I shall die, I shall die--


s: "My brain's in a fever--my pulses beat quick--


s: I shall die or at least be exceedingly sick!


s: Oh! what do you think? after all my romancing,


s: My visions of glory, my sighing, my glancing,


s: This Colonel--I scarce can commit it to paper--


s: This Colonel's no more than a vile linen-draper!!


s: 'Tis true as I live--I had coaxt brother BOB so,


s: (You'll hardly make out what I'm writing, I sob so,)


s: For some little gift on my birthday--September


s: The thirtieth, dear, I'm eighteen, you remember--


s: That BOB to a shop kindly ordered the coach,


s: (Ah! little I thought who the shopman would prove,)


s: To bespeak me a few of those _mouchoirs de poche_,


s: Which, in happier hours, I have sighed for, my love--


s: (The most beautiful things--two Napoleons the price--


s: And one's name in the corner embroidered so nice!)


s: Well, with heart full of pleasure, I entered the shop.


s: But--ye Gods, what a phantom!--I thought I should drop--


s: There he stood, my dear DOLLY--no room for a doubt--


s: There, behind the vile counter, these eyes saw him stand,


s: With a piece of French cambric, before him rolled out,


s: And that horrid yard-measure upraised in his hand!


s: Oh!--Papa, all along, knew the secret,' is clear--


s: 'Twas _a shopman_ he meant by a "Brandenburgh," dear!


s: The man, whom I fondly had fancied a King,


s: And, when _that_ too delightful illusion was past,


s: As a hero had worshipt--vile, treacherous thing--


s: To turn out but a low linen-draper at last!


s: My head swam around--the wretch smiled, I believe,


s: But his smiling, alas, could no longer deceive--


s: I fell back on BOB--my whole heart seemed to wither--


s: And, pale as a ghost, I was carried back hither!


s: I only remember that BOB, as I caught him,


s: With cruel facetiousness said, "Curse the Kiddy!


s: "A stanch Revolutionist always I've thought him,


s: "But now I find out he's a _Counter_ one, BIDDY!"


s: Only think, my dear creature, if this should be known


s: To that saucy, satirical thing, Miss MALONE!


s: What a story 'twill be at Shandangan for ever!


s: What laughs and what quizzing she'll have with the men!


s: It will spread thro' the country--and never, oh! never


s: Farewell--I shall do something desperate, I fear--


s: And, ah! if my fate ever reaches your ear,


s: One tear of compassion my DOLL will not grudge


s: To her poor--broken-hearted--young friend, BIDDY FUDGE.


s: _Nota bene_--I am sure you will hear, with delight,


s: That we're going, all three, to see BRUNET to-night.


s: A laugh will revive me--and kind Mr. COX


s: (Do you know him?) has got us the Governor's box.


s: Who d' ye think we've got here?--quite reformed from the giddy.


s: Fantastic young thing that once made such a noise--


s: Why, the famous Miss Fudge--that delectable Biddy,


s: Whom you and I saw once at Paris, when boys,


s: In the full blaze of bonnets, and ribands, and airs--


s: Such a thing as no rainbow hath colors to paint;


s: Ere time had reduced her to wrinkles and prayers,


s: And the Flirt found a decent retreat in the Saint.


s: Poor "Pa" hath popt off--gone, as charity judges,


s: To some choice Elysium reserved for the Fudges;


s: And Miss, with a fortune, besides expectations


s: From some much revered and much palsied relations,


s: Now wants but a husband, with requisites meet,--


s: Age, thirty, or thereabouts--stature six feet,


s: And warranted godly--to make all complete.


s: _Nota bene_--a Churchman would suit, if he's _high_,


s: But Socinians or Catholics need not apply.


s: The whole wealth of Fudge, that renowned man of pith.


s: All brought to the hammer, for Church competition,--


s: Sole encumbrance, Miss Fudge to be taken therewith.


s: Think, my boy, for a Curate how glorious a catch!


s: While, instead of the thousands of souls you _now_ watch,


s: To save Biddy Fudge's is all you need do;


s: And her purse will meanwhile be the saving of _you_.


s: Wanting substance even more than your spiritual self,


s: Should thus generously lay my own claims on the shelf,


s: When, God knows! there ne'er was young gentleman yet


s: So much lackt an old spinster to rid him from debt,


s: Or had cogenter reasons than mine to assail her


s: With tender love-suit--at the suit of his tailor.


s: But thereby there hangs a soft secret, my friend,


s: Which thus to your reverend breast I commend:


s: Miss Fudge hath a niece--such a creature!--with eyes


s: Like those sparklers that peep out from summer-night skies


s: At astronomers-royal, and laugh with delight


s: To see elderly gentlemen spying all night.


s: While her figure--oh! bring all the gracefullest things


s: That are borne thro' the light air by feet or by wings,


s: Not a single new grace to that form could they teach,


s: Which combines in itself the perfection of each;


s: While, rapid or slow, as her fairy feet fall,


s: The mute music of symmetry modulates all.


s: Ne'er in short was there creature more formed to bewilder


s: A gay youth like me, who of castles aërial


s: (And _only_ of such) am, God help me! a builder;


s: Still peopling each mansion with lodgers ethereal,


s: And now, to this nymph of the seraph-like eye,


s: Letting out, as you see, my first floor next the sky.


s: But, alas! nothing's perfect on earth--even she,


s: This divine little gipsy, does odd things sometimes;


s: Talks learning--looks wise (rather painful to see),


s: Prints already in two County papers her rhymes;


s: And raves--the sweet, charming, absurd little dear,


s: About _Amulets, Bijous_, and _Keepsakes_, next year.


s: In a manner which plainly bad symptoms portends


s: Of that Annual _blue_ fit, so distressing to friends;


s: A fit which, tho' lasting but one short edition,


s: Leaves the patient long after in sad inanition.


s: However, let's hope for the best--and, meanwhile,


s: Be it mine still to bask in the niece's warm smile;


s: (Uphill work, I confess,) to her Saint of an Aunt.


s: Think, my boy, for a youngster like you, who've a lack,


s: Not indeed of rupees, but of all other specie.


s: What luck thus to find a kind witch at your back,


s: An old goose with gold eggs, from all debts to release ye!


s: Never mind, tho' the spinster be reverend and thin,


s: How she touches the affections, so _you_ touch the rents;


s: And Love never looks half so pleased as when, bless him, he


s: Sings to an old lady's purse "Open, Sesame."


s: By the way, I've just heard, in my walks, a report,


s: Which, if true, will insure for your visit some sport.


s: 'Tis rumored our Manager means to bespeak


s: The Church tumblers from Exeter Hall for next week;


s: And certainly ne'er did a queerer or rummer set


s: Throw, for the amusement of Christians, a summerset.


s: 'Tis feared their chief "Merriman," C--ke, cannot come,


s: Being called off, at present, to play Punch at home;


s: And the loss of so practised a wag in divinity


s: Will grieve much all lovers of jokes on the Trinity;--


s: Having pleased Robert Taylor, the _Reverend_, greatly.


s: 'Twill prove a sad drawback, if absent he be,


s: As a wag Presbyterian's a thing quite to see;


s: And, 'mong the Five Points of the Calvinists, none of 'em


s: Ever yet reckoned a point of wit one of 'em.


s: But even tho' deprived of this comical elf,


s: We've a host of _buffoni_ in Murtagh himself.


s: Who of all the whole troop is chief mummer and mime,


s: And Coke takes the _Ground_ Tumbling, _he_ the


s: And of him we're quite certain, so pray come in time.


s: Just in time for the post, dear, and monstrously busy,


s: With godly concernments--and worldly ones, too;


s: Things carnal and spiritual mixt, my dear Lizzy,


s: In this little brain till, bewildered and dizzy,


s: 'Twixt heaven and earth, I scarce know what I do.


s: First, I've been to see all the gay fashions from Town,


s: Sleeves _still_ worn (which _I_ think is wise), _à la


s: Charming hats, _pou de soie_--tho' the shape rather droll.


s: But you cant think how nicely the caps of _tulle_ lace,


s: With the _mentonnières_ look on this poor sinful face;


s: And I mean, if the Lord in his mercy thinks right,


s: To wear one at Mrs. Fitz-wigram's to-night.


s: The silks are quite heavenly:--I'm glad too to say


s: Hath had sweet experience--yea, even doth begin


s: To turn from the Gentiles, and put away sin--


s: And all since her last stock of goods was laid in.


s: What a blessing one's milliner, careless of pelf,


s: Should thus "walk in newness," as well as one's self!


s: So much for the blessings, the comforts of Spirit


s: I've had since we met, and they're more than I merit!--


s: Poor, sinful, weak creature in every respect,


s: Tho' ordained (God knows why) to be one of the Elect.


s: But now for the picture's reverse.--You remember


s: That footman and cook-maid I hired last December;


s: _He_ a Baptist Particular--_she_, of some sect


s: Not particular, I fancy, in any respect;


s: But desirous, poor thing, to be fed with the Word,


s: And "to wait," as she said, "on Miss Fudge and the Lord."


s: Well, my dear, of all men, that Particular Baptist


s: At preaching a sermon, off hand, was the aptest;


s: And, long as he staid, do him justice, more rich in


s: Sweet savors of doctrine, there never was kitchen.


s: He preached in the parlor, he preached in the hall,


s: He preached to the chambermaids, scullions and all.


s: All heard with delight his reprovings of sin,


s: But above all, the cook-maid:--oh, ne'er would she tire--


s: Tho', in learning to save sinful souls from the fire,


s: She would oft let the soles she was frying fall in.


s: (God forgive me for punning on points thus of piety!--


s: A sad trick I've learned in Bob's heathen society.)


s: But ah! there remains still the worst of my tale;


s: Come, Asterisks, and help me the sad truth to veil--


s: Conscious stars, that at even your own secret turn pale!


s: In short, dear, this preaching and psalm-singing pair,


s: Chosen "vessels of mercy," as _I_ thought they were,


s: Have together this last week eloped; making bold


s: To whip off as much goods as both vessels could hold--


s: Not forgetting some scores of sweet Tracts from my shelves,


s: Two Family Bibles as large as themselves,


s: And besides, from the drawer--I neglecting to lock it--


s: My neat "Morning Manna, done up for the pocket."


s: Was there e'er known a case so distressing, dear Liz?


s: It has made me quite ill:-and the worst of it is,


s: When rogues are _all_ pious, 'tis hard to detect


s: _Which_ rogues are the reprobate, _which_ the elect.


s: This man "had a _call_," he said--impudent mockery!


s: What call had he to _my_ linen and crockery?


s: I'm now and have been for this week past in chase


s: Of some godly young couple this pair to replace.


s: The enclosed two announcements have just met my eyes


s: In that venerable Monthly where Saints advertise


s: For such temporal comforts as this world supplies;


s: And the fruits of the Spirit are properly made


s: An essential in every craft, calling and trade.


s: Where the attorney requires for his 'prentice some youth


s: Who has "learned to fear God and to walk in the truth;"


s: Where the sempstress, in search of employment, declares


s: That pay is no object, so she can have prayers;


s: And the Establisht Wine Company proudly gives out


s: That the whole of the firm, Co. and all, are devout.


s: Happy London, one feels, as one reads o'er the pages,


s: Where Saints are so much more abundant than sages;


s: Where Parsons may soon be all laid on the shelf,


s: As each Cit can cite chapter and verse for himself,


s: And the _serious_ frequenters of market and dock


s: All lay in religion as part of their stock.


s: Who can tell to what lengths we may go on improving,


s: When thus thro' all London the Spirit keeps moving,


s: And heaven's so in vogue that each shop adver_tise_ment


s: Is now not so much for the earth as the skies meant?


s: Have mislaid the two paragraphs--cant stop to look,


s: But both describe charming--both Footman and Cook.


s: She, "decidedly pious"--with pathos deplores


s: The increase of French cookery and sin on our shores;


s: And adds--(while for further accounts she refers


s: To a great Gospel preacher, a cousin of hers,)


s: That "tho' _some_ make their Sabbaths mere matter-of-fun days,


s: She asks but for tea and the Gospel, on Sundays."


s: The footman, too, full of the true saving knowledge;--


s: Has late been to Cambridge--to Trinity College;


s: Served last a young gentleman, studying divinity,


s: But left--not approving the morals of Trinity.


s: I enclose, too, according to promise, some scraps


s: Of my Journal--that Day-book I keep of my heart;


s: Where, at some little items, (partaking, perhaps,


s: More of earth than of heaven,) thy prudery may start,


s: And suspect something tender, sly girl as thou art.


s: For the present, I'm mute--but, whate'er may befall,


s: Recollect, dear, (in Hebrews, xiii. 4,) St. Paul


s: Hath himself declared, "marriage is honorable in all."


s: Flew in a passion with Fritz, my maid;--


s: The Lord forgive me!--she lookt dismayed;


s: While she curled my hair, which made me calm.


s: Hath much engrossed my thoughts of late;


s: And I mean, as soon as my niece is gone,


s: But that troublesome child is in the way;


s: He's forced, from politeness, to look at her.


s: Heigho!--what a blessing should Mr. Magan


s: Turn out, after all, a "renewed" young man;


s: And to me should fall the task, on earth,


s: To assist at the dear youth's second birth.


s: Blest thought! and ah! more blest the tie,


s: Were it Heaven's high will, that he and I--


s: Should wed, as St. Paul says, "in the Lord";


s: Not _this_ world's wedlock--gross, gallant,


s: But pure--as when Amram married his aunt.


s: For a regular twice-born Christian's age,


s: And, counting in _this_ way--let me see--


s: And dear Magan, when the event takes place,


s: A six-foot baby, in _swaddling_ clothes.


s: Had just begun--having stirred the fire,


s: And drawn my chair near his--to inquire,


s: When that naughty Fanny again bounced in;


s: And all the sweet things I had got to say


s: Of the Flesh and the Devil were whiskt away!


s: Is actually pleased and, amused with Fan!


s: With eyes, like herself, full of naught but play--


s: Dark comrade of my path! while earth and sky


s: Thus wed their charms, in bridal light arrayed,


s: Why in this bright hour, walkst thou ever nigh;


s: Blackening my footsteps, with thy length of shade--


s: Thou mimic Shape that, mid these flowery scenes,


s: Saddening them as thou goest--say, what means


s: Still, as to pluck sweet flowers I bend my brow,


s: Thou bendest, too--then risest when I rise;--


s: Say, mute, mysterious Thing! how is't that thou


s: Thus comest between me and those blessed skies--


s: Thus said I to that Shape, far less in grudge


s: Than gloom of soul; while, as I eager cried,


s: Oh Why? What? How?--a Voice, that one might judge


s: You have here, dearest Coz, my last lyric effusion;


s: And, with it, that odious "additional stanza,


s: Which Aunt _will_ insist I must keep, as conclusion,


s: And which, you'll _at once_ see, is Mr. Magan's;--a


s: Most cruel and dark-designed extravaganza,


s: And part of that plot in which he and my Aunt are


s: To stifle the flights of my genius by banter.


s: Just so 'twas with Byron's young eagle-eyed strain,


s: Just so did they taunt him;--but vain, critics, vain


s: All your efforts to saddle Wit's fire with a chain!


s: To blot out the splendor of Fancy's young stream,


s: Or crop, in its cradle, her newly-fledged beam!!!


s: Thou perceivest, dear, that, even while these lines I indite,


s: Thoughts burn, brilliant fancies break out, wrong or right,


s: And I'm all over poet, in Criticism's spite!


s: That my Aunt, who deals only in Psalms, and regards


s: Messrs. Sternhold and Co. as the first of all bards--


s: That _she_ should make light of my works I cant blame;


s: But that nice, handsome, odious Magan--what a shame!


s: Do you know, dear, that, high as on most points I rate him,


s: I'm really afraid--after all, I--_must_ hate him,


s: He is _so_ provoking--naught's safe from his tongue;


s: He spares no one authoress, ancient or young.


s: Were you Sappho herself, and in _Keepsake_ or _Bijou_


s: Once shone as contributor, Lord! how he'd quiz you!


s: He laughs at _all_ Monthlies--I've actually seen


s: A sneer on his brow at _The Court Magazine_!--


s: While of Weeklies, poor things, there's but one he peruses,


s: And buys every book which that Weekly abuses.


s: But I care not how others such sarcasm may fear,


s: _One_ spirit, at least, will not bend to his sneer;


s: And tho' tried by the fire, my young genius shall burn as


s: Uninjured as crucified gold in the furnace!


s: (I suspect the word "crucified" must be made "crucible,"


s: Before this fine image of mine is producible.)


s: And now, dear--to tell you a secret which, pray


s: Only trust to such friends as with safety you may--


s: You know and indeed the whole country suspects


s: (Tho' the Editor often my best things rejects),


s: But 'tis dreadful to think what provoking mistakes


s: The vile country Press in one's prosody makes.


s: For you know, dear--I may, without vanity, hint--


s: Tho' an angel should write, still 'tis _devils_ must print;


s: And you cant think what havoc these demons sometimes


s: Choose to make of one's sense, and what's worse, of one's rhymes.


s: Which I _meant_ to have made a most beautiful thing,


s: Where I talkt of the "dewdrops from freshly-blown roses,"


s: The nasty things made it "from freshly-blown noses!"


s: And once when to please my cross Aunt, I had tried


s: To commemorate some saint of her _cligue_, who'd just died,


s: Having said he "had taken up in heaven his position,"


s: They made it, he'd "taken up to heaven his physician!"


s: This is very disheartening;--but brighter days shine,


s: I rejoice, love, to say both for me and the Nine;


s: For what do you think?--so delightful! next year,


s: Oh, prepare, dearest girl, for the grand news prepare--


s: I'm to write in "_The Keepsake_"--yes, Kitty, my dear.


s: To write in "_The Keepsake_," as sure as you're there!!


s: T' other night, at a Ball, 'twas my fortunate chance


s: With a very nice elderly Dandy to dance,


s: Who, 'twas plain, from some hints which I now and then caught.


s: Was the author of _something_--one couldnt tell what;


s: But his satisfied manner left no room to doubt


s: It was something that Colburn had lately brought out.


s: We conversed of _belles-lettres_ thro' all the quadrille,--


s: Of poetry, dancing, of prose, standing still;


s: Talkt of Intellect's march--whether right 'twas or wrong--


s: And then settled the point in a bold _en avant_.


s: In the course of this talk 'twas that, having just hinted


s: That _I_ too had Poems which--longed to be printed,


s: He protested, kind man! he had seen, at first sight,


s: I was actually _born_ in "_The Keepsake_" to write.


s: "In the Annals of England let some," he said, "shine,


s: "But a place in her Annuals, Lady, be thine!


s: "Even now future '_Keepsakes_' seem brightly to rise,


s: "Thro' the vista of years, as I gaze on those eyes,--


s: "All lettered and prest, and of large-paper size!"


s: How un_like_ that Magan, who my genius would smother,


s: And how we true geniuses find out each other!


s: This and much more he said with that fine frenzied glance


s: One so rarely now sees, as we slid thro' the dance;


s: Till between us 'twas finally fixt that, next year,


s: In this exquisite task I my pen should engage;


s: And, at parting, he stoopt down and lispt in my ear


s: These mystical words, which I could but _just_ hear,


s: "Terms for rhyme--if it's _prime_--ten and sixpence per page."


s: Think, Kitty, my dear, if I heard his words right,


s: What a mint of half-guineas this small head contains;


s: If for nothing to write is itself a delight,


s: Ye Gods, what a bliss to be paid for one's strains!


s: Having dropt the dear fellow a courtesy profound,


s: Off at once, to inquire all about him, I ran;


s: And from what I could learn, do you know, dear, I've found


s: That he's quite a new species of literary man;


s: One, whose task is--to what will not fashion accustom us?--


s: To _edit_ live authors, as if they were posthumous.


s: For instance--the plan, to be sure, is the oddest!--


s: If any young he or she author feels modest


s: In venturing abroad, this kind gentleman-usher


s: Lends promptly a hand to the interesting blusher;


s: Indites a smooth Preface, brings merit to light,


s: Which else might, by accident, shrink out of sight,


s: And, in short, renders readers and critics polite.


s: My Aunt says--tho' scarce on such points one can credit her--


s: He was Lady Jane Thingumbob's last novel's editor.


s: 'Tis certain the fashion's but newly invented;


s: And quick as the change of all things and all names is,


s: Who knows but as authors like girls are _presented_,


s: We girls may be _edited_ soon at St. James's?


s: I must now close my letter--there's Aunt, in full screech,


s: Wants to take me to hear some great Irvingite preach.


s: God forgive me, I'm not much inclined, I must say,


s: To go and sit still to be preached at to-day.


s: And besides--'twill be all against dancing, no doubt,


s: Which my poor Aunt abhors with such hatred devout,


s: That so far from presenting young nymphs with a head,


s: For their skill in the dance, as of Herod is said,


s: She'd wish their own heads in the platter instead.


s: There again--coming, Ma'am!--I'll write more, if I can,


s: Such a sermon!--tho' _not_ about dancing, my dear;


s: 'Twas only on the end of the world being near.


s: Eighteen Hundred and Forty's the year that some state


s: As the time for that accident--some Forty Eight


s: And I own, of the two, I'd prefer much the latter,


s: As then I shall be an old maid, and 'twon't matter.


s: Once more, love, good-by--I've to make a new cap;


s: But am now so dead tired with this horrid mishap


s: Of the end of the world that I _must_ take a nap.


s: Sound, Humbug, all your hollowest drums,


s: Prepare, ye wealthier Saints, your dinners,


s: Ye Spinsters, spread your tea and crumpets;


s: And you, ye countless Tracts for Sinners,


s: To all who still the Church's part take,


s: Might make even grim Dissenter's heart ache:--


s: Which used to roll in wealth so pleasantly;


s: Its surplus brought to nonplus presently!


s: Will preach and preach t'ye, till you're dull again;


s: Then, hail him, Saints, with joint acclaim,


s: I've seen him, some hours since, arrive.


s: Intends, to every saint and sinner in't,


s: To state what _he_ calls Ireland's Case;


s: Meaning thereby the case of _his_ shop,-


s: That make men's souls their special traffic,


s: Then leaves poor dear to--suck its knuckle:


s: Will tell, next week, a different story;


s: Brought to the _stake_--i.e. a _beef_ one,


s: Tho' try them even at this, they'll bear it,


s: Meanwhile Miss Fudge, who loves all lions.


s: Your saintly, _next_ to great and high 'uns--


s: Where Murtagh's to be first brought out,


s: And shown in his tame, _week-day_ state:--


s: "Prayers, half-past seven, tea at eight."


s: Pink cards, with cherubs round the borders.


s: That sick, rich squire, whose wealth and lands


s: 'Tis true, the girl's a vile verse-maker--


s: Would rhyme all nature, if you'd let her;--


s: Which late hath seized all ranks and classes,


s: Where, sliding in those tuneful grooves,


s: And the whole world runs mad _in lines_.


s: Add to all this--what's even still worse,


s: Tenpence would clear the amount between us.


s: Hath beat the pace at which even _they_ go!


s: Dear Judy, I sind you this bit of a letther,


s: By mail-coach conveyance--for want of a betther--


s: To tell you what luck in this world I have had


s: Since I left the sweet cabin, at Mullinafad.


s: Och, Judy, that night!--when the pig which we meant


s: To dry-nurse in the parlor, to pay off the rent,


s: Julianna, the craythur--that name was the death of her--


s: Gave us the shlip and we saw the last breath of her!


s: And _there_ were the childher, six innocent sowls,


s: For their nate little play-fellow turning up howls;


s: While yourself, my dear Judy (tho' grievin's a folly),


s: Stud over Julianna's remains, melancholy--


s: Cryin', half for the craythur and half for the money,


s: "Arrah, why did ye die till we'd sowled you, my honey?"


s: But God's will be done!--and then, faith, sure enough,


s: As the pig was desaiced, 'twas high time to be off.


s: So we gothered up all the poor duds we could catch,


s: Lock the owld cabin-door, put the kay in the thatch,


s: Then tuk laave of each other's sweet lips in the dark,


s: And set off, like the Chrishtians turned out of the Ark;


s: The six childher with you, my dear Judy, ochone!


s: And poor I wid myself, left condolin' alone.


s: How I came to this England, o'er say and o'er lands,


s: And what cruel hard walkin' I've had on my hands,


s: Is, at this present writin', too tadious to speak,


s: So I'll mintion it all in a postscript, next week:--


s: Only starved I was, surely, as thin as a lath,


s: Till I came to an up-and-down place they call Bath,


s: Where, as luck was, I managed to make a meal's meat,


s: By dhraggin' owld ladies all day thro' the street--


s: Which their docthors (who pocket, like fun, the pound starlins,)


s: Have brought into fashion to plase the owld darlins.


s: Divil a boy in all Bath, tho' _I_ say it, could carry


s: The grannies up hill half so handy as Larry;


s: And the higher they lived, like owld crows, in the air,


s: The more _I_ was wanted to lug them up there.


s: But luck has two handles, dear Judy, they say,


s: And mine has _both_ handles put on the wrong way.


s: For, pondherin', one morn, on a drame I'd just had


s: Of yourself and the babbies, at Mullinafad,


s: Och, there came o'er my sinses so plasin' a flutther,


s: That I spilt an owld Countess right clane in the gutther,


s: Muff, feathers and all!--the descint was most awful,


s: And--what was still worse, faith--I knew'twas unlawful:


s: For, tho', with mere _women_, no very great evil,


s: 'Tupset an owld _Countess_ in Bath is the divil!


s: So, liftin' the chair, with herself safe upon it,


s: (for nothin' about her--was _kilt_, but her bonnet,)


s: Without even mentionin' "By your lave, ma'am,"


s: I tuk to my heels and--here, Judy, I am!


s: What's the name of this town I can't say very well,


s: But your heart sure will jump when you hear what befell


s: Your own beautiful Larry, the very first day,


s: (And a Sunday it was, shinin' out mighty gay,)


s: When his brogues to this city of luck found their way.


s: Bein' hungry, God help me and happenin' to stop,


s: Just to dine on the shmell of a pasthry-cook's shop,


s: I saw, in the window, a large printed paper.


s: And read there a name, och! that made my heart caper--


s: Though printed it was in some quare ABC,


s: That might bother a schoolmaster, let alone _me_.


s: By gor, you'd have laughed Judy, could you've but listened,


s: But it _was_, after all--for, by spellin' quite slow,


s: First I made out "Rev. Mortimer"--then a great "O";


s: And, at last, by hard readin' and rackin' my skull again,


s: Out it came, nate as imported, "O'Mulligan!"


s: Divil a doubt on my mind, but it _must_ be the same


s: "Master Murthagh, himself," says I, "all the world over!


s: My own fosther-brother--by jinks, I'm in clover.


s: Tho' _there_, in the play-bill, he figures so grand,


s: One wet-nurse it was brought us both up by hand,


s: And he'll not let me shtarve in the inemy's land!"


s: Well, to make a long hishtory short, niver doubt


s: But I managed, in no time, to find the lad out:


s: And the joy of the meetin' bethuxt him and me,


s: Such a pair of owld cumrogues--was charmin' to see.


s: Nor is Murthagh less plased with the evint than _I_ am,


s: As he just then was wanting a Valley-de-sham;


s: And, for _dressin'_ a gintleman, one way or t'other,


s: Your nate Irish lad is beyant every other.


s: But now, Judy, comes the quare part of the case;


s: And, in throth, it's the only drawback on my place.


s: 'Twas Murthagh's ill luck to be crost, as you know,


s: With an awkward mishfortune some short time ago;


s: That's to say, he turned Protestant--_why_, I can'tlarn;


s: But, of coorse, he knew best, an' it's not _my_ consarn.


s: All I know is, we both were good Catholics, at nurse,


s: And myself am so still--nayther better not worse.


s: Well, our bargain was all right and tight in a jiffy,


s: And lads more contint never yet left, the Liffey,


s: When Murthagh--or Morthimer, as he's _now_ chrishened,


s: His _name_ being convarted, at laist, if _he_ isn't--


s: Lookin' sly at me (faith, 'twas divartin' to see)


s: "_Of coorse_, you're a Protestant, Larry," says he.


s: Upon which says myself, wid a wink just as shly,


s: And there the chat ended, and divil a more word


s: Controvarsial between us has since then occurred.


s: What Murthagh could mane, and, in troth, Judy dear,


s: What _I myself_ meant, doesn'tseem mighty clear;


s: But the truth is, tho' still for the Owld Light a stickler,


s: I was just then too shtarved to be over partic'lar:--


s: And, God knows, between us, a comic'ler pair


s: Of twin Protestants couldn't be seen _any_ where.


s: Next Tuesday (as towld in the play-bills I mintioned,


s: Addrest to the loyal and godly intintioned,)


s: His Riverence, my master, comes forward to preach,--


s: Myself doesn'tknow whether sarmon or speech,


s: But it's all one to him, he's a dead hand at each;


s: Like us Paddys in gin'ral, whose skill in orations


s: Quite bothers the blarney of all other nations.


s: But, whisht!--there's his Riverence, shoutin' out "Larry,"


s: And sorra a word more will this shmall paper carry;


s: So, here, Judy, ends my short bit of a letther,


s: Which, faix, I'd have made a much bigger and betther.


s: But divil a one Post-office hole in this town


s: Fit to swallow a dacent sized billy-dux down.


s: So good luck to the childer!--tell Molly, I love her;


s: Kiss Oonagh's sweet mouth, and kiss Katty all over--


s: Not forgettin' the mark of the red-currant whiskey


s: She got at the fair when yourself was so frisky.


s: The heavens be your bed!--I will write, when I can again,


s: How I grieve you're not with us!--pray, come, if you can,


s: Ere we're robbed of this dear, oratorical man,


s: Who combines in himself all the multiple glory


s: Of, Orangeman, Saint, _quondam_ Papist and Tory;--


s: (Choice mixture! like that from which, duly confounded,


s: The best sort of _brass_ was, in old times, compounded.)--


s: The sly and the saintly, the worldly and godly,


s: All fused down, in brogue so deliciously oddly!


s: In short, he's a _dear_--and _such_ audiences draws,


s: Such loud peals of laughter and shouts of applause,


s: As _can't_ but do good to the Protestant cause.


s: Poor dear Irish Church!--he today sketched a view


s: Of her history and prospect, to _me_ at least new,


s: And which (if it _takes_ as it ought) must arouse


s: The whole Christian world her just rights to espouse.


s: As to _reasoning_--you know, dear, that's now of no use,


s: People still will their _facts_ and dry _figures_ produce,


s: As if saving the souls of a Protestant flock were


s: A thing to be managed "according to Cocker!"


s: In vain do we say, (when rude radicals hector


s: At paying some thousands a year to a Rector,


s: In places where Protestants _never yet were_,)


s: "Who knows but young Protestants _may_ be born there?"


s: And granting such accident, think, what a shame,


s: If they didnt find Rector and Clerk when they came!


s: It is clear that, without such a staff on full pay,


s: These little Church embryos _must_ go astray;


s: And, while fools are computing what Parsons would cost,


s: Precious souls are meanwhile to the Establishment lost!


s: In vain do we put the case sensibly thus;--


s: They'll still with their figures and facts make a fuss,


s: And ask "if, while all, choosing each his own road,


s: Journey on, as we can, towards the Heavenly Abode,


s: It is right that _seven_ eighths of the travellers should pay


s: For _one_ eighth that goes quite a different way?"--


s: Just as if, foolish people, this wasn't, in reality,


s: A proof of the Church's extreme liberality,


s: That tho' hating Popery in _other_ respects,


s: She to Catholic _money_ in no way objects;


s: And so liberal her very best Saints, in this sense,


s: That they even go to heaven at the Catholic's expense.


s: But tho' clear to _our_ minds all these arguments be,


s: People cannot or _will_ not their cogency see;


s: And I grieve to confess, did the poor Irish Church


s: Stand on reasoning alone, she'd be left in the lurch.


s: It was therefore, dear Lizzy, with joy most sincere,


s: That I heard this nice Reverend O'_something_ we've here,


s: Produce, from the depths of his knowledge and reading,


s: A view of that marvellous Church, far exceeding,


s: In novelty, force, and profoundness of thought,


s: All that Irving himself in his glory e'er taught.


s: Looking thro' the whole history, present and past,


s: Of the Irish Law Church, from the first to the last;


s: Considering how strange its original birth--


s: Such a thing having _never_ before been on earth--


s: How opposed to the instinct, the law and the force


s: Of nature and reason has been its whole course;


s: Thro' centuries encountering repugnance, resistance,


s: Scorn, hate, execration--yet still in existence!


s: Considering all this, the conclusion he draws


s: Is that Nature exempts this one Church from her laws--


s: And before the portentous anomaly stands mute;


s: That in short 'tis a Miracle! and, _once_ begun,


s: And transmitted thro' ages, from father to son,


s: For the honor of miracles, _ought to go on_.


s: Never yet was conclusion so cogent and sound,


s: Or so fitted the Church's weak foes to confound.


s: For observe the more low all her merits they place,


s: The more they make out the miraculous case,


s: And the more all good Christians must deem it profane


s: To disturb such a prodigy's marvellous reign.


s: As for scriptural proofs, he quite placed beyond doubt


s: That the whole in the Apocalypse may be found out,


s: As clear and well-proved, he would venture to swear,


s: As anything else has been _ever_ found there:--


s: While the mode in which, bless the dear fellow, he deals


s: With that whole lot of vials and trumpets and seals,


s: And the ease with which vial on vial he strings,


s: Shows him quite a _first-rate_ at all these sort of things.


s: So much for theology:--as for the affairs


s: Of this temporal world--the light drawing-room cares


s: And gay toils of the toilet, which, God knows, I seek,


s: From no love of such things, but in humbleness meek,


s: And to be, as the Apostle, was, "weak with the weak,"


s: Thou wilt find quite enough (till I'm somewhat less busy)


s: In the extracts inclosed, my dear news-loving Lizzy.


s: Last night, having naught more holy to do,


s: Wrote a letter to dear Sir Andrew Agnew,


s: Which we wish by some shorter name to dub:--


s: As the use of more vowels and Consonants


s: Than a Christian on Sunday _really_ wants,


s: Is a grievance that ought to be done away,


s: And the Alphabet left to rest, that day.


s: Sir Andrew's answer!--but, shocking to say,


s: It arrived on this blessed Sunday morn!!--


s: How shocking!--the postman's self cried "shame on't,"


s: Seeing the immaculate Andrew's name on't!!


s: 'Tis a matter that touches the Class Devout,


s: And the friends of the Sabbath _must_ speak out.


s: Saw to-day, at the raffle--and saw it with pain--


s: That those stylish Fitzwigrams begin to dress plain.


s: Even gay little Sophy smart trimmings renounces--


s: She who long has stood by me thro' all sorts of flounces,


s: And showed by upholding the toilet's sweet rites,


s: That we girls may be Christians without being frights.


s: This, I own, much alarms me; for tho' one's religious,


s: And strict and--all that, there's no need to be hideous;


s: And why a nice bonnet should stand in the way


s: Of one's going to heaven, 'tisn't easy to say.


s: Pray what's to become of her soul and her shop?


s: If by saints like ourselves no more orders are given,


s: She'll lose all the interest she now takes in heaven;


s: And this nice little "fire-brand, pluckt from the burning,"


s: May fall in again at the very next turning.


s: _Mem_.--To write to the India Mission Society;


s: Of all Indian luxuries we now-a-days boast,


s: Making "Company's Christians" perhaps costs the most.


s: And the worst of it is, that these converts full grown,


s: Having lived in _our_ faith mostly die in their _own_,


s: Praying hard, at the last, to some god who, they say,


s: When incarnate on earth, used to steal curds and whey.


s: Think, how horrid, my dear!--so that all's thrown away;


s: And (what is still worse) for the rum and the rice


s: They consumed, while believers, we saints pay the price.


s: Still 'tis cheering to find that we _do_ save a few--


s: The Report gives six Christians for Cunnangcadoo;


s: Doorkotchum reckons seven, and four Trevandrum,


s: While but one and a half's left at Cooroopadum.


s: In this last-mentioned place 'tis the barbers enslave 'em,


s: For once they turn Christians no barber will shave 'em.


s: To atone for this rather small Heathen amount,


s: Some Papists, turned Christians, are tackt to the account.


s: And tho' to catch Papists, one needn't go so far,


s: Such fish are worth hooking, wherever they are;


s: And _now_, when so great of such converts the lack is,


s: _One_ Papist well caught is worth millions of Blackies.


s: Last night had a dream so odd and funny,


s: And both for _me_, which lookt rather queer;--


s: But why there were _two_ wasnt quite so clear.


s: To afford me a _choice_--a most excellent plan;


s: And--who should this brace of candidates be,


s: A thing, I suppose, unheard of till then,


s: That handsome Magan, too, with wings on his shoulders


s: (For all this past in the realms of the Blest.)


s: And quite a creature to dazzle beholders;


s: While even O'Mulligan, feathered and drest


s: As an elderly cherub, was looking his best.


s: Ah Liz, you, who know me, scarce can doubt


s: Like a mist, away, and I found but the head


s: Of O'Mulligan, wings and all, in my arms!


s: The Angel had flown to some nest divine.


s: Heigho!--it is certain that foolish Magan


s: Either can'tor wont see that he _might_ be the man;


s: And, perhaps, dear--who knows?--if naught better befall


s: But--O'Mulligan _may_ be the man, after all.


s: Next week mean to have my first scriptural rout,


s: For the special discussion of matters devout;--


s: Like those _soirées_, at Powerscourt, so justly renowned,


s: For the zeal with which doctrine and negus went round;


s: Those theology-routs which the pious Lord Roden,


s: That pink of Christianity, first set the mode in;


s: Where, blessed down-pouringfrom tea until nine,


s: The subjects lay all in the Prophecy line;--


s: Then, supper--and then, if for topics hard driven,


s: From thence until bed-time to Satan was given;


s: While Roden, deep read in each topic and tome,


s: On all subjects (especially the last) was _at home_.


s: Bring me the slumbering souls of flowers,


s: Where from the dawn of Time they've lain--


s: Intending to fill the whole page to the bottom,


s: But, having invoked such a lot of fine things,


s: Flowers, billows and thunderbolts, rainbows and wings,


s: Didnt know _what_ to do with 'em, when I had got 'em.


s: The truth is, my thoughts are too full, at this minute,


s: This very night's coach brings my destiny in it--


s: Decides the great question, to live or to die!


s: And, whether I'm henceforth immortal or no,


s: All depends on the answer of Simpkins and Co.!


s: You'll think, love, I rave, so 'tis best to let out


s: The whole secret, at once--I have publisht a book!!!


s: Yes, an actual Book:--if the marvel you doubt,


s: You have only in last Monday's _Courier_ to look,


s: And you'll find "This day publisht by Simpkins and Co.


s: A Romaunt, in twelve Cantos, entitled 'Woe Woe!'


s: By Miss Fanny F----, known more commonly so [symbol: hand]."


s: This I put that my friends mayn't be left in the dark


s: But may guess at my _writing_ by knowing my _mark_.


s: How I managed, at last, this great deed to achieve,


s: Is itself a "Romaunt" which you'd scarce, dear believe;


s: Nor can I just now, being all in a whirl,


s: Looking out for the Magnet, explain it, dear girl.


s: Suffice it to say, that one half the expense


s: Of this leasehold of fame for long centuries hence--


s: (Tho' "God knows," as aunt says my humble ambition


s: Aspires not beyond a small Second Edition)--


s: One half the whole cost of the paper and printing,


s: I've managed, to scrape up, this year past, by stinting


s: My own little wants in gloves, ribands, and shoes,


s: Thus defrauding the toilet to fit out the Muse!


s: And who, my dear Kitty; would not do the same?


s: What's _eau de Cologne_ to the sweet breath of fame?


s: Yards of riband soon end--but the measures of rhyme,


s: Dipt in hues of the rainbow, stretch out thro' all time.


s: Gloves languish and fade away pair after pair,


s: While couplets shine out, but the brighter for wear,


s: And the dancing-shoe's gloss in an evening is gone,


s: While light-footed lyrics thro' ages trip on.


s: The remaining expense, trouble, risk--and, alas!


s: My poor copyright too--into other hands pass;


s: And my friend, the Head Devil of the "_County Gazette_"


s: He who set up in type my first juvenile lays,


s: Is now see up by them for the rest of his days;


s: And while Gods (as my "Heathen Mythology" says)


s: Live on naught but ambrosia, _his_ lot how much sweeter


s: To live, lucky devil, on a young lady's metre!


s: As for _puffing_--that first of all literary boons,


s: And essential alike both to bards and balloons,


s: As, unless well supplied with inflation, 'tis found


s: Neither bards nor balloons budge an inch from the ground;--


s: In _this_ respect, naught could more prosperous befall;


s: As my friend (for no less this kind imp can I call)


s: Knows the whole would of critics--the _hypers_ and all.


s: I suspect he himself, indeed, dabbles in rhyme,


s: Which, for imps diabolic, is not the first time;


s: As I've heard uncle Bob say, 'twas known among Gnostics,


s: That the Devil on Two Sticks was a devil at Acrostics.


s: But hark! there's the Magnet just dasht in from Town--


s: How my heart, Kitty, beats! I shall surely drop down.


s: That awful _Court Journal, Gazette Athenaeum_,


s: All full of my book--I shall sink when I see 'em.


s: And then the great point--whether Simpkins and Co.


s: Are actually pleased with their bargain or no!--


s: All's delightful--such praises!--I really fear


s: That this poor little head will turn giddy, my dear,


s: I've but time now to send you two exquisite scraps--


s: All the rest by the Magnet, on Monday, perhaps.


s: 'Tis known that a certain distinguisht physician


s: Prescribes, for _dyspepsia_, a course of light reading;


s: And Rhymes by young Ladies, the first, fresh edition


s: (Ere critics have injured their powers of nutrition,)


s: Are he thinks, for weak stomachs, the best sort of feeding.


s: Satires irritate--love-songs are found calorific;


s: But smooth, female sonnets he deems a specific,


s: And, if taken at bedtime, a sure soporific.


s: Among works of this kind, the most pleasing we know,


s: Is a volume just published by Simpkins and Co.,


s: Where all such ingredients--the flowery, the sweet,


s: And the gently narcotic--are mixt _per_ receipt,


s: With a hand so judicious, we've no hesitation


s: To say that--'bove all, for the young generation--


s: 'Tis an elegant, soothing and safe preparation.


s: _Nota bene_--for readers, whose object's _to sleep_,


s: And who read, in their nightcaps, the publishers keep


s: Good fire-proof binding, which comes very cheap.


s: T' other night, at the Countess of ***'s rout,


s: An amusing event was much whispered about.


s: It was said that Lord ---, at the Council, that day,


s: Had, move than once, jumpt from his seat, like a rocket,


s: And flown to a corner, where--heedless, they say,


s: How the country's resources were squandered away--


s: He kept reading some papers he'd brought in his pocket.


s: Some thought them despatches from Spain or the Turk,


s: Others swore they brought word we had lost the Mauritius;


s: But it turned out 'twas only Miss Fudge's new work,


s: Which his Lordship devoured with such zeal expeditious--


s: Messrs. Simpkins and Co., to avoid all delay,


s: Having sent it in sheets, that his Lordship might say,


s: He had distanced the whole reading world by a day!


s: As this vile scrawl, whate'er its sense is,


s: "Ireland wants this and that and t'other,"


s: While, of those countless things she wanted,


s: Who'll move no question, stiff-rumpt elves,


s: And whose shrill Yeas and Nays, in chorus,


s: Will soon to death's own slumber snore us.


s: With rich old Goldsmid at the head o' them,


s: And _Circumcise_ ones past instead o' them!


s: In short, dear sir, look where one will,


s: Meaning their terms should end, no doubt,


s: He thinks too that the whole thing's ended


s: And all that rampant glee, which revelled


s: In this world's sweets, be-dulled, be-deviled--


s: There's something tells me, all's not o'er


s: (Glitter great from substance scanty);--


s: Graspt at his crutch, but not being able


s: Tumbled, both self and crutch, and rolled,


s: All's safe--the table, chair and crutch;--


s: But the Squire's head, which in the fall


s: Squire much the same--head rather light--


s: Suspects that he meant "barbarous Whigs."


s: As it was but last week that I sint you a letther,


s: You'll wondher, dear Judy, what this is about;


s: And, throth, it's a letther myself would like betther,


s: Could I manage to lave the contints of it out;


s: Oh!  Judy, that riverind Murthagh, bad scran to him!


s: That e'er I should come to've been sarvant-man to him,


s: And my Aunts, the Diluvians (whom not even the Flood


s: Was able to wash away clane from the earth)


s: As to sarve one whose name, of mere yestherday's birth,


s: Can no more to a great O, _before_ it, purtend,


s: Than mine can to wear a great Q at its _end_.


s: But that's now all over--last night I gev warnin,'


s: And, masth'r as he is, will discharge him this mornin'.


s: The thief of the world!--but it's no use balraggin'--


s: All I know is, I'd fifty times rather be draggin'


s: Ould ladies up hill to the ind of my days,


s: Than with Murthagh to rowl in a chaise, at my aise,


s: And be forced to discind thro' the same dirty ways.


s: Arrah, sure, if I'd heerd where he last showed his phiz,


s: I'd have known what a quare sort of monsthsr he is;


s: For, by gor, 'twas at Exether Change, sure enough,


s: That himself and his other wild Irish showed off;


s: And it's pity, so 'tis, that they hadn't got no man


s: Who knew the wild crathurs to act as their showman--


s: Sayin', "Ladies and Gintlemen, plaze to take notice,


s: "How shlim and how shleek this black animal's coat is;


s: "All by raison, we're towld, that the natur o' the baste


s: "Is to change its coat _once_ in its lifetime, _at laste_;


s: "And such objiks, in _our_ counthry, not bein' common ones,


s: "Are _bought up_, as this was, by way of Fine Nomenons.


s: "In regard of its _name_--why, in throth, I'm consarned


s: "To differ on this point so much with the Larned,


s: "Who call it a '_Morthimer_,' whereas the craythur


s: "Is plainly a 'Murthagh,' by name and by nathur."


s: This is how I'd have towld them the righst of it all.


s: Had _I_ been their showman at Exether Hail--


s: Not forgettin' that other great wondher of Airin


s: (Of the owld bitther breed which they call Prosbetairin),


s: The famed Daddy Coke--who, by gor, I'd have shown 'em


s: As proof how such bastes may be tamed, when you've thrown 'em


s: A good frindly sop of the rale _Raigin Donem_.


s: But throth, I've no laisure just now, Judy dear,


s: For anything, barrin' our own doings here,


s: And the cursin' and dammin' and thund'rin like mad,


s: We Papists, God help us, from Murthagh have had.


s: He says we're all murtherers--divil a bit less--


s: And that even our priests, when we go to confess,


s: Give us lessons in murthering and wish us success!


s: When axed how he daared, by tongue or by pen,


s: To belie, in this way, seven millions of men,


s: Faith, he said'twas all towld him by Docthor Den!


s: "And who the divil's _he_?" was the question that flew


s: From Chrishtian to Chrishtian--but not a sowl knew.


s: While on went Murthagh, in iligant style,


s: As a pack of desaivers, parjurers, villains,


s: All the whole kit of the aforesaid millions;--


s: Yourself, dear Judy, as well as the rest,


s: And the innocent craythur that's at your breast,


s: Owld Den our insthructor and Sin our creed!


s: When axed for his proofs again and again,


s: Divil an answer he'd give but Docthor Den.


s: Couldn'the call into coort some _livin'_ men?


s: "No, thank you"--he'd stick to Docthor Den--


s: An ould gintleman dead a century or two,


s: Who all about _us_, live Catholics, knew;


s: And of coorse was more handy, to call in a hurry,


s: But, throth, it's no case to be jokin' upon,


s: Tho' myself, from bad habits, is _makin'_ it one.


s: Even _you_, had you witnessed his grand climactherics,


s: Which actially threw one owld maid in hysterics--


s: Or, och! had you heerd such a purty remark as his,


s: That Papists are only "_Humanity's carcasses_,


s: "_Risen_"--but, by dad, I'm afeared I can't give it ye--


s: "_Risen from the sepulchre of--inactivity_;


s: "_And, like owld corpses, dug up from antikity_,


s: "_Wandrin' about in all sorts of inikity_!!"--


s: Even you, Judy, true as you are to the Owld Light,


s: Would have laught, out and out, at this iligant flight


s: Of that figure of speech called the Blatherumskite.


s: As for me, tho' a funny thought now and then came to me,


s: Rage got the betther at last--and small blame to me,


s: So, slapping my thigh, "by the Powers of Delf,"


s: Says I bowldly "I'll make a noration myself."


s: And with that up I jumps--but, my darlint, the minit


s: I cockt up my head, divil a sinse remained in it.


s: Tho', _saited_, I could have got beautiful on,


s: When I tuk to my legs, faith, the gab was all gone:--


s: Which was odd, for us, Pats, who, whate'er we've a hand in,


s: At laste in our _legs_ show a sthrong understandin'.


s: Howsumdever, detarmined the chaps should pursaive


s: What I thought of their doin's, before I tuk lave,


s: "In regard of all that," says I--there I stopt short--


s: Not a word more would come, tho' I shtruggled hard for't.


s: So, shnapping my fingers at what's called the Chair,


s: And the owld Lord (or Lady, I believe) that sat there--


s: "In regard of all that," says I bowldly again--


s: "To owld Nick I pitch Mortimer--_and_ Docthor Den";--


s: Upon which the whole company cried out "Amen";


s: And myself was in hopes 'twas to what _I_ had said,


s: But, by gor, no such thing--they were not so well bred:


s: For, 'twas all to a prayer Murthagh just had read out,


s: That is--_afther_ well damning one half the community,


s: To pray God to keep all in pace an' in unity!


s: This is all I can shtuff in this letter, tho' plinty


s: Of news, faith, I've got to fill more--if 'twas twinty.


s: But I'll add, on the _outside_, a line, should I need it,


s: (Writin' "Private" upon it, that no one may read it,)


s: To tell you how _Mortimer_ (as the Saints chrishten him)


s: Bears the big shame of his sarvant's dismisshin' him.


s: Just come from his riv'rence--the job is all done--


s: By the powers, I've discharged him as sure as a gun!


s: And now, Judy dear, what on earth I'm to do


s: With myself and my appetite--both good as new--


s: Without even a single traneen in my pocket,


s: Let alone a good, dacent pound--starlin', to stock it--


s: Is a mysht'ry I lave to the One that's above,


s: Who takes care of us, dissolute sawls, when hard dhrove!


s: To _balrag_ is to abuse--Mr. Lover makes it _ballyrag_, and


s: Larry evidently means the _Regium Donum_;--a sum contributed by


s: "But she (Popery) is no longer _the tenant of the sepulchre of


s: Gentleman's Speech, June 20, in the Record Newspaper.


s: These few brief lines, my reverend friend,


s: Lowering the Church still more each minute,


s: Just think, how worrying 'tis, my friend,


s: Small jokes, like squibs, around us whizzing;


s: And five pounds was the price, _per_ head,


s: Tho' oft, we're told, _one_ outlawed brother


s: Finding thus all those schemes and hopes


s: And there's but one course left me--_one_.


s: Start not, my friend,--the tender scheme,


s: Yet shines, too, with those golden dyes,


s: Such, friend, nor need the fact amaze you,


s: Farewell, the platform filled with preachers--


s: The prayer given out, as grace, by speechers,


s: Ere they cut up their fellow-creatures:--


s: And, scarce less dead, old _Standard's_ columns:--


s: My task, henceforth, as spouse and sire,


s: There yet were hope the Church could pass


s: Adieu, dear friend--you'll oft hear _from_ me,


s: I enclose you, post-haste, the account, all complete,


s: Just arrived, _per_ express, of our late noble feat.


s: This place is getting gay and full again.


s: He, who the Lord's force lately led on--


s: Same evening, Miss F. Fudge, 'tis hinted--


s: Niece of the above, (whose "Sylvan Lyre,"


s: In our _Gazette_, last week, we printed).


s: We find they've reached the Irish shore.


s: Western road--lyric fragments--curl-papers and all.


s: My sole stipulation, ere linkt at the shrine


s: (As some balance between Fanny's numbers and mine),


s: Was that, when we were _one_, she must give up the _Nine_;


s: Nay, devote to the Gods her whole stock of MS.


s: With a vow never more against prose to transgress.


s: This she did, like a heroine;--smack went to bits


s: The whole produce sublime of her dear little wits--


s: Sonnets, elegies, epigrams, odes canzonets--


s: Some twisted up neatly, to form _allumettes_,


s: Some turned into _papillotes_, worthy to rise


s: And enwreathe Berenice's bright locks in the skies!


s: While the rest, honest Larry (who's now in my pay),


s: Begged, as "lover of _po'thry_," to read on the way.


s: Having thus of life's _poetry_ dared to dispose,


s: With such slender materials for _style_, Heaven knows!


s: But--I'm called off abruptly--_another_ Express!


s: What the deuce can it mean?--I'm alarmed, I confess.


s: I'm a happy, rich dog to the end of my days.


s: There--read the good news--and while glad, for _my_ sake,


s: That Wealth should thus follow in Love's shining wake,


s: Admire also the _moral_--that he, the sly elf,


s: Who has fudged all the world, should be now fudged _himself_!


s: To his "beloved grand-niece," Miss Fanny,


s: Less than the dust, beneath thy Chariot wheel,


s: Less than the rust, that never stained thy Sword,


s: Less than the trust thou hast in me, O Lord,


s: Less than the weed, that grows beside thy door,


s: Less than the speed of hours spent far from thee,


s: Less than the need thou hast in life of me.


s: See here thy Sword, I make it keen and bright,


s: Love's last reward, Death, comes to me to-night,


s: Oh, that my blood were water, thou athirst,


s: How would I shed it gladly, if but first


s: It touched thy lips, before it reached the sand.


s: Once,--Ah, the Gods were good to me,--I threw


s: Than this which now consumes me wholly--slept.


s: By Fate, and thine own beauty, set above


s: Too high for service, as too far for love.


s: The fields are full of Poppies, and the skies are very blue,


s: By the Temple in the coppice, I wait, Beloved, for you.


s: The level land is sunny, and the errant air is gay,


s: With scent of rose and honey; will you come to me to-day?


s: From carven walls above me, smile lovers; many a pair.


s: "Oh, take this rose and love me!" she has twined it in her hair.


s: He advances, she retreating, pursues and holds her fast,


s: The sculptor left them meeting, in a close embrace at last.


s: Through centuries together, in the carven stone they lie,


s: In the glow of golden weather, and endless azure sky.


s: Oh, that we, who have for pleasure so short and scant a stay,


s: Should waste our summer leisure; will you come to me to-day?


s: The Temple bells are ringing, for the marriage month has come.


s: I hear the women singing, and the throbbing of the drum.


s: And when the song is failing, or the drums a moment mute,


s: The weirdly wistful wailing of the melancholy flute.


s: Little life has got to offer, and little man to lose,


s: Since to-day Fate deigns to proffer, Oh wherefore, then, refuse


s: To take this transient hour, in the dusky Temple gloom


s: While the poppies are in flower, and the mangoe trees abloom.


s: And if Fate remember later, and come to claim her due,


s: What sorrow will be greater than the Joy I had with you?


s: For to-day, lit by your laughter, between the crushing years,


s: I will chance, in the hereafter, eternities of tears.


s: The Desert is parched in the burning sun


s: But the sand is passed, and the march is done,


s: Strange works of a long dead people loom,


s: What did they mean to the men who are long since dust?


s: These rioting, twisted, figures of love and lust.


s: Strange, weird things that no man may say,


s: Deep in the Temple's innermost Shrine is set,


s: The worn and ancient Symbol of Life, at rest


s: By which the men, who, of old, the land possessed,


s: Represented their Great Destroying Power.


s: That, just as my life was touching its fullest flower,


s: Love came and destroyed it all in a single hour,


s: Therefore the dual Mystery suits me well.


s: The tank's deep water is cool and sweet,


s: The peacocks scream and the grey Doves coo,


s: And small grey Squirrels, with fear askance,


s: Spirals of tremulous smoke arise, to the purple skies,


s: And the hum of the Camp sounds like the sea,


s: Afar, in the Desert some wild voice sings


s: To a jangling zither with minor strings,


s: And, under the stars growing keen above,


s: With passionate, dreaming, wistful eyes,


s: And Time and Space have rushed in between,


s: But they cannot undo the Thing-that-has-been,


s: You were mine, from dusk until dawning light,


s: For the perfect whole of that bygone night


s: They say that Possession lessens a lover's delight,


s: As radiant mornings fade into afternoon.


s: I held what I loved in my arms for many a night,


s: Yet ever the morning lightened the sky too soon.


s: Beyond our tents the sands stretch level and far,


s: Around this little oasis of Tamarind trees.


s: A curious, Eastern fragrance fills the breeze


s: From the ruinous Temple garden where roses are.


s: I dream of the rose-like perfume that fills your hair,


s: Of times when my lips were free of your soft closed eyes,


s: While down in the tank the waters ripple and rise


s: And the flying foxes silently cleave the air.


s: The present is subtly welded into the past,


s: My love of you with the purple Indian dusk,


s: With its clinging scent of sandal incense and musk,


s: My eyes grow dim and my senses fail at last,


s: Follow each other, silently, one by one,


s: Then weary, and drunk with dreams, with my garments damp


s: And heavy with dew, I wander towards the camp.


s: Tired, with a brain in which fancy and fact are blent,


s: I stumble across the ropes till I reach my tent


s: And then to rest. To ensweeten my sleep with lies,


s: To dream I lie in the light of your long lost eyes,


s: To love and linger over your soft loose hair--


s: To dream I lay your delicate beauty bare


s: Ah,--if my life might end in a night like this--


s: Drift into death from dreams of your granted kiss!


s: You are my God, and I would fain adore You


s: With sweet and secret rites of other days.


s: Burn scented oil in silver lamps before You,


s: Pour perfume on Your feet with prayer and praise.


s: Yet are we one; Your gracious condescension


s: Granted, and grants, the loveliness I crave.


s: One, in the perfect sense of Eastern mention,


s: In the endless River of Chance and Change,


s: The month of marriage, the month of spring,


s: Was full of the breath of sunburnt flowers


s: That bloom in a fiercer light than ours,


s: Of deep dark forests, of poisoned trees,


s: Of pains and passions that scorch and freeze,


s: Of southern noontides and eastern nights,


s: Where love grew frantic with strange delights,


s: While men were slaying and maidens danced,


s: Till I, who listened, lay still, entranced.


s: One night when the plains were bathed in blood


s: Whose branches whined in the light night breeze;


s: "The Spring where the Panthers come to drink


s: Be the season never so parched and sere."


s: Have we souls of beasts in the forms of men?


s: I fain would have tasted your life-blood then.


s: The night fell swiftly; this sudden land


s: 'Twixt the daylight shore and the ocean night,


s: But takes--as it gives--at once, the light.


s: And we sometimes heard, in the sunburnt grass,


s: But your words were flame and your kisses fire,


s: Was fanning the flame you had set alight.


s: For these things have power to stir the blood


s: And compel us all to their own chance mood.


s: Than a ripple to rise and leave the sea.


s: Of the suns that scorch and the winds that freeze,


s: Of the faint sweet scents of the sultry air,


s: Of the half heard howl from the far off lair.


s: These chance things master us ever.  Compel


s: To the heights of Heaven, the depths of Hell.


s: Nor waste yourself on the thankless task.


s: What matter whether they freeze or burn.


s: I feel the strength of your fervent arms,


s: You are wise; you take what the Gods have sent.


s: To take what Fate, or the Gods, may give,


s: Speed passion's ebb as you greet its flow,--


s: And this is our Wisdom: we rest together


s: On the great lone hills in the storm-filled weather,


s: And watch the skies as they pale and burn,


s: While Love is with us, and Time and Peace,


s: But, whether you love me, who shall say,


s: In the great sad River of Chance and Change,


s: With your looks so weary and words so strange,


s: In the little noontide of love's delights


s: This land is laden with fruit and grain,


s: With never a place left free for flowers,


s: Ah, for the touch of her cool green lips,


s: Take my boat to your breast, dear River,


s: Such chill embraces as the snow-covered heights


s: Receive from clouds, in northern, Auroral nights.


s: Has with immaculate moonlight, cold and clear.


s: Died slowly, faded surely, and sank to rest


s: Against the delicate chillness of your breast.


s: Through all your lonely halls that were so sweet


s: When by the flowered scrolls of lace-like stone


s: Across the yellow Desert, looking forth,


s: I see the purple hills towards the north.


s: Behind those jagged Mountains' lilac crest


s: Once lay the captive bird's small rifled nest.


s: There was my brother slain, my sister bound;


s: His blood, her tears, drunk by the thirsty ground.


s: Then, while the burning village smoked on high,


s: They took us captive, us, born frank and free,


s: On fleet, strong camels through the sandy sea.


s: Yet, when we rested, night-times, on the sand


s: Our captors, ere the camp was wrapped in sleep,


s: Talked, and I listened, and forgot to weep.


s: "Is he not brave and fair?" they asked, "our King,


s: Slender as one tall palm-tree by a spring;


s: Erect, serene, with gravely brilliant eyes,


s: As deeply dark as are these desert skies.


s: "Truly no bitter fate," they said, and smiled,


s: "Awaits the beauty of this captured child!"


s: Then something in my heart began to sing,


s: Sometimes the other maidens sat in tears,


s: Sometimes, consoled, they jested at their fears,


s: Musing what lovers Time to them would bring;


s: Till, when the weary endless sands were passed,


s: When, far to south, the city rose at last,


s: All speech forsook me and my eyelids fell,


s: To merchants in the city; some, they say,


s: But me they took straight to the Sultan's halls.


s: "Ah, sisters, shall I see our Lord to-day?"


s: The women robed me, perfumed me, and smiled;


s: "When were his feet unfleet to pleasure, child?"


s: And tales they told me of his deeds in war,


s: And, crouching closer in the lamp's faint glow,


s: They told me of his beauty, speaking low.


s: What need, what need? the women wasted art;


s: Already.  My God! when did I _not_ love you,


s: In life, in death, when shall I not love you?


s: Behind the lattice-work of carven stone.


s: But you come never.  Ah, my Lord the King,


s: How can you find it well to do this thing?


s: Come once, come only: sometimes, as I lie,


s: I doubt if I shall see you first, or die.


s: Ah, could I hear your footsteps at the door


s: Then I might drink your beauty, satisfied,


s: Die of delight, ere you could reach my side.


s: Alas, you come not, Lord: life's flame burns low,


s: Faint for your face, Oh, come--come soon to me--


s: Lest, though you should not, Death should, set me free!


s: I give you my house and my lands, all golden with harvest;


s: My strength and my dreams, and aught I have gathered of glory,


s: And to-night--to-night, I shall give you my very life.


s: I may not raise my eyes, O my Lord, towards you,


s: And I may not speak: what matter? my voice would fail.


s: But through my downcast lashes, feeling your beauty,


s: I shiver and burn with pleasure beneath my veil.


s: I see my daughter, vaguely, through my tears,


s: I see the bridegroom, King of men in truth!


s: (Ah, my first lover, and my vanished youth!)


s: Almost I dread this night. My senses fail me.


s: How shall I dare to clasp a thing so dear?


s: Many have feared your name, but I your beauty.


s: In the softest silk is our sister dressed,


s: Where a dearer treasure to-night will rest.


s: See! his hair is like silk, and his teeth are whiter


s: Than whitest of jasmin flowers.  Pity they marry him thus.


s: Verily, sisters, this marriage is greatly a loss to us!


s: Would that the music ceased and the night drew round us,


s: With solitude, shadow, and sound of closing doors,


s: So that our lips might meet and our beings mingle,


s: While mine drank deep of the essence, beloved, of yours.


s: I would have taken Golden Stars from the sky for your necklace,


s: There is an hour, at twilight, too heavy with memory.


s: There is a flower that I fear, for your hair had its fragrance.


s: Oh, Silver Stars that shine on what I love,


s: Touch the soft hair and sparkle in the eyes,--


s: Sleep to whom, sleepless, here, despairing lies.


s: That sucks these tears, and utterly abased,


s: With thoughts more desolate than any waste.


s: Now thrown, the hour is late, in careless rest,


s: Protect that sleep, which I may watch no more,


s: I, the cast out, dismissed and dispossessed.


s: Far in the hillside camp, in slumber lies


s: What my worn eyes worship but never see.


s: Loved with a love beyond all words or sense,


s: Lost with a grief beyond the saltest tear,


s: So lovely, so removed, remote, and hence


s: Stars! from your skies so purple and so calm,


s: That through the centuries your secrets keep,


s: Send to this worn-out brain some Occult Balm,


s: Send me, for many nights so sleepless, sleep.


s: Through your soft Magic, oh, my Silver Stars!


s: Turn sleep to Death in some mysterious way.


s: I shall never forget you, never.  Never escape


s: Your memory woven about the beautiful things of life.


s: The sudden Thought of your Face is like a Wound


s: On some scent of Jasmin, Lilies, or pale Tuberose.


s: Any one of the sweet white fragrant flowers,


s: Flowers I used to love and lay in your hair.


s: Tall against the red and the gold like a slender palm;


s: The light wind stirred your hair as you waved your hand,


s: Waved farewell, as ever, serene and calm,


s: To me, the passion-wearied and tost and torn,


s: Riding down the road in the gathering grey.


s: The sunset red is empty, the gold forlorn.


s: Often across the Banqueting board at nights


s: Men linger about your name in careless praise


s: The name that cuts deep into my soul like a knife;


s: And the gay guest-faces and flowers and leaves and lights


s: Fade away from the failing sense in a haze,


s: I cannot escape.  What are the Stars to me?


s: Stars that meant so much, too much, in my youth;


s: The leaves were succulent, thick, and green,


s: Rose spine-like fingers, alert and keen,


s: But though they nurtured it day and night,


s: Stopped for the night in the Temple shade


s: And shared the fare of their simple feast


s: "It grows in our Jungles," said the Priest,


s: To crimson glory of flowers and fruits."


s: He spoke in whispers; his furtive glance


s: The spines that grew on the snakelike tree


s: And guarded its roots beneath the ground.


s: Give me your self one hour; I do not crave


s: Come! as west winds, that passing, cool and wet,


s: O'er desert places, leave them fields in flower


s: And all my life, for I shall not forget,


s: Will keep the fragrance of that perfect hour!


s: The Coco palms stood tall and slim, against the golden-glow,


s: And all their grey and graceful plumes were waving to and fro.


s: She lay forgetful in the boat, and watched the dying Sun


s: Sink slowly lakewards, while the stars replaced him, one by one.


s: She saw the marble Temple walls long white reflections make,


s: The echoes of their silvery bells were blown across the lake.


s: The evening air was very sweet; from off the island bowers


s: Came scents of Moghra trees in bloom, and Oleander flowers.


s: The boat went drifting, uncontrolled, the rower rowed no more,


s: But deftly turned the slender prow towards the further shore.


s: The dying sunset touched with gold the Jasmin in his hair;


s: His eyes were darkly luminous: she looked and found him fair.


s: And so persuasively he spoke, she could not say him nay,


s: And all the youth awake in him, all love of Love in her,


s: Combined together with the night in kind conspiracy


s: To do Love service, while the boat went drifting onwards, free.


s: "The Moghra flowers, the Moghra flowers,


s: They are so sweet, they still are sweet,


s: Low in the boat the lovers lay, and from his sable curls


s: The Jasmin flowers slipped away to rest among the girl's.


s: Oh, silver lake and silver night and tender silver sky!


s: Where as the hours passed, the moon rose white and cold on high.


s: Suddenly, frightened, she awoke, and waking vaguely saw


s: She shivered, but she turned to kiss his soft, remembered face,


s: Lit by the pallid light he lay, in Youth's abandoned grace.


s: But as her lips met his she paused, in terror and dismay,


s: The white moon showed her by her side asleep a Leper lay.


s: "Ah, Moghra flowers, white Moghra flowers,


s: And the marriage month is drawing very near.


s: For the month of marriages is drawing near.


s: With hibiscus buds and crimson marriage flowers,


s: I shall hold her in my happy arms for hours.


s: To the silver and the flowers in her hair,


s: I am weary of the daytime and the night;


s: With this longing for your beauty and your light.


s: Youth, with its sunlit, passionate eyes,


s: The men who judged him were old and grey


s: He brought the light of a warm Spring day


s: Could he plead guilty in a lovelier way?


s: Catching the scent of your Wind-stirred hair,


s: Now, though you spread it to soften my sleep


s: Through the night, I should hardly care.


s: Because it had chanced to cool your hands;


s: If this, oh Strange Ringed Eyes, be true,


s: At Kotri, by the river, when the evening's sun is low,


s: The waving palm trees quiver, the golden waters glow,


s: The shining ripples shiver, descending to the sea;


s: At Kotri, by the river, she used to wait for me.


s: So young, she was, and slender, so pale with wistful eyes


s: As luminous and tender as Kotri's twilight skies.


s: Her face broke into flowers, red flowers at the mouth,


s: Her voice,--she sang for hours like bulbuls in the south.


s: We sat beside the water through burning summer days,


s: And many things I taught her of Life and all its ways


s: Of Love, man's loveliest duty, of Passion's reckless pain,


s: Of Youth, whose transient beauty comes once, but not again.


s: She lay and laughed and listened beside the water's edge.


s: The glancing river glistened and glinted through the sedge.


s: Green parrots flew above her and, as the daylight died,


s: Her young arms drew her lover more closely to her side.


s: Oh days so warm and golden! oh nights so cool and still!


s: When Love would not be holden, and Pleasure had his will.


s: Days, when in after leisure, content to rest we lay,


s: Nights, when her lips' soft pressure drained all my life away.


s: And while we sat together, beneath the Babul trees,


s: The fragrant, sultry weather cooled by the river breeze,


s: If passion faltered ever, and left the senses free,


s: We heard the tireless river decending to the sea.


s: I know not where she wandered, or went in after days,


s: Or if her youth she squandered in Love's more doubtful ways.


s: Perhaps, beside the river, she died, still young and fair;


s: Perchance the grasses quiver above her slumber there.


s: At Kotri, by the river, maybe I too shall sleep


s: The sleep that lasts for ever, too deep for dreams; too deep.


s: Maybe among the shingle and sand of floods to be


s: Her dust and mine may mingle and float away to sea.


s: Ah Kotri, by the river, when evening's sun is low,


s: Your faint reflections quiver, your golden ripples glow.


s: You knew, oh Kotri river, that love which could not last.


s: For me your palms still shiver with passions of the past.


s: Farewell, Aziz, it was not mine to fold you


s: Against my heart for any length of days.


s: No siren voice, no charm that lovers praise.


s: Yet, in the midst of grief and desolation,


s: Once, for my life's eternal consolation,


s: You lent my lips your loveliness to kiss.


s: Ah, that one night!  I think Love's very essence


s: Distilled itself from out my joy and pain,


s: Like tropical trees, whose fervid inflorescence


s: Glows, gleams, and dies, never to bloom again.


s: With living eyes after that night with you,


s: Ah, how I cursed the wan, white light for dawning,


s: And mourned the paling stars, as each withdrew!


s: Yet I, even I, who am less than dust before you,


s: Less than the lowest lintel of your door,


s: Was given one breathless midnight, to adore you.


s: Fate, having granted this, can give no more!


s: Since, Oh, Beloved, you are not even faithful


s: To me, who loved you so, for one short night,


s: For one brief space of darkness, though my absence


s: Since all your beauty--which was _mine_--you squandered


s: On _that_ which now lies dead across your door;


s: See here this knife, made keen and bright to kill you.


s: You shall not see the sun rise any more.


s: Lie still!  Lie still!  In all the empty village


s: Who is there left to hear or heed your cry?


s: Who will return before your time to die?


s: No use to struggle; when I found you sleeping,


s: I took your hands and bound them to your side,


s: And both these slender feet, too apt at straying,


s: Down to the cot on which you lie are tied.


s: Lie still, Beloved; that dead thing lying yonder,


s: I hated and I killed, but love is sweet,


s: And you are more than sweet to me, who love you,


s: Who decked my eyes with dust from off your feet.


s: Give me your lips; Ah, lovely and disloyal


s: Down through the darkness of the Great, Blind Portal,


s: All of life's best and basest you must know.


s: Erstwhile Beloved, you were so young and fragile


s: I held you gently, as one holds a flower:


s: But now, God knows, what use to still be tender


s: To one whose life is done within an hour?


s: I hurt?  What then?  Death will not hurt you, dearest,


s: As you hurt me, for just a single night,


s: You call me cruel, who laid my life in ruins


s: Look up, look out, across the open doorway


s: The sunlight streams.  The distant hills are blue.


s: Look at the pale, pink peach trees in our garden,


s: Sweet fruit will come of them;--but not for you.


s: The fair, far snow, upon those jagged mountains


s: That gnaw against the hard blue Afghan sky


s: Will soon descend, set free by summer sunshine.


s: You will not see those torrents sweeping by.


s: The world is not for you.  From this day forward,


s: You must lie still alone; who would not lie


s: Alone for one night only, though returning


s: I was, when earliest dawn should break the sky.


s: There lies my lute, and many strings are broken,


s: Some one was playing it, and some one tore


s: The silken tassels round my Hookah woven;


s: Some one who plays, and smokes, and loves, no more!


s: Some one who took last night his fill of pleasure,


s: As I took mine at dawn!  The knife went home


s: Straight through his heart!  God only knows my rapture


s: Bathing my chill hands in the warm red foam.


s: And so I pain you?  This is only loving,


s: Wait till I kill you!  Ah, this soft, curled hair!


s: Surely the fault was mine, to love and leave you


s: Cold steel is very cooling to the fervour


s: Of over passionate ones, Beloved, like you.


s: Nay, turn your lips to mine.  Not quite unlovely


s: They are as yet, as yet, though quite untrue.


s: What will your brother say, to-night returning


s: With laden camels homewards to the hills,


s: Finding you dead, and me asleep beside you,


s: For I shall sleep.  Here on the cot beside you


s: When you, my Heart's Delight, are cold in death.


s: When your young heart and restless lips are silent,


s: Grown chilly, even beneath my burning breath.


s: When I have slowly drawn my knife across you,


s: I shall sleep sound, worn out by love's last fervour,


s: And then, God grant your kinsmen kill me soon!


s: Brought up their liquid, silver freight.


s: Long since took leave of life and light,


s: "Therefore, one strange, mysterious night


s: My son, whose father stooped from Heaven,


s: Sleep should be follower, never Thought.


s: Within her little trellised room, beside the palm-fringed sea,


s: She wakeful in the scented gloom, spoke of her youth to me.


s: I am waiting in the desert, looking out towards the sunset,


s: I am waiting by the marshes and I tremble and I listen


s: Till the soft sands thrill beneath your coming feet.


s: Far away towards the sunset I can see a narrow river,


s: That unwinds itself in red tranquillity;


s: I can hear its rippled meeting, and the gurgle of its greeting,


s: As it mingles with the loved and long sought sea.


s: In the purple sky above me showing dark against the starlight,


s: Long wavering flights of homeward birds fly low,


s: Oh, my dearest hasten, hasten!  It is lonely here.  Already


s: Have I heard the jackals' first assembling cry,


s: And among the purple shadows of the mangroves and the marshes


s: Fitful echoes of their footfalls passing by.


s: Ah, come soon! my arms are empty, and so weary for your beauty,


s: I am thirsty for the music of your voice.


s: My hands, my lips are feverish with the longing and the waiting


s: And no softness of the twilight soothes their heat,


s: Ah, loveliest, most reluctant, when you lay yourself beside me


s: All the planets reel around me--fade away,


s: I am faint with love and longing, and my burning eyes are gazing


s: Where the furtive Jackals wage their famished strife,


s: If some day this body of mine were burned


s: And the ashes scattered abroad, unurned,


s: Would Love die also, would Thought die too?


s: No dreams would harry the windblown dust?


s: Would your eyes not follow me still through sleep


s: Would you ever have loved me, Golden Eyes,


s: Ah, Beloved, I had been so apt to learn,


s: Every nerve in my heart is tense and sore


s: As I rise to another morning apart from you.


s: You pity!  Your bright eyes, fastened on other things,