Ah!andthelipshavesaidWordswewouldfainrecall—
Wildwords,ofpassionbred!
Inbunkersallunknown,Farbeyond’Walkinshaw,Whereneverballhadflown—
Reachedbyourselvesalone—
CaddieshaveheardwithaweThemusicofourmoan!
Yet,Nymph,ifoncealone,Theballhathfeatlyfled—
Notsmittenfromthebone—
Thatdrivedothstillatone;
AndonelongshotlaiddeadOurgrieftothewindshathblown!
So,stillbesidethetee,Wemeetinstormorcalm,Lady,andworshipthee;
Whiletheloudlarksingsfree,PipinghismatinpsalmAbovethegreysadsea!
FRESHMAN’STERM
Returnagain,thouFreshman’syear,Whenbloomwasontherye,Whenbreakfastcamewithbottledbeer,WhenPleasurewalkedtheHigh;
WhenTorpidBumpsweremorebyfarToeveryopeningmindThanTrade,orShares,orPeace,orWar,Toseniorhumankind;
WhenribbonsofoutrageoushuesWerewornwithhonestpride,Whenmuchwastalkedofboatsandcrews,WhenProctorsweredefied:
WhenTickwasinitsearlybloom,WhenSchoolswerefaraway,Asvaguelydistantasthetomb,Normoreregarded——they!
WhenarmwasfreelylinkedwitharmBeneaththeCollegelimes,WhenSundaygrindspossessedacharmDeniedtoCollegeRhymes:
WheniceswereinmuchrequestBesidetheAprilfire,WhenmenwereverystrangelydressedByStandenorbyPrior。
Return,yeFreshman’sTerms!TheyDO
Return,andmuchthesame,Toboys,who,justlikemeandyou,Playtheabsurdoldgame!
ATOAST
[KateKennedyisthePatronSaintofSt。Leonard’sandSt。
Salvator。Herhistoryisquiteunknown。]
Thelearnedareall’inaswither,’
(Theydon’tveryoftenagree,)
Theyknownother’whence’norher’whither,’
TheMaidenwedrinktotogether,TheCollege’sKateKennedie!
Didsheshineindaysearlyorlater?
Didsheeverachieveadegree?
Wassheprettyorplain?Didshemate,orLivelonely?AndwhowasthepaterOfmysticalKateKennedie?
Thelearnedmayscornherandscouther,ButtruetohercoloursareWE,Thelearnedmaymockherandflouther,Butsurelywe’llrallyabouther,IntheCollegethatstandsbytheSea!
Sohere’stohermemory!heretoThemysticalMaidendrinkwe,Wepledgeher,andwe’llperseveretoo,ThoughthereasonisnotverycleartoThecriticalmind,nortoME。
Here’stoKate!she’sourown,andshe’sdeartoTheCollegethatstandsbytheSea。
DEATHINJUNE——FORCRICKETERSONLY
[JuneisthemonthofSuicides]
WhydoweslayourselvesinJune,Whenlife,ifever,seemssosweet?
When\"Moon,\"and\"tune,\"and\"afternoon,\"
Andotherhappyrhymeswemeet,Whenstrawberriesarecomingsoon?
Whydowedoit?’yourepeat!
Ah,carelessbutterfly,totheeThestrawberryseemspassinggood;
Andsweet,onMusic’swings,tofleeAmidthewaltzingmultitude,Andrevellate——perchancetillthree—
ForLoveismonarchofthymood!
Alas!toUSnosolaceshowsForsorrowsweendure——atLord’s,WhenOxford’sbowlingALWAYSgoesFor’fours,’forevertothecords—
Ormore,perhaps,with’overthrows’;—
Thesethingscanpiercetheheartlikeswords!
Andthusitisthoughwoodsaregreen,ThoughmayfliesdowntheTestarerolling,Thoughsweet,thesilvershowersbetween,Thefinchessinginstrainsconsoling,Wecutourthroatsforveryspleen,AndveryshameofOxford’sbowling!
TOCORRESPONDENTS
MyPostman,thoughIfearthytread,Andtrembleasthyfootdrawsnearer,’TisnottheChristmasDunIdread,MYmortalfoeismuchseverer,—
TheUnknownCorrespondent,who,Withundefatigablepen,Andnothingintheworldtodo,Perplexesliterarymen。
FromPentecostandPonder’sEndTheywrite:fromDeal,andfromDacotah,ThepeopleoftheShetlandssendNoinconsiderablequota;
TheywriteforAUTOGRAPHS;invain,InvaindoesPhylliswrite,andFlora,TheywritethatAllanQuatermainIsnotatallthebookforBrora。
Theywritetosaythat’theyhavemetThiswriter’atagardenparty,Andthough’thiswriter’MAYforget,’
THEIRrecollection’skeenandhearty。
’AndwillyoupraiseinyourreviewsAnovelbyourdistantcousin?’
TheselettersfromProvincialBluesAssailusdailybythedozen!
Ofriendswithtimeuponyourhands,Ofriendswithpostage—stampsinplenty,Opoetsoutofmanylands,Oyouthsandmaidensundertwenty,Seekoutsomeotherwretchtobore,Orwreakyourselvesuponyourneighbours,AndleavemetomydustyloreAndmyunprofitablelabours!
BALLADEOFDIFFICULTRHYMES
Withcertainrhymes’tishardtodeal;
For’silver’wehavene’erarhyme。
On’orange’(asonorangepeel)
Thebardhasslippedfullmanyatime。
With’babe’there’sscarceasoundwillchime,Though’astrolabe’fitslikeaglove;
But,yethatonParnassusclimb,Why,whyarerhymessoraretoLOVE?
Arhymeto’cusp,’tobegorsteal,I’vesought,fromevensongtoprime,Butvainismypoeticzeal,There’snotonesoundiswortha’dime’:
’Bilge,’’coif,’’scarf,’’window’——deedsofcrimeI’ddotogaintherhymesthereof;
Norshrinkfromactsofmoralgrime—
Why,whyarerhymessoraretoLOVE?
To’dove’myfanciesflit,andwheelLikebutterfliesonbanksofthyme。
’Above’?——or’shove’——alas!Ifeel,They’retoomuchusedtobesublime。
Iscornwithangrypantomime,Thethoughtof’move’(pronouncedasmuv)。
Ah,inApollo’sgoldenclimeWhy,whyarerhymessoraretoLOVE?
ENVOI
Princeoftheluteandlyre,revealNewrhymes,freshminted,fromabove,Norstillbedeaftoourappeal。
Why,WHYarerhymessoraretoLOVE?
BALLANTO’BALLANTRAE——TOROBERTLOUISSTEVENSON
[Writteninwetweather,thisconveyedtotheMasterofBallantraeawrongideaofaverybeautifulandcharmingplace,withlinks,arivercelebratedbyBurns,goodsea—fishing,and,ontheriver,aruinedcastleateveryturnofthestream。’TryBallantrae’isawordofwisdom。]
WhansuthernwundsgarspindriftfleeAbunetheclachan,faddumshie,WhanforthecludsIcannaseeThebonnylift,I’dfaininditeanOdetoTHEE
HadIthegift!
Kenyethecoasto’wastlandAyr?
Ohmon,it’suncobleakandbare!
Yedaunderhere,yedaunderthere,Andmak’yourmoan,They’verainandwundeneuchtotearThesutherncone!
Ye’reseekin’sport!There’snaneava’,Ye’llsitandglowerahintthewa’
Atbleesin’breakerstillyestaw,Ifthat’syerwush;
’There’sayetheStinchar。’Hootawa’,Shewunnafush!
Shewunnafushatonygait,She’sroarin’reidinwrathfu’spate;
Maistlikeyerkimmerwhenye’relateFraeGirvanFair!
ForbyetospeerforleaveI’mblateForfushin’there!
OLouis,youthatwritesinScots,Ye’refarawa’fraestirksandstots,Wi’drookithurdies,tailsinknots,Anuncoway!
MYmirth’slikethornsaneththepotsInBallantrae!
SONGBYTHESUB—CONSCIOUSSELF——RHYMESMADEINADREAM
Iknownotwhatmysecretis,Iknowbutitismine;
Iknowtodwellwithitwerebliss,Todieforitdivine。
Icannotyielditinakiss,Norbreatheitinasigh。
IknowthatIhavelivedforthis;
Forthis,mylove,Idie。
THEHAUNTEDHOMESOFENGLAND
TheHauntedHomesofEngland,Howeerilytheystand,Whilethroughthemflittheirghosts——towit,TheMonkwiththeRedHand,TheEyelessGirl——anawfulspook—
Tostoptheboldestbreath,Theboythatinkedhiscopybook,Andsogot’wopped’todeath!
Callthemnotshams——fromhauntedGlamisTohauntedWoodhouselea,ImarkinhoststhegrislyghostsIhearthefellBanshie!
IknowthespectraldogthathowlsBeforethedeathofSquires;
Inmy’Ghosts’—guide’addresseshideForPodmoreandforMyers!
IseetheVampireclimbthestairsFromvaultsbelowthechurch;
Andhark!thePirate’sspectreswears!
OPsychicalResearch,CanstTHOUnothearwhatmeetsmyear,Theviewlesswheelsthatcome?
ThewildBanshiethatwailstothee?
TheDrummerwithhisdrum?
OHauntedHomesofEngland,Thoughtenantlessyestand,Withnonecontenttopaytherent,Throughalltheshadowyland,Now,SciencetruewillfindinyouAsympatheticperch,Andtakeyouall,bothGrangeandHall,ForPsychicalResearch!
THEDISAPPOINTMENT
AhouseItook,andmanyaspookWasdeemedtohauntthatHouse,IbadetheglumResearcherscomeWithBoglestocarouse。
ThatHouseI’dsoughtwithanxiousthought,’Twasold,’twasdarkassin,Anddeedsofbale,soranthetale,Hadoftbeendonetherein。
Fullmanyachilditsmotherwild,Mensaid,hadstrangledthere,Fullmanyasire,inheedlessire,Hadslainhisdaughterfair!
’Twasrarelylet:Ican’tforgetArecenttenant’sdread,ThiswidowlonehadheardamoanProceedingfromherbed。
ThetenantsnextwerechieflyvexedByspectresgrimandgrey。
AHeadlessGhostannoyedthemmost,Andsotheydidnotstay。
Thenextinturnsawcorpselightsburn,AndalsoaBanshie,AspectralHandtheycouldnotstand,AndlefttheHousetome。
Thencamemyfriendsfordiversends,Somecurious,someafraid;
NodirerpestdisturbedtheirrestThananeatchambermaid。
Thegrislyhallsweregaywithballs,OnemelancholynookWhereghostsGALOREwereseenbeforeNowyieldedne’eraspook。
Whenmanandmaid,allunafraid,’Satout’uponthestairs,Nospectredread,withfeetoflead,Camepastthemunawares。
Iknownotwhy,butalwayI
Havefoundthatitisso,ThatwhentheglumResearcherscomeThebrutesofbogeys——go!
TOTHEGENTLEREADER
’AFrenchwriter(whomIlovewell)speaksofthreekindsofcompanions,——men,women,andbooks。’——SirJohnDavys。
Threekindsofcompanions,men,women,andbooks,Wereenough,saidtheelderlySage,forhisends。
Andthewomenwedeemthathechosefortheirlooks,Andthemenfortheircellars:thebookswerehisfriends:
’Mandelightsmenot,’often,’norwoman,’butbooksArethebestofgoodcomradesinloneliestnooks。
Formanwillbewrangling——forwomanwillfretAboutanythinginfinitesimalsmall:
LiketheSageinourPlato,I’m’anxioustogetOntheside’——onthesunnierside——’ofawall。’
Letthewindoftheworldtossthenationslikerooks,Ifonlyyou’llleavemeatpeacewithmyBooks。
Andwhicharemybooks?why,’tismuchasyouplease,For,given’tisabook,itcanhardlybewrong,AndBradshawhimselfIcanstudywithease,ThoughforchoiceImightcallforaSermonorSong;
AndLockeronLondon,andSalaonCooks,’TomBrown,’andPlotinus,they’reallofthemBooks。
There’sFieldingtolaponeincurrentsofmirth;
There’sHerricktosingofaflowerorafay;
OrgoodMaitreFrancoystobringonetoearth,IfShelleyorColeridgehavesnatchedoneaway:
There’sMulleronSpeech,thereisGurneyonSpooks,ThereisTyloronTotems,there’sallsortsofBooks。
There’sroaminginregionswhereeveryone’sbeen,Encounterswherenoonewaseverbefore,There’s’Leaves’fromtheHighlandsweowetotheQueen,There’sHolly’sandLeo’sadventuresinKor:
There’sTannerwhodweltwithPawneesandChinooks,YoucancoveragreatdealofcountryinBooks。
Therearebooks,highlythoughtof,thatnobodyreads,ThereisGeusius’dearlydelectabletomeOftheCannibal——heonhisneighbourwhofeeds—
Andinblood—redmorocco’tisbound,byDerome;
There’sMontaignehere(aFoppens),there’sRoberts(onFlukes),There’sElzevirs,Aldines,andGryphius’Books。
There’sBunyan,there’sWalton,inearlyeditions,There’smanyaquartouncommonlyrare;
There’squaintoldQuevedoadreamwithhisvisions,There’sJohnsontheportly,andBurtonthespare;
There’sBostonofEttrick,whopreachedofthe’CrooksIntheLots’ofusmortals,whobargainforBooks。
There’sRuskintokeeponeexclaiming’Whatnext?’
There’sBrowningtopuzzle,andGilberttochaff,AndMarcusAureliustosootheoneifvexed,AndgoodMARCUSTVAINUStolendyoualaugh;
Therebecapitaltomesthatarefilledwithfly—hooks,AndI’vefrequentlyfoundthemthebestkindofBooks。
THESONNET
Poet,beware!Thesonnet’sprimrosepathIsalltootemptingforthyfeettotread。
Notonthisjourneyshaltthouearnthybread,Becausethesatedreaderroarsinwrath:
’Littleindeedtosaythesingerhath,Andlittlesenseinallthathehathsaid;
Suchrhymesarelightlywritbuthardlyread,Andnaughtbutstubbleishisaftermath!’
ThenshallhecastthatbonnybookofthineWheretheextremewaste—paperbasketgapes,Thereshallthyfutilefanciespeakandpine,Withotherminorpoets,pallidshapes,Whocomealongwayshortofthedivine,Tormentedsoulsofimitativeapes。
THETOURNAYOFTHEHEROES
Ho,warders,cryatournay!ho,heralds,calltheknights!
WhatgallantlanceforoldRomance’gainstmodernfictionfights?
Thelistsareset,theKnightsaremet,Iween,adreadarray,St。Chadtoshield,astrickenfieldshallwebeholdto—day!
FirsttotheNorthernbarrierspricksRolandofRoncesvaux,Andbyhisside,inknightlypride,WilfredofIvanhoe,TheTemplarridethbyhisrein,twogallantfoeswerethey;
Andproudtosee,lebraveBussyhiscoloursdothdisplay。
Readyatneedhecomeswithspeed,WilliamofDeloraine,AndHerewardtheWakehimselfisprickingo’ertheplain。
ThegoodknightofLaMancha’shere,hereisSirAmyasLeigh,AndEricofthegoldhair,prideofNorthernchivalry。
ThereshinesthesteelofAlanBreck,theswordofAthosshines,DalgettyonGustavusridesalongthemarshalledlines,WithmanyaknightofsunnyFrancetheCidhasmarchedfromSpain,AndGotztheIron—handedleadsthelancesofAlmain。
ButwhoupontheModernsidearechampions?WiththesleeveAdornedofhisfalselady—love,ridesgloriousDavidGrieve,Abooksellersometimewashe,inaprovincialtown,Butnowbeforehisironmacegohorseandriderdown。
Ho,RobertElsmere!countthybeads;lo,championofthefray,Withbrandishedcolt,comesFelixHolt,alloftheModernday。
AndSilasLapham’ssix—shooteriscocked:theColonel’sspry!
TherespursthewaryEgoist,defianceinhiseye;
ThereZola’sraggedregimentcomes,withdynamiteinhand,AndFlaubert’screwofcountrydoctorsdevastatetheland。
OnRobertElsmereFriarTuckfallswithhisquarter—staff,NomDe!toseetheclericsfightmightmakethesourestlaugh!
Theymeet,theyshock,fullmanyaknightissmittenonthecrown,SokeepusgoodSt。Genevieve,Umslopogaasisdown!
AboutthemaceofDavidGrievehisbloodisflowingred,Alasforancientchivalry,lebraveBussyissped!
YetwherethesombreTemplarridestheModerncaitiffsfly,TheMummer(ofTheMummer’sWife)hasgotitintheeye,FromFelixHolthispatentColthathnotavertedfate,AndSilasLapham’ssmittenfair,rightthroughhisgallantpate。
ThereDanDerondareelsandfalls,aherosoresurprised;
Ha,Beauseant!stillmaysuchfatebefalltheCircumcised!
TheEgoistisflyingfastfromhimofIvanhoe:
BeneaththeaxeofSkalagrimfallprigsateveryblow:
TheraggedZolaistshavefled,screaming’Wearebetrayed,’
ButloyalAlanBreckisshent,stabbedthroughtheStuartplaid;
Insoothitisagrimlysight,sofasttheheroesfall,Threevolumesfellcouldscarcelytellthefortunesofthemall。
Atlengthbuttwoareleftonground,andDavidGrieveisone。
Mafoy,whatdeedsofderring—dothatbooksellerhathdone!
Theother,markthegiantframe,thegreatportentousfist!
’TisPorthos!DavidGrievemaycallonKuenenanhelist。
Theswordsarecrossed;Doublez,degagez,vite!greatPorthoscalls,AndDaviddrops,thatsecretbottehathpiercedhisoveralls!
AndgoodlyPorthos,asofoldthefamedOrthryades,Raisesthetrophyofthefight,thenfallingonhisknees,Hewritesingoreuponhisshield,’Romance,Romance,haswon!’
Andblood—redonthatstrickenfieldgoesdowntheangrysun。
Nightfallsuponthefieldofdeath,nightonthedarklinglea:
Ohsendussuchatournaysoon,andsendmetheretosee!
BALLADOFTHEPHILANTHROPIST
PomonaRoadandGardens,N。,Werepureastheywerefair—
InotherdistrictsmuchIfear,Thatvulgarlanguageshockstheear,ButbrawlingwivesornoisymenWereneverheardofTHERE。
NoburglarfixedhisdreadabodeInthatsecureretreat,Therewerenopublic—housesnigh,Butchapelslowandchurcheshigh,YoumighthavethoughtPomonaRoadAquiteidealbeat!
YetthatwasnotatalltheviewTakenbyB。13。
ThatactiveandintelligentPolicemandeemedthathewasmeantProfounddetectivedeedstodo,Andthatreposewasmean。
NowtherewasnothingtodetectPomonaRoadalong—
Nonefakedacly,norcrackedacrib,Norpriggedawipe,nortoldafib,——
MindscultivatedandselectSliprarelyintowrong!
ThusboredtodesolationwentThePeeleronhisbeat;
HeknownotLove,hedidnotcare,IfLovebebornonmountainsbare;
Nay,crimetopunish,orprevent,Wasmorethandalliancesweet!
Thewearywanderer,daybyday,WasmarkedbyHowardFry—
Aneighbouringphilanthropist,WhosawwhatthatPolicemanmissed—
Asympathetic’Well—a—day’
He’dmoan,andpipehiseye。
’WhatCANIdo,’askedHowardFry,’Tosoothethatbrother’spain?
Hisglancewhenfirstwemetwaskeen,Mostmartialanderecthismien’
(Whatmienmaymean,IknownotI)
’ButHEmustjoyagain。’
’I’llstartonacareerofcrime,Iwill,’saidHowardFry—
Hespakeandacted!Deedsofbale(WithwhichIdonotstainmytale)
Hewroughtlikemadtimeaftertime,Yetwroughtthemblushfully。
Andnowwhen’busesnightbynightWerestopped,conductorsslain,Whenyouthsandmen,andmaidsunwed,Werestabbedorknockeduponthehead,ThenB。13grewsternlybright,Andwashimselfagain!
PomonaRoadandGardens,N。,Arenowanameoffear。
Commercialtravellersfleeinhaste,RevolversgirtaboutthewaistArewornbycitygentlemenWhohavetheirmansionsnear。
ButB。13elatedgoes,Detectioninhiseye;
WhileHowardFrydoesdeedsofbale(WithwhichIdonotstainmytale)
TolightenthatPoliceman’swoes,Butdoesthemblushfully。
MORAL
SuchisPhilanthropy,myfriends,Toooftensuchherplan,Sheshoots,andstabs,androbs,andflingsBombs,andallsortsofhorridthings。
Ah,nottoserveherprivateends,ButforthegoodofMan!
INERCILDOUNE
Inlightofsunriseandsunsetting,Thelongdayslingered,inforgettingThateverpassion,keentoholdWhatmaynottarry,wasofoldBeyondthedoubtfulstreamwhosefloodRunsredwaist—highwithslainmen’sblood。
Wasbeautyonceathingthatdied?
Waspleasureneversatisfied?
WasreststillbrokenbythevainDesireofaction,bringingpain,Todieinvapidrestagain?
Allthiswasquiteforgotten,thereNowinterbroughtuscoldandcare,Norspringgavepromiseunfulfilled,Nor,withtheheavysummerkilled,Thelanguiddaysdroopautumnwards。
SomagicalaseasonguardsTheconstantprimeofagreenJune。
Soslumbrousistheriver’stune,Thatknowsnothunderofrushingrains,Noreverinthesummerwanes,Likewatersofthesummer—timeInlandsfarfromthefairyclime。
Alas!nowordscanbringthebloomOfFairyland,thelostperfume。
Thesweetlowlight,themagicair,Tomindsofwhohavenotbeenthere:
Alas!nowords,noranyspellCanlulltheheartthatknowstoowellThetowersthatbytheriverstand,ThelostfairworldofFairyland。
Ah,wouldthatIhadneverbeenTheloveroftheFairyQueen。
OrwouldthatIagainmightbeAsleepbelowtheEildonTree,AndseeherridetheforestwayAsonthatmorningoftheMay!
Orwouldthatthroughthelittletown,ThegreyoldplaceofErcildoune,AndallalongthesleepystreetThesoftfallofthewhitedeer’sfeetCame,withthemysticalcommand,ThatImustbacktoFairyLand!
FORAROSE’SSAKE——FRENCHFOLK—SONG
IlavedmyhandsBythewater—side,WithwillowleavesMyhandsIdried。
ThenightingalesangOntheboughofatree,Sing,sweetnightingale,Itiswellwiththee。
Thouhastheart’sdelight,Ihavesadheart’ssorrow,ForafalsefalsemaidThatwillwedto—morrow。
ItisallforaroseThatIgavehernot,AndIwouldthatitgrewInthegardenplot,AndIwouldtherose—treeWerestilltoset,ThatmyloveMarieMightlovemeyet!
THEBRIGAND’SGRAVE——MODERNGREEK
Themooncameupabovethehill,Thesunwentdownthesea,’Go,maids,anddrawthewell—water,But,lad,comeheretome。
Girdonmyjack,andmyoldsword,ForIhaveneverason,AndyoumustbethechiefofallWhenIamdeadandgone。
Butyoumusttakemyoldbroadsword,Andcutthegreenboughsofthetree,Andstrewthegreenboughsontheground,Tomakeasoftdeath—bedforme。
Andyoumustbringtheholypriest,ThatImaysainedbe,ForIhavelivedarovinglifeFiftyyearsunderthegreenwoodtree。
Andyoushallmakeagraveforme,Anddigitdeepandwide,ThatImayturnaboutanddreamWithmyoldgunbymyside。
AndleaveawindowtotheeastAndtheswallowswillbringthespring,AndallthemerrymonthofMayThenightingaleswillsing。’
THENEW—LIVERIEDYEAR——FROMCHARLESD’ORLEANS
TheyearhaschangedhismantlecoldOfwind,ofrain,ofbitterair,AndhegoescladinclothofgoldOflaughingsunsandseasonfair;
NobirdorbeastofwoodorwoldButdothincryorsongdeclare’Theyearhaschangedhismantlecold!’
Allfounts,allriversseawardrolledTheirpleasantsummerliverywearWithsilverstudsonbroideredvair,Theworldputsoffitsraimentold,Theyearhaschangedhismantlecold。
MORESTRONGTHANDEATH——FROMVICTORHUGO
SinceIhavesetmylipstoyourfullcup,mysweet,SinceImypallidfacebetweenyourhandshavelaid,SinceIhaveknownyoursoulandallthebloomofit,Andalltheperfumerare,nowburiedintheshade,SinceitwasgiventometohearonehappywhileThewordswhereinyourheartspokeallitsmysteries,SinceIhaveseenyouweep,andsinceIhaveseenyousmile,Yourlipsuponmylips,andyoureyesuponmyeyes;
SinceIhaveknownabovemyforeheadglanceandgleam,Aray,asinglerayofyourstarveiledalways,SinceIhavefeltthefalluponmylifetime’sstreamOfonerose—petalpluckedfromtherosesofyourdays;
Inowamboldtosaytotheswift—changinghours,Pass,passuponyourway,forIgrowneverold。
Fleettothedarkabysswithallyourfadingflowers,OnerosethatnonemaypluckwithinmyheartIhold。
Yourflyingwingsmaysmite,buttheycanneverspillThecupfulfilledoflovefromwhichmylipsarewet,Myhearthasfarmorefirethanyouhavefrosttochill。
Mysoulmorelovethanyoucanmakemysoulforget。
SILENTIALUNAE——FROMRONSARD
Hidethisonenightthycrescent,kindlyMoon,SoshallEndymionfaithfulprove,andrestLovingandunawakenedonthybreast;
SoshallnofoulenchanterimportuneThyquietcourse,fornowthenightisboon,AndthroughthefriendlynightunseenIfareWhodreadthefaceoffoemenunaware,Andwatchofhostilespiesinthebrightnoon。
Thouknow’st,OMoon,thebitterpowerofLove。
’TistoldhowshepherdPanfoundwaystomoveWithasmallgiftthyheart;andofyourgrace,Sweetstars,bekindtothisnotalienfire,Becauseonearthyedidnotscorndesire,Bethinkye,nowyeholdyourheavenlyplace。
HISLADY’STOMB——FROMRONSARD
Asinthegardens,allthroughMay,theRose,Lovely,andyoung,andrichapparelled,Makessunrisejealousofherrosyred,Whendawnuponthedewofdawningglows;
GracesandLoveswithinherbreastrepose,Thewoodsarefaintwiththesweetodourshed,TillrainsandheavysunshavesmittendeadThelanguidflowerandthelooseleavesunclose,—
Sothis,theperfectbeautyofourdays,Whenheavenandearthwerevocalofherpraise,Thefateshaveslain,andhersweetsoulreposes:
AndtearsIbring,andsighs,andonhertombPourmilk,andscatterbudsofmanyabloom,That,deadasliving,Rosemaybewithroses。
THEPOET’SAPOLOGY
No,theMusehasgoneaway,Doesnothauntmemuchto—day。
EverythingshehadtosayHasbeensaid!
’TwasnotmuchatanytimeShecouldhitchintoarhyme,NeverwastheMusesublime,Whohasfled!
AnyonewhotakesherinMayobserveshe’sratherthin;
LittlemorethanboneandskinIstheMuse;
ScantysacrificeshewonWhenherverybestshe’ddone,Andathertheypokedtheirfun,InReviews。
’Rhymes,’intruth,’arestubbornthings。’
AndtoRhymesheclung,andclings,ButwhateversongshesingsScarcelysells。
Ifhertonebegrave,theysay’Giveussomethingrathergay。’
Ifshe’sskittish,thentheypray’Somethingelse!’
Muchsheloved,forwadingshod,Togoforthwithlineandrod,Lovedtheheather,andthesod,LovedtorestOnthecrystalriver’sbrimWhereshesawthefishesswim,Andsheheardthethrushes’hymn,BytheTest!
She,whateverwayshewent,Friendlywasandinnocent,LittleneedtheBardrepentOfherlay。
Ofthebabbleandtherhyme,AndtheimitativechimeThatamusedhimonatime,—
Nowhe’sgrey。
NOTES
ASCOTTOJEANNED’ARC
Jeanned’ArcissaidtohaveledaScottishforceatLagny,whenshedefeatedtheBurgundian,Franquetd’Arras。AScottishartistpaintedherbanner;hewasaJamesPolwarth,oraHumeofPolwarth,accordingtoaconjectureofMr。HillBurton’s。AmonkofDunfermline,whocontinuedFordun’sChronicle,aversthathewaswiththeMaideninhercampaigns,andathermartyrdom。HecallsherPuellaaspiritusanctoexcitata。Unluckilyhismanuscriptbreaksoffinthemiddleofasentence。Athertrial,Jeannesaidthatshehadonlyonceseenherownportrait:itwasinthehandsofaScottisharcher。ThestoryofthewhitedovewhichpassedfromherlipsastheyopenedtoherlastcryofJesus!wasreportedatthetrialforherRehabilitation(1450—56)。
ONEOFTHATNAME。
TwoarchersofthenameofLang,Lain,orLaingwereintheFrenchserviceabout1507。SeethebookontheScottishGuard,byFatherForbesLeith,S。J。
THYCHURCHUNTOTHEMAIDDENIES。
Theseverseswerewritten,curiouslyenough,thedaybeforetheMaidenwasraisedtotherankof’Venerable,’asteptowardshercanonisation,which,wetrust,willnotbelongdelayed。ItisnoteasyforanyonetounderstandthewholemiracleofthelifeanddeathofJeanned’Arc,andtheabsolutelyunparalleledgrandeurandcharmofhercharacter,withoutstudyingthefullrecordsofbothhertrials,ascollectedandpublishedbyM。Quicherat,fortheSocietedel’HistoiredeFrance。
HOWTHEYHELDTHEBASS。
ThisstoryisversifiedfromtheaccountinMemoirsoftheRev。
JohnBlackader,byAndrewCrichton,MinisteroftheGospel。SecondEdition。Edinburgh,1826。Dunbarwasretainedasaprisoner,whennegotiationsforsurrender,in1691,werebrokenoffbyMiddleton’sreturnwithsupplies。Halyburtonwas,itseems,capturedlater,andonlyescapedhangingbyvirtueofthetermsextortedbyMiddleton。PatrickWalkertellsthetaleofPedenandthegirl。
Wodrow,inhisAnalecta,hasthestoryoftheAngel,orothershiningspiritualpresence,whichisremovedfromitscontextintheballad。ThesufferingsfromweakbeerarequotedinMr。
Blackader’sMemoirs。MitchellwastheundeniablybraveCovenanterwhoshotatSharp,andhittheBishopoftheOrkneys。Hewastortured,and,byanactofperjury(probablyunconscious)onthepartofLauderdale,washanged。Thesentimentsofthepoemaresuchasanoldcavalier,survivingto1743,mightperhapshaveentertained。’WullieWanbeard’isaJacobitenameforthePrinceofOrange,perhapsinventedonlybythepost—Jacobitesentimentoftheearlynineteenthcentury。
BRITANNIA
ROUSSEAU’SDELIGHT。
Thepervenche,orperiwinkle。
ATOAST
OneofthecollegebellsOfSt。Salvator,mentionedbyFerguson,iscalled’KateKennedy’;theheroineisunknown,butBishopKennedyfoundedtheCollege。’KateKennedy’sDay’wasakindofcarnival,probablyasurvivalfromthatfestivity。
THEDISAPPOINTMENT。
AsamatteroffacttheHauntedHouseCommitteeoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearchhaveneversucceededinseeingaghost。