Fables in Song By Robert Lord Lytton |
 | I. |
 | II. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| I. |
| III. |
| III. |
| 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
| IV. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
 | Fables in Song |  |
2.
“Scorn not the form by dædal ages made
For my adornment and the world's devotion,
In symbol of the fixt foundation laid
For the world's motion!
The first word of creation was Testudo,
And all was in the word. My sire grandæval
Bore on his back (as easily as you do
Chafer or weevil
In beak or claw) the elephant gigantic,
Who bore the whole world's weight upon his own.
Wild Change, the revolutionary antic,
Was then unknown;
Then, based on principle, the world stood fast;
And when the changing world to changeless me
Repentant turns, then all shall rest at last
Where all should be.
You others are as wanton as the weather,
Respecting naught. But truth survives neglect.
I wait, and hug myself, and keep together
My self-respect.
Who knows? The old Saturnian times return:
Order I bring, and peace, to earth again,
When tipsy Fortune from her tilted urn
Shakes down”....
For my adornment and the world's devotion,
In symbol of the fixt foundation laid
For the world's motion!
The first word of creation was Testudo,
And all was in the word. My sire grandæval
Bore on his back (as easily as you do
Chafer or weevil
In beak or claw) the elephant gigantic,
Who bore the whole world's weight upon his own.
147
Was then unknown;
Then, based on principle, the world stood fast;
And when the changing world to changeless me
Repentant turns, then all shall rest at last
Where all should be.
You others are as wanton as the weather,
Respecting naught. But truth survives neglect.
I wait, and hug myself, and keep together
My self-respect.
Who knows? The old Saturnian times return:
Order I bring, and peace, to earth again,
When tipsy Fortune from her tilted urn
Shakes down”....
Just then
His evil star, on which he had not reckon'd,
Wink'd, and a Hare into the open beckon'd.
The Eagle spied the tempting prey,
Unclasp'd his claws, and, well-a-day!
As swift as crash
Succeeds to flash,
When thunder-clouds together clash,
A swooning fall, a sounding smash!
And on the earth, it was his vain
Tho' brave ambition to sustain,
Shatter'd the Tortoise lay.
His evil star, on which he had not reckon'd,
Wink'd, and a Hare into the open beckon'd.
The Eagle spied the tempting prey,
Unclasp'd his claws, and, well-a-day!
As swift as crash
Succeeds to flash,
When thunder-clouds together clash,
A swooning fall, a sounding smash!
And on the earth, it was his vain
Tho' brave ambition to sustain,
Shatter'd the Tortoise lay.
| Fables in Song | |