 | A Legend of Camelot |  |
1
A Legend of Camelot.
2
1. Part 1.
Call Braunighrindas left her bed
At cock-crow with an aching head.
O miserie!
At cock-crow with an aching head.
O miserie!
“I yearn to suffer and to do,”
She cried, “ere sunset, something new!
O miserie!
She cried, “ere sunset, something new!
O miserie!
To do and suffer, ere I die,
I care not what. I know not why.
O miserie!
I care not what. I know not why.
O miserie!
Some quest I crave to undertake,
Or burden bear, or trouble make.”
O miserie!
Or burden bear, or trouble make.”
O miserie!
She shook her hair about her form
In waves of colour bright and warm.
O miserie!
In waves of colour bright and warm.
O miserie!
It rolled and writhed, and reached the floor:
A silver wedding-ring she wore.
O miserie!
A silver wedding-ring she wore.
O miserie!
She left her tower, and wandered down
Into the High Street of the town.
O miserie!
Into the High Street of the town.
O miserie!
Her pale feet glimmered, in and out,
Like tombstones as she went about.
O miserie!
Like tombstones as she went about.
O miserie!
From right to left, and left to right;
And blue veins streakt her insteps white;
O miserie!
And blue veins streakt her insteps white;
O miserie!
And folks did ask her in the street
“How fared it with her long pale feet?”
O miserie!
“How fared it with her long pale feet?”
O miserie!
And blinkt, as though 'twere hard to bear
The red-heat of her blazing hair!
O miserie!
The red-heat of her blazing hair!
O miserie!
Sir Galahad and Sir Launcelot
Came hand-in-hand down Camelot;
O miserie!
Came hand-in-hand down Camelot;
O miserie!
Sir Gauwaine followed close behind;
A weight hung heavy on his mind.
O miserie!
A weight hung heavy on his mind.
O miserie!
“Who knows this damsel, burning bright,”
Quoth Launcelot, “like a northern light”?
O miserie!
Quoth Launcelot, “like a northern light”?
O miserie!
Quoth Sir Gauwaine: “I know her not!”
“Who quoth you did?” quoth Launcelot.
O miserie!
“Who quoth you did?” quoth Launcelot.
O miserie!
“'Tis Braunighrindas!” quoth Sir Bors.
(Just then returning from the wars.)
O miserie!
(Just then returning from the wars.)
O miserie!
Then quoth the pure Sir Galahad:
“She seems, methinks, but lightly clad!
O miserie!
“She seems, methinks, but lightly clad!
O miserie!
The winds blow somewhat chill to-day.
Moreover, what would Arthur say!”
O miserie!
Moreover, what would Arthur say!”
O miserie!
She thrust her chin towards Galahad
Full many an inch beyond her head. . . .
O miserie!
Full many an inch beyond her head. . . .
O miserie!
But when she noted Sir Gauwaine
She wept, and drew it in again!
O miserie!
She wept, and drew it in again!
O miserie!
She wept: “How beautiful am I!”
He shook the poplars with a sigh.
O miserie!
He shook the poplars with a sigh.
O miserie!
Sir Launcelot was standing near;
Him kist he thrice behind the ear.
O miserie!
Him kist he thrice behind the ear.
O miserie!
“Ah me!” sighed Launcelot where he stood,
“I cannot fathom it!” . . . (who could?)
O miserie!
“I cannot fathom it!” . . . (who could?)
O miserie!
Hard by his wares a weaver wove,
And weaving with a will, he throve;
O miserie!
And weaving with a will, he throve;
O miserie!
Him beckoned Galahad, and said,—
“Gaunt Braunighrindas wants your aid . . .
O miserie!
“Gaunt Braunighrindas wants your aid . . .
O miserie!
Behold the wild growth from her nape!
Good weaver, weave it into shape!”
O miserie!
Good weaver, weave it into shape!”
O miserie!
The weaver straightway to his loom
Did lead her, whilst the knights made room;
O miserie!
Did lead her, whilst the knights made room;
O miserie!
And wove her locks, both web and woof,
And made them wind and waterproof;
O miserie!
And made them wind and waterproof;
O miserie!
Then with his shears he opened wide
An arm-hole neat on either side,
O miserie!
An arm-hole neat on either side,
O miserie!
And bound her with his handkerchief
Right round the middle like a sheaf.
O miserie!
Right round the middle like a sheaf.
O miserie!
“Are you content, knight?” quoth Sir Bors
To Galahad; quoth he, “Of course!”
O miserie!
To Galahad; quoth he, “Of course!”
O miserie!
“Ah, me! those locks,” quoth Sir Gauwaine,
“Will never know the comb again!”
O miserie!
“Will never know the comb again!”
O miserie!
The bold Sir Launcelot quoth he nought;
So (haply) all the more he thought.
O miserie!
So (haply) all the more he thought.
O miserie!
4
2. Part 2.
An one-eyed Eastern past, who sold,
And bought, and bartered garments old;
O miserie!
And bought, and bartered garments old;
O miserie!
His yellow garb did show the thread,
A triple head-dress crowned his head;
O miserie!
A triple head-dress crowned his head;
O miserie!
And, ever and anon, his throat,
Thick-bearded, gave a solemn note;
O miserie!
Thick-bearded, gave a solemn note;
O miserie!
The knights were gathered in a knot;
Rapt in a trance, they heard him not;
O miserie!
Rapt in a trance, they heard him not;
O miserie!
Before them Braunighrindas stood
In native growth of gown and hood;
O miserie!
In native growth of gown and hood;
O miserie!
Fresh from a cunning weaver's hand,
She lookt, not gaudy, but so grand!
O miserie!
She lookt, not gaudy, but so grand!
O miserie!
Not gaudy, gentles, but so neat!
For chaste and knightly eyes a treat!
O miserie!
For chaste and knightly eyes a treat!
O miserie!
The Pilgrim eyed her shapely dress
With curious eye to business:
O miserie!
With curious eye to business:
O miserie!
Then whispered he to Launcelot,
“I'll give five shekels for the lot!”
O miserie!
“I'll give five shekels for the lot!”
O miserie!
Gauwaine his battle-axe he drew . . .
Once and again he clove him through!
O miserie!
Once and again he clove him through!
O miserie!
“No man of many words am I!”
Quoth he, and wope his weapon dry.
O miserie!
Quoth he, and wope his weapon dry.
O miserie!
A butcher caught the sounds and said,
“There go two cracks upon one head!”
O miserie!
“There go two cracks upon one head!”
O miserie!
A baker whispered in his fun:
“Butcher, more heads are crackt than one!”
O miserie!
“Butcher, more heads are crackt than one!”
O miserie!
“The moon is up to many tricks!”
Quoth he who made the candlesticks! . . .
O miserie!
Quoth he who made the candlesticks! . . .
O miserie!
Dead-limp, the unbeliever lay
Athwart the flags and stopt the way. . . .
O miserie!
Athwart the flags and stopt the way. . . .
O miserie!
The bold Sir Launcelot mused a bit,
And smole a bitter smile at it.
O miserie!
And smole a bitter smile at it.
O miserie!
Gauwaine, he gave his orders brief:—
“Manants: emportez-moi ce Juif!”
O miserie!
“Manants: emportez-moi ce Juif!”
O miserie!
Some heard the knight not: they that heard
Made answer to him none, nor stirred.
O miserie!
Made answer to him none, nor stirred.
O miserie!
But Braunighrindas was not dumb;
Her opportunity had come.
O miserie!
Her opportunity had come.
O miserie!
Her accents tinkled ivory-sweet—
“Je vays l'emporter tout de suite!” . . .
O miserie!
“Je vays l'emporter tout de suite!” . . .
O miserie!
She bowed her body, slenderly,
And lifted him full tenderly:
O miserie!
And lifted him full tenderly:
O miserie!
Full silverly her stretchèd throat
Intoned the wonted Hebrew note:
O miserie!
Intoned the wonted Hebrew note:
O miserie!
Right broke-in-halfenly she bent;
Jew-laden on her way she went!
O miserie!
Jew-laden on her way she went!
O miserie!
The knights all left her one by one,
And, leaving, cried in unison—
O miserie!
And, leaving, cried in unison—
O miserie!
“Voyez ce vilain Juif qui pend
Par derrière et par devant!” . . .
O miserie!
Par derrière et par devant!” . . .
O miserie!
Yet bearing it she journeyed forth,
Selecting north-north-east by north.
O miserie!
Selecting north-north-east by north.
O miserie!
The knights (most wisely) with one mouth,
Selected south-south-west by south.
O miserie!
Selected south-south-west by south.
O miserie!
The butcher, baker, and the rest,
Said, “Let them go where they like best!”
O miserie!
Said, “Let them go where they like best!”
O miserie!
And many a wink they wunk, and shook
Their heads; but furthermore they took
O miserie!
Their heads; but furthermore they took
O miserie!
No note: it was a way they had,
In Camelot, when folks went mad. . . .
O miserie!
In Camelot, when folks went mad. . . .
O miserie!
6
3. Part 3.
She bore her burden all that day
Half-faint; the unconverted clay
O miserie!
Half-faint; the unconverted clay
O miserie!
A burden grew, beneath the sun,
In many a manner more than one.
O miserie!
In many a manner more than one.
O miserie!
Half-faint the whitening road along
She bore it, singing (in her song)—
O miserie!
She bore it, singing (in her song)—
O miserie!
“The locks you loved, Gauwaine, Gauwaine,
Will never know the comb again! . . .
Will never know the comb again! . . .
The man you slew, Gauwaine, Gauwaine,
Will never come to life again!
Will never come to life again!
So when they do, Gauwaine, Gauwaine,
Then take me back to town again!” . . .
Then take me back to town again!” . . .
The shepherds gazed, but marvelled not;
They knew the ways of Camelot!
O miserie!
They knew the ways of Camelot!
O miserie!
She heeded neither man nor beast:
Her shadow lengthened toward the east.
O miserie!
Her shadow lengthened toward the east.
O miserie!
A little castle she drew nigh,
With seven towers twelve inches high. . . .
O miserie!
With seven towers twelve inches high. . . .
O miserie!
A baby castle, all a-flame
With many a flower that hath no name.
O miserie!
With many a flower that hath no name.
O miserie!
It had a little moat all round:
A little drawbridge too she found,
O miserie!
A little drawbridge too she found,
O miserie!
On which there stood a stately maid,
Like her in radiant locks arrayed . . .
O miserie!
Like her in radiant locks arrayed . . .
O miserie!
Save that her locks grew rank and wild,
By weaver's shuttle undefiled! . . .
O miserie!
By weaver's shuttle undefiled! . . .
O miserie!
Who held her brush and comb, as if
Her faltering hands had waxèd stiff
O miserie!
Her faltering hands had waxèd stiff
O miserie!
With baulkt endeavour! whence she sung
A chant, the burden whereof rung:
O miserie!
A chant, the burden whereof rung:
O miserie!
“These hands have striven in vain
To part
To part
These locks that won Gauwaine
His heart!”
His heart!”
All breathless, Braunighrindas stopt
To listen, and her load she dropt,
O miserie!
To listen, and her load she dropt,
O miserie!
And rolled in wonder wild and blear
The whites of her eyes grown green with fear:
O miserie!
The whites of her eyes grown green with fear:
O miserie!
—“What is your name, young person, pray?”
—“Knights call me Fidele-strynges-le-Fay.”
O miserie!
—“Knights call me Fidele-strynges-le-Fay.”
O miserie!
—“You wear a wedding-ring, I see!”
—“I do . . . Gauwaine he gave it me”. . .
O miserie!
—“I do . . . Gauwaine he gave it me”. . .
O miserie!
—“Are you Gauwaine his wedded spouse?
Is this Gauwaine his . . . country-house?”
O miserie!
Is this Gauwaine his . . . country-house?”
O miserie!
—“I am . . . it is . . . we are . . . oh who,
That you should greet me thus, are you?”
O miserie!
That you should greet me thus, are you?”
O miserie!
—“I am ANOTHER! . . . since the morn
The fourth month of the year was born!”. . .
O miserie!
The fourth month of the year was born!”. . .
O miserie!
—“What! that which followed when the last
Bleak night of bitter March had past?”. . .
O miserie!
Bleak night of bitter March had past?”. . .
O miserie!
—“The same.”—“That day for both hath done!
And you, and he, and I, are ONE!” . . .
O miserie!
And you, and he, and I, are ONE!” . . .
O miserie!
Then hand in hand, most woefully,
They went, the willows weeping nigh;
O miserie!
They went, the willows weeping nigh;
O miserie!
Left hand in left was left to cling!
On each a silver wedding-ring.
O miserie!
On each a silver wedding-ring.
O miserie!
And having walkt a little space,
They halted, each one in her place:
O miserie!
They halted, each one in her place:
O miserie!
And chanted loud a wondrous plaint
Well chosen: wild, one-noted, quaint:
O miserie!
Well chosen: wild, one-noted, quaint:
O miserie!
“Heigho! the Wind and the Rain!
The Moon's at the Full, Gauwaine, Gauwaine
The Moon's at the Full, Gauwaine, Gauwaine
Heigho! the Wind and the Rain
On gold-hair woven, and gold-hair plain!
On gold-hair woven, and gold-hair plain!
Heigho! the Wind and the Rain!
Oh when shall we Three meet again!”
Oh when shall we Three meet again!”
Atween the river and the wood,
Knee-deep 'mid whispering reeds they stood:
O miserie!
Knee-deep 'mid whispering reeds they stood:
O miserie!
The green earth oozing soft and dank
Beneath them, soakt and suckt and sank! . . .
O miserie!
Beneath them, soakt and suckt and sank! . . .
O miserie!
Yet soak-and-suck-and-sink or not,
They, chanting, craned towards Camelot. . . .
O miserie!
They, chanting, craned towards Camelot. . . .
O miserie!
8
4. Part 4.
The pale wet moon did rise and ride,
O'er misty wolds and marshes wide.
O miserie!
O'er misty wolds and marshes wide.
O miserie!
Sad earth slept underneath the yew,
Lapt in the death-sweat men call dew.
O miserie!
Lapt in the death-sweat men call dew.
O miserie!
O raven ringlets, ringing wet!
O bright eye rolling black as jet!
O miserie!
O bright eye rolling black as jet!
O miserie!
O matted locks about the chin!
O towering head-piece, battered in!
O miserie!
O towering head-piece, battered in!
O miserie!
Three hats that fit each other tight,
Are worth the helmet of a knight!
O miserie!
Are worth the helmet of a knight!
O miserie!
He rose all shapeless from the mud,
His yellow garb was stained with blood;
O miserie!
His yellow garb was stained with blood;
O miserie!
—Vat ish thish schwimming in mine head?
Thish turning round and round?” he said.
O miserie!
Thish turning round and round?” he said.
O miserie!
He took three paces through the night,
He saw red gold that glittered bright!
O miserie!
He saw red gold that glittered bright!
O miserie!
Two Royal Heads of Hair he saw!
And One was Woven, and One was Raw!
O miserie!
And One was Woven, and One was Raw!
O miserie!
“O Sholomon! if there ain't a pair
Of dead young damshels shinking there!
Of dead young damshels shinking there!
O Moshesh! vat a precioush lot
Of beautiful red hair they've got!
Of beautiful red hair they've got!
The prishe of it would compenshate
Most handshome for my broken pate!
Most handshome for my broken pate!
How much their upper lipsh do pout!
How very much their chins shtick out!
How very much their chins shtick out!
How dreadful shtrange they shtare! they sheem
Half to be dead, and half to dream!
Half to be dead, and half to dream!
The Camelot peoplesh alvaysh try
To look like that! I vonder vy?
To look like that! I vonder vy?
Yet each hath got a lovely fashe!
Good Father Jacob shend them grashe!
Good Father Jacob shend them grashe!
O Jacob! blesh the lovely light,
That lit the moon that shtruck the knight,
That married the maid that carried the Jew,
That shold (as he intensh to do)
The golden locks and shilver rings
Of Braunighrinde and Fiddleshtrings!”
O miserie!
That lit the moon that shtruck the knight,
That married the maid that carried the Jew,
That shold (as he intensh to do)
The golden locks and shilver rings
Of Braunighrinde and Fiddleshtrings!”
O miserie!
Thus having given thanks, he drew
His two-fold weapon cutting true;
O miserie!
His two-fold weapon cutting true;
O miserie!
And close he clipt, and clean and clear,
From crown and temple, nape and ear.
O miserie!
From crown and temple, nape and ear.
O miserie!
The wind in pity soughed and sighed!
The river beat the river side!
O miserie!
The river beat the river side!
O miserie!
The willows wept to stand and see
The sweetest, softest heads that be,
O miserie!
The sweetest, softest heads that be,
O miserie!
In ghastliest baldness gleam dead-white,
And sink unhallowed out of sight!
O miserie!
And sink unhallowed out of sight!
O miserie!
But, lo, you! Ere kind earth could fold
Their shame within its bosom cold,
O miserie!
Their shame within its bosom cold,
O miserie!
The moon had laught in mockery down,
And stampt a high-light on each crown!! . . .
O miserie!
And stampt a high-light on each crown!! . . .
O miserie!
Thrice muttering deep his mystic note,
The stillness of the night he smote:
O miserie!
The stillness of the night he smote:
O miserie!
Then, with a treasure dangling slack
From either shoulder adown his back,
O miserie!
From either shoulder adown his back,
O miserie!
He, whistling in his whistle, strode,
Nor felt he faint upon the road!
O miserie!
Nor felt he faint upon the road!
O miserie!
You may be sure that it was not
The road that leads to Camelot!
O miserie!
The road that leads to Camelot!
O miserie!
10
5. Part 5.
The castle weeds have grown so tall
Knights cannot see the red brick wall.
O miserie!
Knights cannot see the red brick wall.
O miserie!
The little drawbridge hangs awry,
The little flowery moat is dry!
O miserie!
The little flowery moat is dry!
O miserie!
And the wind, it soughs and sighs alway
Through the grey willows, night and day!
O miserie!
Through the grey willows, night and day!
O miserie!
And evermore two willows there
Do weep, whose boughs are always bare:
O miserie!
Do weep, whose boughs are always bare:
O miserie!
At all times weep they, in and out
Of season, turn and turn about!
O miserie!
Of season, turn and turn about!
O miserie!
But later, when the year doth fall,
And other willows, one and all,
O miserie!
And other willows, one and all,
O miserie!
In yellowing and dishevelled leaf
Sway haggard with their autumn grief,
O miserie!
Sway haggard with their autumn grief,
O miserie!
Then do these leafless willows now
Put forth a rosebud from each bough!
O miserie!
Put forth a rosebud from each bough!
O miserie!
What time Gauwaine, with spurless heels,
Barefoot (but not bare-headed) kneels
O miserie!
Barefoot (but not bare-headed) kneels
O miserie!
Between! . . . as fits a bigamous knight
Twice widowed in a single night:
O miserie!
Twice widowed in a single night:
O miserie!
And then, for that promiscuous way
Of axing Hebrews in broad day,
O miserie!
Of axing Hebrews in broad day,
O miserie!
He ever uttereth a note
Of Eastern origin remote. . . .
O miserie!
Of Eastern origin remote. . . .
O miserie!
A well-known monochord, that tells
Of one who, wandering, buys and sells!
O miserie!
Of one who, wandering, buys and sells!
O miserie!
What time the knights and damsels fair
Of Arthur's court come trooping there,
O miserie!
Of Arthur's court come trooping there,
O miserie!
They come in dresses of dark green,
Two damsels take a knight between:
O miserie!
Two damsels take a knight between:
O miserie!
One sad and sallow knight is fixt
Dyspeptic damsels twain betwixt!
O miserie!
Dyspeptic damsels twain betwixt!
O miserie!
They speak not, but their weary eyes
And wan white eyelids droop and rise
O miserie!
And wan white eyelids droop and rise
O miserie!
With dim dead gaze of mystic woe!
They always take their pleasure so
O miserie!
They always take their pleasure so
O miserie!
In Camelot. . . . It doth not lie
With us to ask, or answer, why!
O miserie!
With us to ask, or answer, why!
O miserie!
Yet, seeing them so fair and good,
Fain would we cheer them, if we could!
O miserie!
Fain would we cheer them, if we could!
O miserie!
And every time they find a bud,
They pluck it, and it bleeds red blood.
O miserie!
They pluck it, and it bleeds red blood.
O miserie!
And when they pluck a full-blown rose,
And breathe the same, its colour goes!
O miserie!
And breathe the same, its colour goes!
O miserie!
But with Gauwaine alone at night,
The willows dance in their delight!
O miserie!
The willows dance in their delight!
O miserie!
The rosebuds wriggle in their bliss,
And lift them for his lips to kiss!
O miserie!
And lift them for his lips to kiss!
O miserie!
And if he kiss a rose instead,
It blushes of a deeper red!
O miserie!
It blushes of a deeper red!
O miserie!
And if he like it, let him be!
It makes no odds to you or me!
O miserie!
It makes no odds to you or me!
O miserie!
O many-headed multitude,
Who read these rhymes that run so rude,
O miserie!
Who read these rhymes that run so rude,
O miserie!
Strive not to fathom their intent!
But say your prayers, and rest content
O miserie!
But say your prayers, and rest content
O miserie!
That, notwithstanding those two cracks
He got from Gauwaine's battle-axe,
O miserie!
He got from Gauwaine's battle-axe,
O miserie!
The Hebrew had the best of it!
So, Gentles, let us rest a bit.
O miserie!
So, Gentles, let us rest a bit.
O miserie!
12
Verses and Sketches.
13
FLIRTS IN HADES.
Ye maids, that practise wicked arts,And eke young widows with light hearts;
Gay Guardsmen, and pet parsons dear,
And all such heartbreakers, see here!
I charge you all, and every one,
To waste no love ye may have won,
For fear of this grey limbo, where
All you fine flirts that ever were
Of either sex, shall bud and blow
As grafts on rooted stems, and grow,
For many a round of days and years,
Self-watered with your own salt tears;
And wipe your eyes on your own leaves,
For lack of pocket-handkerchieves!
And wet your lips at your own cost,
To whistle for the loves you lost;
That these may cast their eyes, and see
Fit cause to kiss, and set you free;
For if by dint of tears, or trace
Of some old unforgotten grace,
You chance to charm a stray kiss out
Of lips you once were fain to flout,
Then may you pluck yourselves, and use
Your leaves for pinions, if you choose,
To soar upon, and seek for peace;
Thus, only thus, the spell shall cease.
And trust me, you shall not, I trow,
Be beautiful and bright, as now;
Your features shall be modelled then
By Mr. Punch's smart young men!
And here your victims, great and small,
Shall whisk about you, one and all;
With banded wings like butterflies,
And, oh! such beautiful big eyes!
And eyelashes an inch at least,
And all their wealth of locks increast!
And faces brighter than of old,
And beautified a billion-fold,
And little else but face to show,
For having buried long ago
Their bodies, and the broken hearts
That plagued them so, in foreign parts;
In fact, such faces as you see
In keepsakes gilded gorgeously!
And they shall have sweet kisses too,
But none to waste on such as you!
No! they shall either cut you dead,
Or take to teasing you instead,
And point at you, and poke their fun,
And try your tempers, one by one,
And raise false hopes and lay them low,
And pout their lips to kiss, and go!
So shall they nip you in the bud,
Or leave you sticking in the mud,
That you may rue your fickle days
Of dancing, and your jilting ways!
Till haply you shall culminate
In quite a vegetable state,
And even run to waste, I wis,
And all for want of one poor kiss!
14
POOR PUSSY'S NIGHTMARE.
All on a bare and bleak hillside,
One night this merry Christmas-tide,
A shivering, hunted hare did hide—
Poor Pussy!
One night this merry Christmas-tide,
A shivering, hunted hare did hide—
Poor Pussy!
Though we had hunted Puss all day,
The wind had blown her scent away,
And baulked the dogs—so there she lay,
Did Pussy!
The wind had blown her scent away,
And baulked the dogs—so there she lay,
Did Pussy!
There to the earth she humbly crept—
There, brooding o'er her lot, she wept—
There, on her empty stomach, slept
Poor Pussy!
There, brooding o'er her lot, she wept—
There, on her empty stomach, slept
Poor Pussy!
And there, whilst fell the frozen dew,
She dreamt an ugly dream or two,
As starved wet folk are apt to do,
Did Pussy.
She dreamt an ugly dream or two,
As starved wet folk are apt to do,
Did Pussy.
Loud hungry hounds of subtle ken,
And thundering steeds, and hard-eyed men,
Are fast on Pussy's trail again—
Poor Pussy!
And thundering steeds, and hard-eyed men,
Are fast on Pussy's trail again—
Poor Pussy!
Onward she strains—on, on they tear!
Foremost amongst the foremost there
Are ruthless women's faces fair!
Poor Pussy!
Foremost amongst the foremost there
Are ruthless women's faces fair!
Poor Pussy!
One moment's check! To left—to right—
In vain she spends her little might!
Some yokel's eye has marked her flight—
Poor Pussy!
In vain she spends her little might!
Some yokel's eye has marked her flight—
Poor Pussy!
What use her five small wits to rack?
Closer and faster on her track
Hurries the hydra-headed pack!
Lost Pussy!
Closer and faster on her track
Hurries the hydra-headed pack!
Lost Pussy!
“For pity's sake, kind huntsman, stop!
Call off the dogs, before I drop,
And kill me with your heavy crop!”
Shrieks Pussy!
Call off the dogs, before I drop,
And kill me with your heavy crop!”
Shrieks Pussy!
With shuddering start and stifled scream,
She wakes—she finds it all a dream!
How kind the cold, cold earth doth seem
To Pussy!
She wakes—she finds it all a dream!
How kind the cold, cold earth doth seem
To Pussy!
In harrying Puss we had great fun,
And trust that ere this year be done
She'll give us yet one other run,
Will Pussy!
And trust that ere this year be done
She'll give us yet one other run,
Will Pussy!
A softer wind, a cloudier sky,
A nice damp turf for the scent to lie,
Are all we ask! Till then, good-bye,
Dear Pussy!
A nice damp turf for the scent to lie,
Are all we ask! Till then, good-bye,
Dear Pussy!
16
THE CONTRAST.
At a Sale of Antique Furniture.
When the mirror politely stood still for a space,
And she viewed herself there in that reeking old place,
While the tribes clustered, grinning, all round her sweet face,
Such a picture was framed as one don't often see;
And she viewed herself there in that reeking old place,
While the tribes clustered, grinning, all round her sweet face,
Such a picture was framed as one don't often see;
On our Catalogue's margin we sketched her, pro tem.,
And just added those lively descendants of Shem
For a background—the brighter and fairer the gem,
The darker and plainer the setting should be!
And just added those lively descendants of Shem
For a background—the brighter and fairer the gem,
The darker and plainer the setting should be!
18
The Fools' Paradise,
Or Love and Life.
19
“Take up your chain together.”
I
In and about the Honeymoon,Young Love in his fever gloweth;
He waxeth fast, he waneth soon,
He cometh, and he goeth.
Young Love hath wings that flout his legs,
And soareth, Life unheeding;
Young Love is the goose with the golden Eggs!
And soon he lies a-bleeding!
II
The road is red with roses sweet,That leads you to his Dwelling
With shoes of swiftness on your feet,
And Joy there is no telling!
And each a cap about the brow,
But ne'er the Cap of Knowledge:
The Cap of many Bells I trow,
Fits best in Young Love's College!
III
He weaves his bandage round your eyes,He casts his blindness o'er you,
That you may dream all Paradise
Doth stretch away before you!
And dreaming each the other blest
With Love's own wings behind you,
You dare the Parson do his best
For aye and a day to bind you!
IV
For all a month He bids you fainGo feed among the Posies;
And hides the Padlock and the Chain
For all a Month of Roses;
And gives you nought to care about
But Love, till Truth be minded
That you should find each other out,
And be no longer blinded!
V
O Love! that all the best of youBe over with the wooing!
O Wedlock! All the worst of you
That there be no undoing!
It's Hey! Ho! and Welladay
For Youth and Love, and Honey!
It's Heigho! and Workaday
For Bread and Cheese, and Money!
VI
Weep not, poor Fools, nor hold aloof!Take up your chain together,
And earthwards pad the wandering hoof
That brought you fooling hither!
O Help each other, and share the load,
For steep the pass and thorny,
That leads you thorough from Love's Abode
To Life, and rough the Journey!
VII
“—O Dream of Dreams! O was it worthThe pain of this our waking?
O what is there of balm on earth
Can heal us of our aching?
O Love is he dead before the Prime,
Love that was born so newly?” . . .
—Poor Fools, go pin your faith on Time,
And Time shall tell you duly.
VIII
For Time that scorned Love's earlier ways,His mellower secrets holdeth;
These, living out our length of Days,
We learn as Truth unfoldeth.
Who knows but in a year or two
That Love may have the kindness
To come without his wings to you,
And holpen of his blindness?
20
A LOST ILLUSION.
I
There was a young woman, and what do you think?She lived upon nothing but paper and ink!
For ink and for paper she only did care,
Though they wrinkle the forehead and rumple the hair.
II
And she bought a gold pen, and she plied it so fastThat she brought forth her three-volume novel at last;
And she called it “The Ghoul of Mayfair,” by “Sirène”;
And I read it, re-read it, and read it again.
III
'Twas about a young girl, whom the gods, in their grace,Had endowed with a balefully beautiful face;
While her lithe, supple body and limbs were as those
Of a pantheress (minus the spots, I suppose).
IV
And oh! reader, her eyes! and oh! reader, her hair!They were red, green, blue, lustreless, lava-like. . . . There!
I can't screw my muse to the exquisite pitch
For adjusting exactly the whichness of which!
V
I may mention at once that she'd dabbled in viceFrom her cradle—and found it exceedingly nice:
That she doated on sin—that her only delight
Was in breaking commandments from morning till night.
VI
And moreover, to deepen her wonderful spell,She was not only vicious, but artful as well;
For she managed three husbands at once—to begin—
(Just by way of a trifle to keep her hand in).
VII
The first, a bold indigo-broker was he;Not young, but as wealthy as wealthy could be—
The next a fond burglar—and last, but not least,
The third was a strapping young Catholic priest!
VIII
Now, three doating husbands to start with in lifeSeems a decent allowance for any young wife;
But legitimate trigamy very soon palled
Upon Barbara Blackshepe (for so she was called).
IX
And it took but a very few pages to tellHow by means of a rope, and a knife, a well,
And some charcoal, and poison, and powder and shot,
She effectually widowed herself of the lot.
X
Then she suddenly found that she couldn't controlThe yearning for love of her ardent young soul,
So—(this is the cream of the story—prepare)
She took a large house in the midst of Mayfair:
21
XI
Where she started a kind of a sort of a—eh?Well, a sort of a kind of a—what shall I say?
Like Turkey, you know—only just the reverse;
Which, if possible, makes it a little bit worse!
XII
There were tenors, priests, poets, and parsons—a host!And Horseguards, and Coldstreams regardless of cost;
While a Leicester-square agent provided a tale
Of select refugees on a liberal scale.
XIII
The nobility, gentry, and public all roundHer immediate vicinity threatened and frowned;
Some went even so far as to call and complain;
But they never went back to their spouses again!
XIV
Nay, the very policemen that knocked at the doorTo remonstrate were collared, and never seen more;
And 'tis rumoured that bishops deserted their lambs
To enrol among “Barbara's Rollicking Rams.”
XV
And their dowdy, respectable, commonplace wives,And ridiculous daughters all fled for their lives,
And all died with disgusting decorum elsewhere,
To the scorn of “Sirène” and her “Ghoul of Mayfair”!
XVI
(This light—I might even add frivolous—toneIsn't that of the author, 'tis fair I should own;
Passion hallows each page—guilt ennobles each line;
All this flippant facetiousness, reader, is mine.)
XVII
To our muttons. Who dances, the piper must pay,And we can't eat our cake and yet have it, they say;
So we learn with regret that this duck of a pet
Of a dear little widow, she ran into debt.
XVIII
And the Hebrew came down like the wolf on the fold(With his waistcoat all gleaming in purple and gold),
And the auctioneer's hammer rang loud in the hall,
And they sold her up—harem and scar'em and all!
XIX
Then, says she: “There are no more commandments to break;I have lived—I have loved—I have eaten my cake!”
(Which she had, with a vengeance); so what does she do?
Why, she takes a revolver, and stabs herself through!
XX
Now, this naughty but nice little Barbara B.Had, I own, amongst others, demoralised me—
And the tale of her loves had excited me so
That I longed its fair passionate author to know.
23
XXI
For, oh! what's more seductive than vice, when you findIt with youth, beauty, genius, and culture combined!
Sweet “Sirène!” How I yearned—how I burned for her! nay,
I went secretly, silently wasting away!
XXII
Well, at last I beheld her—it did thus befall:I was wasting away at the Tomkins's ball,
Half inclined to be sick, in my loathing profound
For the mild goody-goody flirtations all round—
XXIII
When my hostess said suddenly: “So glad you came,Tho' you may find us somewhat insipid and tame!
I've a great treat in store for you—turn, and look there!
That's ‘Sirène,’ who indited ‘The Ghoul of Mayfair.’”
XXIV
Oh! the wild thrill that shot thro' this passionate heart!There—before me—alone in her glory—apart
From that milksoppy, maudlin, contemptible throng,
Sat the being I'd yearned for and burned for so long!
XXV
I respectfully gazed one brief moment—but stop!For particulars, vide design at the top:
She's that sweet, scornful pet in black velvet you see
Near the nice little man in blue goggles. That's me.
45
TWO THRONES.
Oh, Beauty, peerless as thou art,
And wide thy range, and keen thy dart.
And meek the captives of thy bow,
Inconstant beats the manly heart—
The present Bard's extremely so!
And wide thy range, and keen thy dart.
And meek the captives of thy bow,
Inconstant beats the manly heart—
The present Bard's extremely so!
Wit, Wisdom, Strength, and Valour meet
(The Bard amongst them), at thy feet
To kneel in homage, as of old;
Yet turn a rival Queen to greet,
Whose crown is of a purer gold!
(The Bard amongst them), at thy feet
To kneel in homage, as of old;
Yet turn a rival Queen to greet,
Whose crown is of a purer gold!
Preen as thou wilt thy feathers fine,
A gift is hers, by grace divine,
Even more potent to enthral,
O Bird of Paradise, than thine,
The hearts and souls of one and all!
A gift is hers, by grace divine,
Even more potent to enthral,
O Bird of Paradise, than thine,
The hearts and souls of one and all!
And what avail thy gilded crest,
The silver shimmer of thy breast,
The glories of thy painted wing,
If, yielding to the Bard's behest,
The Nightingale vouchsafe to sing!
The silver shimmer of thy breast,
The glories of thy painted wing,
If, yielding to the Bard's behest,
The Nightingale vouchsafe to sing!
47
A LOVE-AGONY.
So an thou be, that faintest in such wise,
With love-wan eyelids on love-wanton eyes,
Fain of thyself! I faint, adoring thee,
Fain of thy kisses, fainer of thy sighs,
Yet fainest, love! an thou wert fain of me,
So an thou be!
With love-wan eyelids on love-wanton eyes,
Fain of thyself! I faint, adoring thee,
Fain of thy kisses, fainer of thy sighs,
Yet fainest, love! an thou wert fain of me,
So an thou be!
Yea, lo! for veriest fainness faint I, Sweet,
Of thy spare bosom, where no shadows meet,
And small strait hip, and weak delicious knee!
For joy thereof I swoon, and my pulse-beat
Is as of one that wasteth amorously,
So an thou be!
Of thy spare bosom, where no shadows meet,
And small strait hip, and weak delicious knee!
For joy thereof I swoon, and my pulse-beat
Is as of one that wasteth amorously,
So an thou be!
Shepherd art thou, or nymph, that ailest there?
Lily of Love, or Rose? Search they, who care,
Thy likeness for a sign! For, verily,
Naught reck I, Fairest, so an thou be but Fair!
E'en as he recks not, that hath limnèd thee,
So an thou Be!
Lily of Love, or Rose? Search they, who care,
Thy likeness for a sign! For, verily,
Naught reck I, Fairest, so an thou be but Fair!
E'en as he recks not, that hath limnèd thee,
So an thou Be!
49
A Simple Story.
50
I
There lived a youth (he liveth yet),And Richard was he christened;
And well he played the flageolet,
And all the ladies listened;
And some were even heard to say
His brow was handsome (in its way).
II
But Richard met Ben Ball, a manAll chest, and cheek, and shoulder,
And ever so much bigger than
Himself, though little older;
Whose biceps Richard felt and found
It measured fifteen inches round!
III
Now this demoralised him quite;And then he took to reading
The naughty books that ladies write
And found there, with exceeding
Dismay, that ladies' heroes are
Wild, wicked men, and muscular!
IV
Then in high dudgeon did he useTo feel himself all over;
But little sinew, and no thews
Could Richard's thumbs discover;
And wickedness is rarely met
In men that play the flageolet.
51
V
But 'twas not yet too late to mend;He got dumb-bells, and shyly
He took the counsel of a friend
(“Experimentum vili”)
And tried them first on his left arm,
And found they acted like a charm!
VI
Much bigger waxed his biceps, butWhen this left arm was finished,
The left lobe of his occiput
Had sensibly diminished;
So then he went it, right and all,
To make his nut symmetrical!
VII
His nut soon got so hardened thatIt hurt you when you hit it;
Nor could his hatter find a hat
(Already made) to fit it,
So marvellously small it grew,
As all may judge from this back view.
VIII
At length a happy day came round(Which I was there, and drew it)
When Richard lifted from the ground
A paving-stone, and threw it
Almost one foot three-quarters high!
And that with ladies standing by!!
52
IX
Not only that; he, on his headSo dexterously caught it,
That all the ladies present said
They never should have thought it!
And even I could not but own
'Twas hard lines for the paving-stone!
X
Next day he caught a cold, alack!And all his muscles vanished,
But none of his old brains came back
Which is dumb-bells had banished;
And not a rack was left behind
Of what he chose to call his mind!
XI
Poor Richard now (O have you metHim lately) has grown bitter;
For when he plays the flageolet
The ladies talk and titter;
And no one ever thinks his brow
In any way good-looking now!
XII
O little men, who wish to please,Be wiser than poor Dick! shun
Big friends with brawny bicipes,
And female works of fiction;
But stick to music all your might,
Or be cut out. And serve you right!
53
A Ballad of Blunders.
54
The Blunder of Short Garments. Thou shalt wear
Thy supple thighs in sheaths of splendid fit,
Much use whereof shall surely render bare
The mystery, yea, the very threads of it;
And cold shall seize thee standing; should'st thou sit,
Thy skin shall vex thee with its tenderness;
Or stoop, thy perilous underseam shall split;
This is the end of every man's excess.
Thy supple thighs in sheaths of splendid fit,
Much use whereof shall surely render bare
The mystery, yea, the very threads of it;
And cold shall seize thee standing; should'st thou sit,
Thy skin shall vex thee with its tenderness;
Or stoop, thy perilous underseam shall split;
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Gay Seasons. Strange delight;
Thy seething garb shall cleave to thee, and cling;
Thy red wet palm shall reek beneath the white;
And fierce black shining leather bite and sting,
A future of sore troubles gathering;
The dawn shall send thee, cold and comfortless,
Creeping along the kerb, an abject thing.
This is the end of every man's excess.
Thy seething garb shall cleave to thee, and cling;
Thy red wet palm shall reek beneath the white;
And fierce black shining leather bite and sting,
A future of sore troubles gathering;
The dawn shall send thee, cold and comfortless,
Creeping along the kerb, an abject thing.
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Much Music. Sit thee down,
Nay, stop thine ears, and sleep. For verily,
She that is playing heedeth not thy frown,
And she that singeth takes no thought for thee;
And song shall follow song till thou shalt be
Smitten and bitten with fierce restlessness
To bite and smite in turn, or turn to flee;
This is the end of every man's excess.
Nay, stop thine ears, and sleep. For verily,
She that is playing heedeth not thy frown,
And she that singeth takes no thought for thee;
And song shall follow song till thou shalt be
Smitten and bitten with fierce restlessness
To bite and smite in turn, or turn to flee;
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Great Banquets. Out of sight,
Beyond the reach of hands that heal for gain,
The dish of thy desire and thy delight
Shall vex thy sleep. Thou shalt behold again
The Lord Knight Mayor, thy host, as King of Pain;
And lo, the worthy lady Mayoress
As Queen of Pleasure in thy fond heart shall reign;
This is the end of every man's excess.
Beyond the reach of hands that heal for gain,
The dish of thy desire and thy delight
Shall vex thy sleep. Thou shalt behold again
The Lord Knight Mayor, thy host, as King of Pain;
And lo, the worthy lady Mayoress
As Queen of Pleasure in thy fond heart shall reign;
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Long Speeches. Thou shalt burn
To see men whisper, and thy voice grow thick,
And shame shall stain thee red and white by turn,
And all thy wine shall rise and make thee sick;
And short swift sobs shall take thy breath betw-hic!
And in thy skull shall be much emptiness,
And in thy stead, the likeness of a stick.
This is the end of every man's excess.
To see men whisper, and thy voice grow thick,
And shame shall stain thee red and white by turn,
And all thy wine shall rise and make thee sick;
And short swift sobs shall take thy breath betw-hic!
And in thy skull shall be much emptiness,
And in thy stead, the likeness of a stick.
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Late Hours. Leave thy sad bed;
See what strange things shall grieve thy straining sight:
Stray broken glass to greet the dawn; grey dead
Strewn ashes of the weeds of thy delight;
Sick sterile leavings of the hot fierce night;
Yet must thou bend thee to thy business
Thy brain to brood; thy tremulous hand to write;
This is the end of every man's excess.
See what strange things shall grieve thy straining sight:
Stray broken glass to greet the dawn; grey dead
Strewn ashes of the weeds of thy delight;
Sick sterile leavings of the hot fierce night;
Yet must thou bend thee to thy business
Thy brain to brood; thy tremulous hand to write;
This is the end of every man's excess.
55
Blunder of Strong Spirits; warm and sweet,
Or cold without, and pale; whereof to tread
The wild wet ways is perilous to thy feet,
And in thine eyes, where green was, lo, the red;
And where thy sinew, soft weak fat instead;
Burning of heart, and much uneasiness
About thy girdle, and aching in thine head;
This is the end of every man's excess.
Or cold without, and pale; whereof to tread
The wild wet ways is perilous to thy feet,
And in thine eyes, where green was, lo, the red;
And where thy sinew, soft weak fat instead;
Burning of heart, and much uneasiness
About thy girdle, and aching in thine head;
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Much Rhyming. If thou write
That once again that should be once for all,
These market-men will buy thy black and white
Till thy keen swift full fervent ways shall fall
On sated ears; thy stinging sweetness pall;
And barren memories of thy bright success
Shall burst in thee the bladder of thy gall;
This is the end of every man's excess.
That once again that should be once for all,
These market-men will buy thy black and white
Till thy keen swift full fervent ways shall fall
On sated ears; thy stinging sweetness pall;
And barren memories of thy bright success
Shall burst in thee the bladder of thy gall;
This is the end of every man's excess.
The Blunder of Long Ballads. Bide in peace;
For when the night is near, the day shall die,
And when the day shall dawn the night shall cease,
And all things have an end of all; and I
An end of this, for that my lips are dry,
And the eleventh hour's exceeding heaviness
Doth overweigh mine eyelid on mine eye . . .
This is the end of every man's excess.
For when the night is near, the day shall die,
And when the day shall dawn the night shall cease,
And all things have an end of all; and I
An end of this, for that my lips are dry,
And the eleventh hour's exceeding heaviness
Doth overweigh mine eyelid on mine eye . . .
This is the end of every man's excess.
MORAL.
Poets, who tread the fast and flowerful way,Heed well the burden these sad rhymes impress;
Pleasure is first, and then the time to pay;
This is the end of every man's excess.
Chatouillard.
| A Legend of Camelot | |