 | The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang |  |
204
Central American Antiquities
In South Kensington Museum
‘Youth and crabbed age
Cannot live together;’
So they say.
Cannot live together;’
So they say.
On this little page
See you when and whether
That they may.
See you when and whether
That they may.
Age was very old—
Stones from Chichimec
Hardly wrung;
Stones from Chichimec
Hardly wrung;
Youth had hair of gold
Knotted on her neck—
Fair and young!
Knotted on her neck—
Fair and young!
Age was carved with odd
Slaves, and priests that slew them—
God and beast;
Slaves, and priests that slew them—
God and beast;
205
Man and beast and god—
There she sat and drew them,
King and priest!
There she sat and drew them,
King and priest!
There she sat and drew
Many a monstrous head
And antique;
Many a monstrous head
And antique;
Horrors from Peru—
Huacas doubly dead,
Dead cacique!
Huacas doubly dead,
Dead cacique!
Ere Pizarro came
These were lords of men
Long ago;
These were lords of men
Long ago;
Gods without a name,
Born or how or when,
None may know!
Born or how or when,
None may know!
Now from Yucatan
These doth science bear
Over seas;
These doth science bear
Over seas;
And methinks a man
Finds youth doubly fair,
Sketching these!
Finds youth doubly fair,
Sketching these!
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