 | Fantasy and Passion |  |
6
AN OLD TEA-CUP.
Frail dainty toy that time so gently saves
To float unshattered on its wasteful waves,
To float unshattered on its wasteful waves,
And reach, through storms of ruin and dismay,
Hands that uplift thee lovingly to-day,
Hands that uplift thee lovingly to-day,
Good thanks for sparing from oblivion dim
These painted dames who beam about thy brim!
These painted dames who beam about thy brim!
The lips that touched thee once have lent an art
To murmur memories through my dreaming heart!
To murmur memories through my dreaming heart!
I see rich chambers draped with pink and gold,
Where sportive cherubs gleam in gilded mold;
Where sportive cherubs gleam in gilded mold;
Where thick on cabinet and on mantel range
Rare gaudy Chinese monsters, grim and strange;
Rare gaudy Chinese monsters, grim and strange;
Where lights from massive candelabra fall
On satined prince and scarlet cardinal;
On satined prince and scarlet cardinal;
Where blooming ladies gayly group, arrayed
In fleecy wig, rouge, patch, and stiff brocade;
In fleecy wig, rouge, patch, and stiff brocade;
And where the royal Louis, suave and bland,
Bows low to kiss one jewel-burdened hand! ...
Bows low to kiss one jewel-burdened hand! ...
Ah, me! those merry courtiers and their King
No more with mirth make Trianon's alleys ring;
No more with mirth make Trianon's alleys ring;
His plumes no more the sworded gallant airs
In statued shrubbery and on marble stairs;
In statued shrubbery and on marble stairs;
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And lovely laughing ladies move no more
Down fountained court or sculptured corridor!
Down fountained court or sculptured corridor!
And thou, poor cup, art loyal to thy past,
And sick of change, the cold iconoclast!
And sick of change, the cold iconoclast!
But since no longer those dear hours exist,
Pictured patrician, bright legitimist,
Pictured patrician, bright legitimist,
Then, if benignant aid be not in vain
To soothe the longings of thy lonely pain,
To soothe the longings of thy lonely pain,
Oh, learn that shortly thou shalt treasured be
By one whose beauty is so sweet to see,
By one whose beauty is so sweet to see,
Her dazzling charms might thrill with envy pure
The shapeless dust that once was Pompadour!
The shapeless dust that once was Pompadour!
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