 | Collected poems |  |
260
A CHAPTER OF FROISSART
(GRANDPAPA LOQUITUR)
You don't know Froissart now, young folks,
This age, I think, prefers recitals
Of high-spiced crime, with “slang” for jokes,
And startling titles;
This age, I think, prefers recitals
Of high-spiced crime, with “slang” for jokes,
And startling titles;
But, in my time, when still some few
Loved “old Montaigne,” and praised Pope's Homer
(Nay, thought to style him “poet” too,
Were scarce misnomer),
Loved “old Montaigne,” and praised Pope's Homer
(Nay, thought to style him “poet” too,
Were scarce misnomer),
Sir John was less ignored. Indeed,
I can recall how Some-one present
(Who spoils her grandson, Frank!) would read,
And find him pleasant;
I can recall how Some-one present
(Who spoils her grandson, Frank!) would read,
And find him pleasant;
For,—by this copy,—hangs a Tale.
Long since, in an old house in Surrey,
Where men knew more of “morning ale’
Than “Lindley Murray,”
Long since, in an old house in Surrey,
Where men knew more of “morning ale’
Than “Lindley Murray,”
261
In a dim-lighted, whip-hung hall,
'Neath Hogarth's “Midnight Conversation,”
It stood; and oft 'twixt spring and fall,
With fond elation,
'Neath Hogarth's “Midnight Conversation,”
It stood; and oft 'twixt spring and fall,
With fond elation,
I turned the brown old leaves. For there
All through one hopeful happy summer,
At such a page (I well knew where),
Some secret comer,
All through one hopeful happy summer,
At such a page (I well knew where),
Some secret comer,
Whom I can picture, 'Trix, like you
(Though scarcely such a colt unbroken),
Would sometimes place for private view
A certain token;—
(Though scarcely such a colt unbroken),
Would sometimes place for private view
A certain token;—
A rose-leaf, meaning “Garden Wall,”
An ivy-leaf for “Orchard corner,”
A thorn to say “Don't come at all,”—
Unwelcome warner!—
An ivy-leaf for “Orchard corner,”
A thorn to say “Don't come at all,”—
Unwelcome warner!—
Not that, in truth, our friends gainsaid;
But then Romance required dissembling,
(Ann Radcliffe taught us that!) which bred
Some genuine trembling;
But then Romance required dissembling,
(Ann Radcliffe taught us that!) which bred
Some genuine trembling;
Though, as a rule, all used to end
In such kind confidential parley
As may to you kind Fortune send,
You long-legged Charlie,
In such kind confidential parley
As may to you kind Fortune send,
You long-legged Charlie,
262
When your time comes. How years slip on!
We had our crosses like our betters;
Fate sometimes looked askance upon
Those floral letters;
We had our crosses like our betters;
Fate sometimes looked askance upon
Those floral letters;
And once, for three long days disdained,
The dust upon the folio settled;
For some-one, in the right, was pained,
And some-one nettled,
The dust upon the folio settled;
For some-one, in the right, was pained,
And some-one nettled,
That sure was in the wrong, but spake
Of fixed intent and purpose stony
To serve King George, enlist and make
Minced-meat of “Boney,”
Of fixed intent and purpose stony
To serve King George, enlist and make
Minced-meat of “Boney,”
Who yet survived—ten years at least.
And so, when she I mean came hither,
One day that need for letters ceased,
She brought this with her!
And so, when she I mean came hither,
One day that need for letters ceased,
She brought this with her!
Here is the leaf-stained Chapter:—How
The English King laid siege to Calais;
I think Gran. knows it even now,—
Go ask her, Alice.
The English King laid siege to Calais;
I think Gran. knows it even now,—
Go ask her, Alice.
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