 | A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." |  |
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January 1st.
In Melbourne the great “Champion”
Upon each New-Year's day is run,
And every little country town
Likes to have races of its own
Or sports or fairs upon that day.
Upon each New-Year's day is run,
And every little country town
Likes to have races of its own
Or sports or fairs upon that day.
Some half-a-dozen miles away
Was a small place to which the Fortes
Went every year to see the sports.
The sports were nothing much to see,
But it bred cordiality
Between them and the people round
If they were seen upon the ground.
And Will was judge, because he'd been
“A C. U. A. C. Blue.” The scene,
If not attractive to the eye,
Presented a variety:—
Merry-go-rounds, and galleries
For rifle shooting with a prize
Which no one ever won, potshots
A penny each at cocoa-nuts,
Aunt Sally, try-your-strength-machines,
And here and there, behind the scenes,
The ‘three-card trick,’ ‘hat-trick,’ ‘roulette,’
And other snares by sharpers set
The simple country folk to gull,
Though dupes were not too plentiful.
And then there were the usual shows—
Fat women, dwarfs, gigantic sows,
A six-legged calf, and mermaid stuffed,
The whole inordinately puffed.
The sports were mostly handicaps
Distinguished chiefly by the traps
Which runners from a distance set
Undue advantages to get.
In nearly every race some tried
To have some one disqualified
For false name, false performances,
Or other insincerities.
Was a small place to which the Fortes
Went every year to see the sports.
The sports were nothing much to see,
But it bred cordiality
Between them and the people round
If they were seen upon the ground.
And Will was judge, because he'd been
“A C. U. A. C. Blue.” The scene,
If not attractive to the eye,
Presented a variety:—
Merry-go-rounds, and galleries
For rifle shooting with a prize
Which no one ever won, potshots
A penny each at cocoa-nuts,
Aunt Sally, try-your-strength-machines,
And here and there, behind the scenes,
The ‘three-card trick,’ ‘hat-trick,’ ‘roulette,’
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The simple country folk to gull,
Though dupes were not too plentiful.
And then there were the usual shows—
Fat women, dwarfs, gigantic sows,
A six-legged calf, and mermaid stuffed,
The whole inordinately puffed.
The sports were mostly handicaps
Distinguished chiefly by the traps
Which runners from a distance set
Undue advantages to get.
In nearly every race some tried
To have some one disqualified
For false name, false performances,
Or other insincerities.
The handicap draws larger fields,
But in most other ways it yields
To open contests for the best.
Handicaps are no real test.
All that they generally mean
Is that the handicapper 's been
Ill-posted on the winner's form.
You could distinguish by the storm
Of acclamations which outburst
When local runners came in first.
But in most other ways it yields
To open contests for the best.
Handicaps are no real test.
All that they generally mean
Is that the handicapper 's been
Ill-posted on the winner's form.
You could distinguish by the storm
Of acclamations which outburst
When local runners came in first.
For educated lookers-on
There would not have been any fun,
But for an aboriginal
Who started (without fees at all)
For every race—one of the wrecks
Whom white men's vices, without checks
Which white men have, were dragging down
Post-haste to his perdition,
A blear-eyed, whiskey-sodden wretch,
Often too tottering to fetch
A pail of water to a horse.
He almost reeled about the course—
A contrast to the crowd, who were
Far soberer and steadier
Than such a crowd oft is elsewhere.
The crowning merriment was when
This poor degraded specimen
Of the old rulers of the place
Had started in a hurdle race,
And, jumping too close, sat upon
The hurdle-rails as he came down.
There would not have been any fun,
But for an aboriginal
Who started (without fees at all)
For every race—one of the wrecks
Whom white men's vices, without checks
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Post-haste to his perdition,
A blear-eyed, whiskey-sodden wretch,
Often too tottering to fetch
A pail of water to a horse.
He almost reeled about the course—
A contrast to the crowd, who were
Far soberer and steadier
Than such a crowd oft is elsewhere.
The crowning merriment was when
This poor degraded specimen
Of the old rulers of the place
Had started in a hurdle race,
And, jumping too close, sat upon
The hurdle-rails as he came down.
I.e., one of the representatives of Cambridge University in the Inter-University Athletic Sports at Lillie Bridge.
But only Will of all the Fortes
Paid much attention to the sports.
Phil was too busy with his suit,
Kit with contrivances astute
To fence it off. Lil and her lover
Wished to go ere it was half over,
And the rest scarce attended more
Than did the interested four.
Paid much attention to the sports.
Phil was too busy with his suit,
Kit with contrivances astute
To fence it off. Lil and her lover
Wished to go ere it was half over,
And the rest scarce attended more
Than did the interested four.
The two old folks had stayed at home,
Thinking it better not to come,
The neighbours being quite content
If any of their party went.
Thinking it better not to come,
The neighbours being quite content
If any of their party went.
Ida had grappled Chesterfield,
Who seemed agreeable to yield.
Indeed the cheerful little dame,
Always so kind, always the same,
And always fashionably dressed
(In fashions that became her best),
Was calculated to engage
A politician of his age
And corrigible bachelor
No less, if not indeed much more,
Than a mere girl whose prettiness
Was her sole claim to his address.
And these two bandied chaff all day
In what Will called a reckless way,
When he came back to steal a munch
Of their drawn-out, luxurious lunch.
Who seemed agreeable to yield.
Indeed the cheerful little dame,
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And always fashionably dressed
(In fashions that became her best),
Was calculated to engage
A politician of his age
And corrigible bachelor
No less, if not indeed much more,
Than a mere girl whose prettiness
Was her sole claim to his address.
And these two bandied chaff all day
In what Will called a reckless way,
When he came back to steal a munch
Of their drawn-out, luxurious lunch.
The barrister was trying on
Blandishments with Maud Morrison,
But found her less amenable
Than juries whom he handled well.
For firstly, Maud (who, if 'twere known,
Knew nought of her own race) looked down
Upon his humble origin;
And secondly, she was not in
The best of tempers, seeing Phil,
Whom she thought so adorable,
Wasting attention upon Kit,
Who barely tolerated it.
Blandishments with Maud Morrison,
But found her less amenable
Than juries whom he handled well.
For firstly, Maud (who, if 'twere known,
Knew nought of her own race) looked down
Upon his humble origin;
And secondly, she was not in
The best of tempers, seeing Phil,
Whom she thought so adorable,
Wasting attention upon Kit,
Who barely tolerated it.
Hall talked to Madge, or rather both
Sat by each other and seemed loath
To talk to others. Last of all,
Miss Ridley would have gone to wall
Had it not been for Kit, who was
The innocent but active cause
Of Phil's ineffable disgust,
For he had meant to have discussed
Matters for Kit's own private ear,
Which she was anxious not to hear,
And, seeing that the governess
Was all alone, began to express
Her pity and invited her
To come and sit down where they were,
Contriving that the talk should be
On subjects to include all three.
Kit really had a gracious heart
And liked to act a friendly part:
But there was truly to confess
One unto whom her kindliness
Would have been much more grateful than
The governess—the gentleman
Who sat on her right hand and gazed
Upon her face till well nigh dazed.
Sat by each other and seemed loath
To talk to others. Last of all,
Miss Ridley would have gone to wall
Had it not been for Kit, who was
The innocent but active cause
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For he had meant to have discussed
Matters for Kit's own private ear,
Which she was anxious not to hear,
And, seeing that the governess
Was all alone, began to express
Her pity and invited her
To come and sit down where they were,
Contriving that the talk should be
On subjects to include all three.
Kit really had a gracious heart
And liked to act a friendly part:
But there was truly to confess
One unto whom her kindliness
Would have been much more grateful than
The governess—the gentleman
Who sat on her right hand and gazed
Upon her face till well nigh dazed.
Hall, the Professor, Will and Lil
Had ridden. Kit so dreaded Phil
That she had given up her horse
To Hall, and driven to the course
Lest any accident should force
The fatal tete-à-tete. Phil drove,
He was so visibly in love
That when he said he wished to drive
(Which was when he'd heard Kit arrive
At her decision), Will gave up
And rode. For neither cared to stoop
To th' other's driving which they thought
Uninteresting if not fraught
With ignominy positive,
Having for years been wont to live
Like independent potentates
Of equal, jealous, neighbouring states.
Had ridden. Kit so dreaded Phil
That she had given up her horse
To Hall, and driven to the course
Lest any accident should force
The fatal tete-à-tete. Phil drove,
He was so visibly in love
That when he said he wished to drive
(Which was when he'd heard Kit arrive
At her decision), Will gave up
And rode. For neither cared to stoop
To th' other's driving which they thought
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With ignominy positive,
Having for years been wont to live
Like independent potentates
Of equal, jealous, neighbouring states.
Kit would not ride upon the box
And play the goose beside the fox
For reasons obvious, and Maud,
For reasons just as plain and broad,
Could not, in justice to her pride,
Take a position by his side,
And Madge knew by experience
How Phil could illustrate his sense
Of being victimised, too well
To think the post desirable,
And Phil could hardly interfere
With Ida, whom the ex-minister
Made in a kind of way his own,
Although he gladly would have done,
For, failing Kit, he liked to be
With Ida, who dressed daintily,
And had the manners of the class
With whom he wished his days to pass.
He was not of a kind to press
Attentions on the governess,
And so he found himself left with
His pet aversion—Lachlan Smith.
To Phil's more educated eye
The barrister's gentility
Was shoddy and suggestive of
A “Monster Outfitting Alcove,”
With his frock-coat not fitting well,
And hat the converse of a bell,
And long shirt cuffs and large breast pin,
And collar forcing up his chin.
And play the goose beside the fox
For reasons obvious, and Maud,
For reasons just as plain and broad,
Could not, in justice to her pride,
Take a position by his side,
And Madge knew by experience
How Phil could illustrate his sense
Of being victimised, too well
To think the post desirable,
And Phil could hardly interfere
With Ida, whom the ex-minister
Made in a kind of way his own,
Although he gladly would have done,
For, failing Kit, he liked to be
With Ida, who dressed daintily,
And had the manners of the class
With whom he wished his days to pass.
He was not of a kind to press
Attentions on the governess,
And so he found himself left with
His pet aversion—Lachlan Smith.
To Phil's more educated eye
The barrister's gentility
Was shoddy and suggestive of
A “Monster Outfitting Alcove,”
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And hat the converse of a bell,
And long shirt cuffs and large breast pin,
And collar forcing up his chin.
And his pretentious arguings
On races, stock and other things,
Of which he was quite ignorant,
With people who were conversant
Were calculated to confirm
And not remove suspicion's germ.
On races, stock and other things,
Of which he was quite ignorant,
With people who were conversant
Were calculated to confirm
And not remove suspicion's germ.
But Lachlan Smith talked glibly on
These topics dangerous upon,
The whole way there and whole way back
Without suspecting any lack
Of cordial responsiveness,
Although if he had chattered less
And pondered more he must have seen
Phil's ill-disguised contempt and spleen,
And was so well pleased in his mind
With his success that he inclined
To be almost familiar,
And might have gone a step too far
Had they not fortunately come,
Just as they verged upon it, home.
That being the last night of all,
These topics dangerous upon,
The whole way there and whole way back
Without suspecting any lack
Of cordial responsiveness,
Although if he had chattered less
And pondered more he must have seen
Phil's ill-disguised contempt and spleen,
And was so well pleased in his mind
With his success that he inclined
To be almost familiar,
And might have gone a step too far
Had they not fortunately come,
Just as they verged upon it, home.
Even the unæsthetic Hall
Sat down to listen to the tale.
Madge was named Queen without avail,
Insisting that her governess
Was fitter, though when they did press
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No more originality
Than timidly to give once more
The subject of the night before—Love.
THE SEVEN FAIRIES.
I dreamed a dream of a lady fair,
A dream of a lady's birth.
There were six fairies assembled there
From the East and West and North,
A dream of a lady's birth.
There were six fairies assembled there
From the East and West and North,
All bidden to honour the christening
In hope of a fairy gift,
But when they answered the fair bidding
There was yet one fairy left.
In hope of a fairy gift,
But when they answered the fair bidding
There was yet one fairy left.
Oh! she lives down in the South, they said,
Oh, she lives down in the South,
Her face is fair and her cheeks are red,
But she hath a cruel mouth.
Oh, she lives down in the South,
Her face is fair and her cheeks are red,
But she hath a cruel mouth.
Oh! she lives down in the South, they said,
In the halls of ice and snow,
And a breath of her chilling home is shed
Wherever her footsteps go.
In the halls of ice and snow,
And a breath of her chilling home is shed
Wherever her footsteps go.
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Two fairies came from the golden East,
And wealth and affection brought,
They came from where jewels the costliest
Of Golconda's gems are wrought,
And wealth and affection brought,
They came from where jewels the costliest
Of Golconda's gems are wrought,
From where the sorrowing wife is fain
To share the funeral throne
With her dead lord rather than remain
In the lonely world alone.
To share the funeral throne
With her dead lord rather than remain
In the lonely world alone.
And two there came from the western lands,
With brightness of sunny France,
And Tuscan genius in their hands,
With its tinge of wild romance.
With brightness of sunny France,
And Tuscan genius in their hands,
With its tinge of wild romance.
And there were two from the sturdy North,
And their gifts were homely sense
And glowing health, with generous mirth
And freedom from false pretence.
And their gifts were homely sense
And glowing health, with generous mirth
And freedom from false pretence.
And lastly came Envy from the South,
To offer her offerings,
With her fair cheeks and her cruel mouth,
And a chill draught from her wings.
To offer her offerings,
With her fair cheeks and her cruel mouth,
And a chill draught from her wings.
But her cruel mouth was wreathed in smiles,
And soothly “I come,” she said,
“From the frozen bounds of Antarctic isles
My gift unbidden to add.
And soothly “I come,” she said,
“From the frozen bounds of Antarctic isles
My gift unbidden to add.
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“You gave her love and you gave her wealth
And brightness and genius,
You gave her wisdom and gave her health,
I give her the glorious,
And brightness and genius,
You gave her wisdom and gave her health,
I give her the glorious,
“The peerless crown of beauty to wear
Her lifelong upon her brow,
And ever in her right hand to bear
The grace to which all men bow.”
Her lifelong upon her brow,
And ever in her right hand to bear
The grace to which all men bow.”
And then she opened her draughty wings
And fled to the realm of ice,
Leaving the child with her offerings
Of rich and dainty device.
And fled to the realm of ice,
Leaving the child with her offerings
Of rich and dainty device.
And there rose a hum of glad relief
That Envy had come and gone
Without a word of anger or grief
For being the unasked one.
That Envy had come and gone
Without a word of anger or grief
For being the unasked one.
And a glow of transport through them thrilled
At Envy's glorious gift,
For Envy was vengeful when ill-willed,
And Envy's revenge was swift.
At Envy's glorious gift,
For Envy was vengeful when ill-willed,
And Envy's revenge was swift.
But amid the glow there came a chill,
And amid the hum a moan,
And her cold wings seemed to wave there still
Though she to her home had flown.
And amid the hum a moan,
And her cold wings seemed to wave there still
Though she to her home had flown.
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And e'en the good fays fell murmuring
That Envy had outgraced all
In the gift she brought without summoning
To the christening festival.
That Envy had outgraced all
In the gift she brought without summoning
To the christening festival.
II.
The years fled onwards within my dream,
And with them Desirée grew
Into a form that might well beseem
The Fairy queen of the dew,
And with them Desirée grew
Into a form that might well beseem
The Fairy queen of the dew,
Loving and sensible, healthy, bright,
With clear intelligent eye
Reflecting the intellect's inward light,
Reared in all the luxury
With clear intelligent eye
Reflecting the intellect's inward light,
Reared in all the luxury
Which wealth could pay for and art supply,
And with every wish fulfilled,
That kindly forethought could satisfy,
Almost as soon as 'twas willed.
And with every wish fulfilled,
That kindly forethought could satisfy,
Almost as soon as 'twas willed.
But even the mates of her childish hours
Had always begrudged her less
Her wealth and health and mind's rare powers,
Her wisdom and happiness,
Had always begrudged her less
Her wealth and health and mind's rare powers,
Her wisdom and happiness,
Than the crown of beauty that Envy set
Upon her brow as a gift,
Which seemed in sooth as though it had yet
Some taint of the giver left.
Upon her brow as a gift,
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Some taint of the giver left.
III.
The years flew onwards within my dream,
Once more Desirée I saw,
A woman such as might well beseem
Apelles' pencil to draw;
Once more Desirée I saw,
A woman such as might well beseem
Apelles' pencil to draw;
Bright as the morning, glowing with health,
Warm-hearted tho' worldly wise,
With each allurement added that wealth
And art and love could devise,
Warm-hearted tho' worldly wise,
With each allurement added that wealth
And art and love could devise,
With a face as beautiful as the day,
And a body fairy light,
And upon her a winning grace alway
That conquered man's love at sight,
And a body fairy light,
And upon her a winning grace alway
That conquered man's love at sight,
With genius stamped upon the brow
And speaking out from her eye,
A queen of love to whom all should bow
In homage reverently.
And speaking out from her eye,
A queen of love to whom all should bow
In homage reverently.
IV.
One day, but no longer in my dream,
Came there one his suit to plead,
Wealthy and held in high esteem,
Of an ancient house the head.
Came there one his suit to plead,
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Of an ancient house the head.
He cared not for wealth, for his own was great,
He cared not for happy ways,
He cared not for wisdom, nor sought a mate
For the love which sweetens days.
He cared not for happy ways,
He cared not for wisdom, nor sought a mate
For the love which sweetens days.
He loved not the light of genius,
Or the glowing cheek of health,
And her spirit high and generous
He valued no more than wealth.
Or the glowing cheek of health,
And her spirit high and generous
He valued no more than wealth.
But her peerless beauty grew on him,
And he hated each arm that stole
In dance or jest round her body slim
From the depths of his grim soul.
And he hated each arm that stole
In dance or jest round her body slim
From the depths of his grim soul.
And when he asked her to be his wife,
And spoke of his wealth and state,
And the gorgeous trappings of his life,
And his halls of ancient date,
And spoke of his wealth and state,
And the gorgeous trappings of his life,
And his halls of ancient date,
Her mother was dazzled and bade her yield,
As many a mother before
Has betrayed a child who on foughten field
Would have held her own in war.
As many a mother before
Has betrayed a child who on foughten field
Would have held her own in war.
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She yielded. Envy triumphed again
With her insidious gift,
And on the marriage followed amain
With feet relentless and swift.
With her insidious gift,
And on the marriage followed amain
With feet relentless and swift.
And when any glance or word addressed
To his graceful, gifted wife,
A blast of envy would pierce his breast
Like the cutting of a knife.
To his graceful, gifted wife,
A blast of envy would pierce his breast
Like the cutting of a knife.
But he was not the husband for her,
With her ready sympathy
And fanciful active character
And warmth of heart and eye.
With her ready sympathy
And fanciful active character
And warmth of heart and eye.
For she could not but see, with her clear sense,
How base and poor was the clay
To which she had vowed obedience
Upon her marriage day,
How base and poor was the clay
To which she had vowed obedience
Upon her marriage day,
And she could not dissemble her delight
When men, with the power of brain
And pride of life that were hers by right,
To linger by her were fain.
When men, with the power of brain
And pride of life that were hers by right,
To linger by her were fain.
And she so hungered for sympathy
And appreciative praise,
That perhaps there was too much light in her eye,
And too much warmth in her ways,
And appreciative praise,
That perhaps there was too much light in her eye,
And too much warmth in her ways,
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When she heard what she to hear was fain
From one whose body and mind
Seemed by nature for the praise of men
And love of women designed.
From one whose body and mind
Seemed by nature for the praise of men
And love of women designed.
V.
At last to her husband's Hall by chance
Came a poet and wanderer,
Rich with the learning of old Romance,
And a sailer round our sphere.
Came a poet and wanderer,
Rich with the learning of old Romance,
And a sailer round our sphere.
He spoke of the balmy western isles
Stretched off the Morocco coast,
And the wondrous glacier-scooped defiles
That are aye the Switzer's boast.
Stretched off the Morocco coast,
And the wondrous glacier-scooped defiles
That are aye the Switzer's boast.
He spoke of the forests of Brazil,
And of Canadian woods
When autumn tints are on plain and hill,
And of mighty falls and floods.
And of Canadian woods
When autumn tints are on plain and hill,
And of mighty falls and floods.
He spoke of spice archipelagos
And palm-clustered coral reefs,
Round which the smiling Pacific flows,
And stupendous Austral cliffs,
And palm-clustered coral reefs,
Round which the smiling Pacific flows,
And stupendous Austral cliffs,
Of the feudal castles of Norman France.
The cities of Languedoc,
Of the Vega's green luxuriance,
And Granada's haunted rock,
The cities of Languedoc,
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And Granada's haunted rock,
Of the fallen monuments of pride
Set up by the Romans' hand,
Of the grand old town at Arno's side,
And the burgs of Vaterland,
Set up by the Romans' hand,
Of the grand old town at Arno's side,
And the burgs of Vaterland,
Of the deathless marbles of antique Greece,
And the Tajs of Hindustan,
And Egypt's monolith masterpiece,
And stone-marvels Mexican,
And the Tajs of Hindustan,
And Egypt's monolith masterpiece,
And stone-marvels Mexican,
And the gracefullest women of earth,
The daughters of proud Castile,
Queen slaves of Circassian birth,
And Greeks with the old profile.
The daughters of proud Castile,
Queen slaves of Circassian birth,
And Greeks with the old profile.
And he whispered that none were so fair
As she with the grace we so prize,
With the wave of her glittering hair,
And the gleam of her glorious eyes.
As she with the grace we so prize,
With the wave of her glittering hair,
And the gleam of her glorious eyes.
He told her legends of old Romance
In fable and history,
Of Mary Queen of Scotland and France,
And Frances of Rimini,
In fable and history,
Of Mary Queen of Scotland and France,
And Frances of Rimini,
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Of Guinevere, Grissel and Elaine,
And the Ysoldes fair and dark,
Sir Tristram's gentle wife-chatelaine,
And his love, the wife of Marc,
And the Ysoldes fair and dark,
Sir Tristram's gentle wife-chatelaine,
And his love, the wife of Marc,
Of Dido the Carthaginian,
Who for her passion died,
And of the mighty Athenian
And his Ionian bride,
Who for her passion died,
And of the mighty Athenian
And his Ionian bride,
Of Frithjof and Ingebjorg the queen,
Of Brynhild and sad Gudrun,
And Sigurd and the last battle scene
In the palace of the Hun,
Of Brynhild and sad Gudrun,
And Sigurd and the last battle scene
In the palace of the Hun,
Of Henry and fair frail Rosamond,
And fair chaste Eleanor
Who sucked the venom from Edward's wound,
Though she should die therefore.
And fair chaste Eleanor
Who sucked the venom from Edward's wound,
Though she should die therefore.
And he whispered that none were so fair
As she with the grace we so prize,
With the wave of her glittering hair,
And the gleam of her glorious eyes.
As she with the grace we so prize,
With the wave of her glittering hair,
And the gleam of her glorious eyes.
He was goodly enough for her love,
Had brain enough for her brain,
And it seemed as if Heaven above
Had meant them for one, not twain.
Had brain enough for her brain,
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Had meant them for one, not twain.
And with hearts they joined but not with hands,
Although his indeed were free,
For hers were linked in the fetter-bands
Of a marriage slavery.
Although his indeed were free,
For hers were linked in the fetter-bands
Of a marriage slavery.
Yet Envy seemed to sleep for a while,
As if to entice them on
With a subtle cruelty and guile
For a deeper fall anon.
As if to entice them on
With a subtle cruelty and guile
For a deeper fall anon.
And her lord so jealous heretofore
Seemed to doze in apathy,
While she was carried out more and more
On to the enchanted sea
Seemed to doze in apathy,
While she was carried out more and more
On to the enchanted sea
Of love for an object worthy of love,
Of love that would elevate,
If Fancy only were free to rove
In her original state.
Of love that would elevate,
If Fancy only were free to rove
In her original state.
And Envy slept until they should come
Into their fool's paradise
Of the intercourse which lights a home
With pure and rational joys.
Into their fool's paradise
Of the intercourse which lights a home
With pure and rational joys.
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And then she awoke and struck her dart
So deeply into the side
Of the jealous husband, that his heart
Was choked with the surging tide
Of passion and hatred, which did start,
And without one word he died.
So deeply into the side
Of the jealous husband, that his heart
Was choked with the surging tide
Of passion and hatred, which did start,
And without one word he died.
VI.
Alas for Desirée, wooed and won
By the husband now of her choice,
For Envy's spite still made her its own,
And held her as in a vice.
By the husband now of her choice,
For Envy's spite still made her its own,
And held her as in a vice.
For her tyrant's swift mysterious death
And her speedy union
Aroused Report's calumnious breath,
And estranged friends one by one.
And her speedy union
Aroused Report's calumnious breath,
And estranged friends one by one.
Alas for Desirée, though she had wealth
And brightness and genius,
And mellow wisdom and glowing health,
Though she had the glorious,
And brightness and genius,
And mellow wisdom and glowing health,
Though she had the glorious,
The peerless crown of beauty to wear
Her lifelong upon her brow,
And ever in her right hand to bear
The grace to which all men bow,
Her lifelong upon her brow,
And ever in her right hand to bear
The grace to which all men bow,
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Though she had the husband whom she chose,
Though her hands at length were free
From the fetter-bands so cruelly close
Of her marriage slavery,
Though her hands at length were free
From the fetter-bands so cruelly close
Of her marriage slavery,
She could not live in the land of her love,
The land of her broad estates,
But ever away from home must rove
Impelled by pitiless fates.
The land of her broad estates,
But ever away from home must rove
Impelled by pitiless fates.
And so they came to a far-off isle
On the lone Pacific's breast,
And here they live in repose awhile,
Even Envy letting them rest.
On the lone Pacific's breast,
And here they live in repose awhile,
Even Envy letting them rest.
And here this beautiful English dame
And brilliant Englishman,
With their broad estates and ancient name
Unsullied by real stain,
And brilliant Englishman,
With their broad estates and ancient name
Unsullied by real stain,
Live in soft exile, and never see
The face of their countrymen,
Save when a schooner from Sydney quay
Sails down with their stores, and then
Only some mariner rough and free
Who finds them beyond his ken—
The face of their countrymen,
Save when a schooner from Sydney quay
Sails down with their stores, and then
Only some mariner rough and free
Who finds them beyond his ken—
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This delicate dame in soft attire,
With wondrous beauty of face,
And white wise forehead and glance of fire,
And unforgettable grace,
With wondrous beauty of face,
And white wise forehead and glance of fire,
And unforgettable grace,
This lordly man of wealth without bound,
And rich in knowledge and worth,
Thus living as one might say beyond
The uttermost end of earth.
And rich in knowledge and worth,
Thus living as one might say beyond
The uttermost end of earth.
Adieu, Desirée, living thus far,
A kind of enchanted queen
To mariners when they cross the bar
Of your harbour coraline!
A kind of enchanted queen
To mariners when they cross the bar
Of your harbour coraline!
Mayhap it may prove a magic isle
Where Envy shall not prevail
To banish your pleasure with her guile
And peace with her icy gale.
Where Envy shall not prevail
To banish your pleasure with her guile
And peace with her icy gale.
Those whom the powers would have destroyed
They make of understanding void.
Phil, when at length the tale was o'er,
Proposed to have a dance once more,
And Kit, well pleased with her success
Of last night, was in readiness
To dance again, because she thought
This course with less of danger fraught,
And one who danced so perfectly
Needs must enjoy Phil's mastery
Of step and poise: and so she danced
Dance after dance, herself entranced
With his facility, and he
With her new affability.
Not only did she thus deceive
Herself, but made them all believe
That she relented. She was fair
Enough to make a man despair,
And rosy-cheeked with golden curl
Cut short, not so much like a girl
As like a lovely, glowing boy
Ere manhood hastens to destroy
The silky smoothness of his face,
Only that they have scant of grace
And she so much. In height she stood
Above the mean of womanhood,
But not unduly. She was slim,
As Australs are, of waist, and limb
At wrist and ankle, but more full
Up higher. Lithe and powerful
As health and constant exercise
Could make her, with her clear grey eyes,
Symbolic of her proud, brave soul,
A woman taken as a whole,
In her sole self embodying
All which makes man creation's king,
And woman its chief ornament.
No wonder then that all eyes bent
On her as she waltzed lightly by
With glowing cheek and sparkling eye
And ruffled curls, surrendering
Her motions to Phil's piloting
Without remonstrance, and thereby
Filling the grand deficiency
Which left her beauty incomplete,
That which makes maidenhood as sweet
As a moss-rose or violet,
Or the green grass of spring, ere yet
It feels the cruel searing stress
Of summer—maiden gentleness.
They make of understanding void.
Phil, when at length the tale was o'er,
Proposed to have a dance once more,
And Kit, well pleased with her success
Of last night, was in readiness
To dance again, because she thought
This course with less of danger fraught,
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Needs must enjoy Phil's mastery
Of step and poise: and so she danced
Dance after dance, herself entranced
With his facility, and he
With her new affability.
Not only did she thus deceive
Herself, but made them all believe
That she relented. She was fair
Enough to make a man despair,
And rosy-cheeked with golden curl
Cut short, not so much like a girl
As like a lovely, glowing boy
Ere manhood hastens to destroy
The silky smoothness of his face,
Only that they have scant of grace
And she so much. In height she stood
Above the mean of womanhood,
But not unduly. She was slim,
As Australs are, of waist, and limb
At wrist and ankle, but more full
Up higher. Lithe and powerful
As health and constant exercise
Could make her, with her clear grey eyes,
Symbolic of her proud, brave soul,
A woman taken as a whole,
In her sole self embodying
All which makes man creation's king,
And woman its chief ornament.
No wonder then that all eyes bent
On her as she waltzed lightly by
232
And ruffled curls, surrendering
Her motions to Phil's piloting
Without remonstrance, and thereby
Filling the grand deficiency
Which left her beauty incomplete,
That which makes maidenhood as sweet
As a moss-rose or violet,
Or the green grass of spring, ere yet
It feels the cruel searing stress
Of summer—maiden gentleness.
It is not easy to maintain
An attitude of cold disdain
When one is heated with a dance,
And Kit relaxed her vigilance
So far as to be cordial
To Phil's oft ineffectual
But still repeated courtesies,
So much so that he deemed his prize
Within his grasp, and suddenly
Waltzing her almost forcibly
Into the open boudoir, closed
The door behind him—and proposed.
An attitude of cold disdain
When one is heated with a dance,
And Kit relaxed her vigilance
So far as to be cordial
To Phil's oft ineffectual
But still repeated courtesies,
So much so that he deemed his prize
Within his grasp, and suddenly
Waltzing her almost forcibly
Into the open boudoir, closed
The door behind him—and proposed.
Kit was so thunderstruck that he
Had kissed her twice triumphantly
Ere she gave her indignant ‘no,’
And then fierce tears began to flow
At the humiliating state
In which she found herself—irate
First with herself for being caught
In her own trap, then with Phil Forte
For having dared to offer her
Such ignominy, angrier
When she reflected how her mien
Must have encouraged him that e'en,
Yet did not hurry to the door
Now that the worst of it was o'er,
But stayed a little while to vent
Her anger and astonishment,
And to compose her countenance
Before she went back to the dance.
Had kissed her twice triumphantly
Ere she gave her indignant ‘no,’
And then fierce tears began to flow
At the humiliating state
In which she found herself—irate
First with herself for being caught
In her own trap, then with Phil Forte
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Such ignominy, angrier
When she reflected how her mien
Must have encouraged him that e'en,
Yet did not hurry to the door
Now that the worst of it was o'er,
But stayed a little while to vent
Her anger and astonishment,
And to compose her countenance
Before she went back to the dance.
“How dare you, Phil?” she said at length,
When her mind had regained its strength,
“How dare you?” but then, seeing how
He was prostrated by the blow,
Her good heart triumphed and she said,
Lifting her gallant, graceful head
To look at him with firm, pained eyes,
“Phil, was it right or kind or wise
To take advantage of me thus?
I thought you were more generous,
Than to abuse my confidence,
Knowing, as you well do, the sense
Of loathing for the marriage-bond
I entertain. Were you as fond
Of me as you pretend you are,
You'd banish all such thoughts afar
And treat me as a brother, Phil,
In fact just like your brother Will.”
When her mind had regained its strength,
“How dare you?” but then, seeing how
He was prostrated by the blow,
Her good heart triumphed and she said,
Lifting her gallant, graceful head
To look at him with firm, pained eyes,
“Phil, was it right or kind or wise
To take advantage of me thus?
I thought you were more generous,
Than to abuse my confidence,
Knowing, as you well do, the sense
Of loathing for the marriage-bond
I entertain. Were you as fond
Of me as you pretend you are,
You'd banish all such thoughts afar
And treat me as a brother, Phil,
In fact just like your brother Will.”
“You like him better. I have seen
Him kissing you—you...” “Why,” we've been
Neighbours and friends this twenty years,
And I'd do more than box his ears
Unless I knew that it was done
Merely to tease me—just his fun.
No, Phil. I do not love him more
But like him better, as before
You persecuted, I liked you,
And as I still should like you too
If you were fond enough of me
Not to tease me so cruelly.”
“Cruelly, Kit? It's not unkind
To love with one's whole heart and mind.”
“Love? what is there in me to love?”
“To love in you, who are above
All women in all graces which
The lot of womanhood enrich.”
“There's hardly any girl you meet
Who's not more graceful and more sweet.”
“O Kit, you cannot be so dull
As not to know how beautiful,
How graceful, how superb, how far
Above the common herd you are.”
“Phil, this is flattery, don't try
Me with mere compliments to buy.”
“Kit,” he said so reproachfully,
That she went up with softened eye,
And putting her two hands in his,
Said, “Well then, Phil, give me a kiss,
And promise never to refer
To this unpleasant rencontre,
And not to speak to me again
Of marriage. Then we can remain
Friends as before. I will not be
An atom different, and we
Can easily keep out of sight
All that has happened here to-night,
Otherwise I must go away
To-morrow early in the day.”
Him kissing you—you...” “Why,” we've been
Neighbours and friends this twenty years,
234
Unless I knew that it was done
Merely to tease me—just his fun.
No, Phil. I do not love him more
But like him better, as before
You persecuted, I liked you,
And as I still should like you too
If you were fond enough of me
Not to tease me so cruelly.”
“Cruelly, Kit? It's not unkind
To love with one's whole heart and mind.”
“Love? what is there in me to love?”
“To love in you, who are above
All women in all graces which
The lot of womanhood enrich.”
“There's hardly any girl you meet
Who's not more graceful and more sweet.”
“O Kit, you cannot be so dull
As not to know how beautiful,
How graceful, how superb, how far
Above the common herd you are.”
“Phil, this is flattery, don't try
Me with mere compliments to buy.”
“Kit,” he said so reproachfully,
That she went up with softened eye,
And putting her two hands in his,
Said, “Well then, Phil, give me a kiss,
And promise never to refer
To this unpleasant rencontre,
And not to speak to me again
Of marriage. Then we can remain
235
An atom different, and we
Can easily keep out of sight
All that has happened here to-night,
Otherwise I must go away
To-morrow early in the day.”
He did not take the proffered kiss,
But shook his head. “I can't do this:
I can but love you all my life,
And pray you to become my wife
Whenever chance lets me intrude
Upon you in a generous mood.”
But shook his head. “I can't do this:
I can but love you all my life,
And pray you to become my wife
Whenever chance lets me intrude
Upon you in a generous mood.”
“Well then, good-bye, Phil! take me back,
I'll say that I feel an attack
Of headache coming over me
And bid them good-night hurriedly.
Kit went to bed, and Phil went out
I'll say that I feel an attack
Of headache coming over me
And bid them good-night hurriedly.
To walk with rapid stride about,
In hopes of working off his load
Of disappointed love, and strode
Till long past midnight. The next day
Kit packed her ‘traps’ and drove away
Back to her father's place, which lay
Some twenty miles off. Phil went up,
Meaning, for the first time, to stop
Some months upon his Queensland run.
Chesterfield took Maud Morrison
And Ida Lewis back to town,
Hall, Phil Forte's partner, just stayed down
To do some station-business,
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Left pending. Lachlan Smith ere long
Went, for assize-work, to Geelong.
Two months were left ere term began,
And one of them like lightning ran
In wandering about with Lil,
And sometimes driving out with Will
All over pleasant Waratah
And stations that were not too far.
And one of them like lightning ran
In wandering about with Lil,
And sometimes driving out with Will
All over pleasant Waratah
And stations that were not too far.
Then the Professor had to leave
To make his home fit to receive
Its pretty mistress (for the day
Was fixed, long ere he went away,
To be some three weeks' space before
The long vacation time was o'er).
And Lil, the day that he went back,
Went to their own house in Toorak
With Mrs Forte, to help to choose
The furniture she was to use,
Her father's wedding gift. He gave
Carte blanche to both of them to have
Whatever they thought requisite
To deck their house or furnish it.
Three weeks thus busy quickly passed,
Then Lil went back to spend her last
At home, while the Professor stayed,
And final preparations made
For their reception. For they meant
(And persevered in their intent)
To have their honeymoon at home
In their own house, and not to roam
In boarding-houses and hotels
As they saw everybody else,
Affording people food for jest
Or food for pity at the best.
To make his home fit to receive
Its pretty mistress (for the day
Was fixed, long ere he went away,
To be some three weeks' space before
The long vacation time was o'er).
And Lil, the day that he went back,
Went to their own house in Toorak
With Mrs Forte, to help to choose
The furniture she was to use,
Her father's wedding gift. He gave
Carte blanche to both of them to have
Whatever they thought requisite
To deck their house or furnish it.
Three weeks thus busy quickly passed,
Then Lil went back to spend her last
At home, while the Professor stayed,
And final preparations made
For their reception. For they meant
(And persevered in their intent)
To have their honeymoon at home
237
In boarding-houses and hotels
As they saw everybody else,
Affording people food for jest
Or food for pity at the best.
How much more sensible it is
In ordinary marriages
Where the bridegroom has not too much
Of time or money in his clutch,
To spend the little that he has
In adding those etceteras
Which go to make a little house
Dainty if not luxurious.
In ordinary marriages
Where the bridegroom has not too much
Of time or money in his clutch,
To spend the little that he has
In adding those etceteras
Which go to make a little house
Dainty if not luxurious.
Much honeymoonshine in home life
Is not the lot of every wife,
And so the golden month should be
Economised most carefully
In gilding every room and nook,
A flower-bed here, and there a book,
With one of the small sorceries
So magical in lovers' eyes.
Is not the lot of every wife,
And so the golden month should be
Economised most carefully
In gilding every room and nook,
A flower-bed here, and there a book,
With one of the small sorceries
So magical in lovers' eyes.
Ah, pitiful! there's many a home
To which no love-making has come,
Passion's brief transport being spent
Ere they into its portals went,
The man a business-machine,
The woman not her husband's queen
But his housekeeper—and here judge
If I speak truth or not—his drudge.
To which no love-making has come,
Passion's brief transport being spent
Ere they into its portals went,
The man a business-machine,
The woman not her husband's queen
But his housekeeper—and here judge
If I speak truth or not—his drudge.
Newly-wed lovers should not roam,
But stay to beautify their home
With blossoms of the honeymoon,
So hard to mimic when it's gone.
But stay to beautify their home
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So hard to mimic when it's gone.
The weary reader will not care
To go to the upholsterer
With Lil to see how the refined
And graceful tenour of her mind
Declared itself in ottomans,
Or took an airy flight in fans,
But be content to leave her here
In the enchanted atmosphere
Of trysting days,—a maiden fair
Without the shadow of a care
To keep back from her passion-flower
The full spring-sunshine of its hour.
To go to the upholsterer
With Lil to see how the refined
And graceful tenour of her mind
Declared itself in ottomans,
Or took an airy flight in fans,
But be content to leave her here
In the enchanted atmosphere
Of trysting days,—a maiden fair
Without the shadow of a care
To keep back from her passion-flower
The full spring-sunshine of its hour.
| A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." | |