 | The music-lesson of Confucius, And Other Poems |  |
35
SWEET BASIL.
Quo mollius eo suavius.
‘The softer the sweeter.’
‘The softer the sweeter.’
THE state of Genoa was strong and proud,
So was the Duke of Milan, and the pair
Fell to disputing trifles, and to talk
Of war, as dogs ere fighting show their teeth,
And growl with savage boast before they bite.
So was the Duke of Milan, and the pair
Fell to disputing trifles, and to talk
Of war, as dogs ere fighting show their teeth,
And growl with savage boast before they bite.
But ere it came to blows the Genoese,
At least, the wiser of their senators,
Summoned the man most learned in the law
Of all their land, Francesco Marchio,
And bade him go to Milan and the Duke,
And call on him for speedy settlement
Of all the points disputed. So he went,
And was received with that great courtesy,
And very liberal hospitality,
Which all the great in station, or in soul,
Show unto those who stand too near the line
Of enmity to be considered friend,
And yet not near enough to count as foes.
At least, the wiser of their senators,
Summoned the man most learned in the law
Of all their land, Francesco Marchio,
And bade him go to Milan and the Duke,
And call on him for speedy settlement
Of all the points disputed. So he went,
And was received with that great courtesy,
And very liberal hospitality,
Which all the great in station, or in soul,
Show unto those who stand too near the line
Of enmity to be considered friend,
And yet not near enough to count as foes.
Day after day passed by, and nought was done,
Though oft Francesco Marchio pressed his claim
To be considered. All their answers were—
‘We'll see to it—a thousand pardons, Sir!—
Your Excellence is ever in our mind.
The case must be considered. Genoa
Is doubtless a great state, but every state
Has its own time and method—we have ours:
In the mean time we pray you to accept
Our warm assurances of great respect.’—
And so they played the never-ending air
With all the modulations; which to hear
And not rush forth enraged, to hang himself
Driven to madness by monotony,
Is the great task of every diplomat,
Which once achieved, leads to the height of fame.
Though oft Francesco Marchio pressed his claim
To be considered. All their answers were—
‘We'll see to it—a thousand pardons, Sir!—
36
The case must be considered. Genoa
Is doubtless a great state, but every state
Has its own time and method—we have ours:
In the mean time we pray you to accept
Our warm assurances of great respect.’—
And so they played the never-ending air
With all the modulations; which to hear
And not rush forth enraged, to hang himself
Driven to madness by monotony,
Is the great task of every diplomat,
Which once achieved, leads to the height of fame.
A wary, shrewd, old, well-filed Genoese
Was this same Marchio, so he took his time,
Or let the Duke of Milan take it, till
The want of courtesy in the long delay
Had turned against the host. Meanwhile he spread
A busy rumour that the Genoese
Had sent him there but to procrastinate
And hinder settlement, while they themselves
Were gathering men and arms to go to war.
Was this same Marchio, so he took his time,
Or let the Duke of Milan take it, till
The want of courtesy in the long delay
Had turned against the host. Meanwhile he spread
A busy rumour that the Genoese
Had sent him there but to procrastinate
And hinder settlement, while they themselves
Were gathering men and arms to go to war.
When this fine tale went buzzing through the town,
There came a speedy summons from the Duke
To Marchio, and the cunning councillor
Hastened to heed the bidding. But few words
Had passed between them ere Francesco held
Some twigs of fair sweet-Basil forth, and said,
‘I pray your Highness mark this curious herb;
Touch it but lightly, stroke it softly, Sir,
And it gives forth an odour sweet and rare;
But crush it harshly and you'll make a scent
Most disagreeable. So with Genoa,—
Handle it gently, 'tis all gentleness,
But treat it rudely, 'twill be rude in turn.’
There came a speedy summons from the Duke
To Marchio, and the cunning councillor
Hastened to heed the bidding. But few words
Had passed between them ere Francesco held
Some twigs of fair sweet-Basil forth, and said,
‘I pray your Highness mark this curious herb;
Touch it but lightly, stroke it softly, Sir,
And it gives forth an odour sweet and rare;
But crush it harshly and you'll make a scent
Most disagreeable. So with Genoa,—
Handle it gently, 'tis all gentleness,
But treat it rudely, 'twill be rude in turn.’
37
The speech, 'tis said, impressed the Ducal host,
And soon the ambassador, full-satisfied,
Returned to Genoa. The state, well-pleased,
Gave him sweet-Basil for his coat-of-arms
As a reward, and for a motto put
Quo mollius eo suavius in his shield.
And soon the ambassador, full-satisfied,
Returned to Genoa. The state, well-pleased,
Gave him sweet-Basil for his coat-of-arms
As a reward, and for a motto put
Quo mollius eo suavius in his shield.
| The music-lesson of Confucius, And Other Poems | |