Rhymes By William Stewart Rose |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | SONNET V.
On seeing an Austrian soldier, smoking his meerschaum
pipe,
in the isle of Murrano. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
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101
SONNET V. On seeing an Austrian soldier, smoking his meerschaum pipe, in the isle of Murrano.
It chances oft in melancholy mood,When least we think the mind could entertain
Thoughts out of keeping with its present vein,
Some wilful, wayward image will intrude.
Smoking in Meerschaum bowl of motley stain,
I saw, with massy look and posture rude,
An Austrian 'mid Murrano's solitude;
And viewed in him the ruined island's bane.
That cause of mischief drew no curse from me,
Marking the scene of solitude and dearth;
I merely smiled that man and pipe should be
So meetly matched, (poor argument for mirth)—
This, as its name imports, the scum of sea,
That, as his actions show, the scum of earth.
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