Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
 |
|
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
|
|
|
|
“QUE SÇAIS-JE?” |
|
 | Life and Phantasy |  |
137
“QUE SÇAIS-JE?”
Old Michael of the Mountain, strolling past,Careless and quiet, now and then would cast
To right or left a penetrating look;
And gather'd waifs and strays up with a hook
Shaped like the sign of query; scrap and rag
In easy reach he clapt into his bag,
Idly assiduous, mocking his own whim
With twinkling eyes, and took all home with him,
Where lazily he sorted them at last.
What skill or magic in his fingers lay,
What subtly added he, 'twere hard to say;
But somehow, this took substance as a Book
That shines where all around hath fallen dim.
| Life and Phantasy | |