 | Collected poems |  |
496
THE BALLAD OF THE BARMECIDE
To one in Eastern clime,—'tis said,—
There came a man at eve with “Lo!
Friend, ere the day be dimmed and dead,
Hast thou a mind to feast, and know
Fair cates, and sweet wine's overflow?”
To whom that other fain replied—
“Lead on. Not backward I nor slow;—
Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
There came a man at eve with “Lo!
Friend, ere the day be dimmed and dead,
Hast thou a mind to feast, and know
Fair cates, and sweet wine's overflow?”
To whom that other fain replied—
“Lead on. Not backward I nor slow;—
Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
Thereon the bidder passed and led
To where, apart from dust and glow,
They found a board with napery spread,
And gold, and glistering cups a-row.
“Eat,” quoth the host, yet naught did show
To whom his guest—“Thy board is wide;
But barren is the cheer, I trow;
Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
To where, apart from dust and glow,
They found a board with napery spread,
And gold, and glistering cups a-row.
“Eat,” quoth the host, yet naught did show
To whom his guest—“Thy board is wide;
But barren is the cheer, I trow;
Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
“Eat,” quoth the man not less, and fed
From meats unseen, and made as though
He drank of wine both white and red.
“Eat,—ere the day to darkness grow.
Short space and scant the Fates bestow!”
What time his guest him wondering eyed,
Muttering in wrath his beard below—
“Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
From meats unseen, and made as though
He drank of wine both white and red.
“Eat,—ere the day to darkness grow.
Short space and scant the Fates bestow!”
What time his guest him wondering eyed,
Muttering in wrath his beard below—
“Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
497
ENVOY.
Life,—'tis of thee they fable so.Thou bidd'st us eat, and still denied,
Still fasting, from thy board we go:—
“Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?”
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