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1-1-1888

A book of verses
William Ernest Henley

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Henley, William Ernest, "A book of verses" (1888). The McMaster Collection. Paper 92. http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/mcmastercollection/92

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BOOK

OF

VERSES

W. E

HENLE Y.

EX LIBRIS

BARRY BROWN
MCMASTER

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

HAMILTON

ONTARIO

A BOOK OF VERSES

A Book

of

Verses

By WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

LONDON:

Published
in

by

DAVID

Nl'TT

the

STRAND
iSSS

TO MT WIFE.

Take, dear, my little sheaf of songs. For, old'Or new,

All
that

is

good

in

them

belongs

Only

to you ;

And, singing

as ivhen all ivas

young,

They

will recall

Those others, lived but left unsung

The best of all.

W. E. H.

April,

1888.

CONTENTS.

IN HOSPITAL: RHYMES AND RHYTHMS.

1.

Enter Patient

ii.
in. iv.
v.

Waking
Interior

Before
Operation After Vigil
,
.

vi.

vu.
vm.

Staff-Nurse: Old Style

14

ix.

Lady-Probationer
Staff-Nurse Clinical
:

x.
xi.

New Style

16

xn.

Etching

xni. xiv. xv.

xvi.

Casualty
Ave,
Caesar !

24
26

'The Chief
House-Surgeon

CONTENTS

In Hospital : Rhymes
xvn. xvm. xix. xx.
xxi.

and

Rhythms

continued.
l'AGE

Interlude Children Scrubber

Visitor
.

.....

28
.30

Private Ward

31

31

Romance
Pastoral Music
Suicide Apparition Anterotics
. . .
.

33
.

xxn. xxiii.
xxiv.

35 37 39
41
42

xxv. xxvi.
xxvil.

Nocturn Discharged
.
.

43

xxviii.

45 47

Envoy

LIFE AND DEATH (ECHOES).

1.

Chiming
O

dream
.

by

the

way

.51

11.

Life is bitter

r\

in. iv.
v.

gather me the rose

of

....

54
56 58

Out
I

the night that covers me

am

the

Reaper

...

vi.

Praise the
Fill

generous gods

...

60 61 62

vn.
vin.

a glass with golden wine

In

the time of snows

CONTENTS

Life

and

Death (Echoes).
ix.
a.

continued,
PAGE

We'll

go no more

a-roving

64

The

sea

is full

of

wandering foam
,
.

65
66

xi. xn. xiii.

xiv.

Thick is the darkness

To

me

Bring
The

in my fifth-floor chamber her again, O western wind

faint
and slow

67
.

68

wan sun westers

69
71 72

xv. xvi.
xvn. xvm.

There is

a wheel inside west

my head
.

While the The

The

is paling

sands are alive with sunshine nightingale

73 74
.

has

lyre

of gold

xix. xx.
xxi.

Your heart has trembled to my tongue The

surges gushed and sounded
.

75
76

We flash

across the
a

level

77 79
.

xxn.
xxm.

The West

glimmering lake

of

light
.

The

skies are strown with stars sea rolls and thunders

81 82

xxiv. xxv. xxvi.

The full In the She

year

that's come

and gone

sauntered

by

the

swinging

seas

83 85
86

xxvu.
xxvin. xxix. xxx.

Blithe dreams
A Child

arise to greet us

89
.

Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams
The pretty
washermaiden a
.

91
92

xxxi.
xxxn. xxxm.

O Falmouth is
The

fine

town
.

93 95
97

ways are green

Life in her creaking

shoes

CONTENTS

Life

and

Death

{Echoes)
ever the

continued. PAGE

xxxiv.
xxxv. xxxvi. xxxvu.

A late lark twitters from the Or

quiet skies

99
IOI

knightly
goodly

years were gone

On

the

way to Kew
once

103 105
106

The

past was

xxxvm.
xxxix.
xl. xli.

The spring, my dear The Spirit

A
wink of

Wine

107
no
III

from Hesper brake

the

From

the

Nightingale

xlii.

Crosses

and troubles

113

BRIC-A-BRAC. Ballades.
Of
a

Toyokuni Colour-Print
and

117 119

Of Youth

Age

Of the Frowardness

of

Women

121

OfRain

....

I23
126 128

Of Antique Dances

Of

Spring

Music
and

Of Midsummer Days
Of Dead Actors

Nights

130
132

Made in

the Hot

Weather

Of Ladies' Names

r34

Of Life

and

Fate

139

CONTENTS
Rondels.
i.
11. in.

page

In the

street of

By-and-By
. .

142
149

Felicity: Enquire Within We'll Beside The We

to the woods and gather the

may
.

144
145
146

iv. v. vi.

idle

summer sea are

ways of

death

soothing

and serene

shall

surely die

147

Sonnets
At

and

Quatorzains.
.
.

Queensferry
.

148

Orientate Forenoon

149
150

In Fisherrow

Rain Back-View
Croquls

..

152

*53
,154
.

Jenny
From

Wren

l5S
irg

Attadale, West
a

Highlands

Window in Princes Street

.

I57
158

In the Dials

Rondeaus.
1.

My

love to

me

159
160 161
162

11. in.
iv.

With

strawberries

The leaves
Let
us

are sere
.

be drunk

v.
vi. \n.

If I

were

king
come

163
.

When

you are old

164
166

What is to

IN

HOSPITAL
RHYMES
AND

RHYTHMS

On

ne saurait

dire

a quel point un

/iomme}

seul

dans

son

lit

et

malade, dev'ient personnel.

Balzac.

ENTER

PATIENT.
haunt

'

I 'HE

morning

mists still

the

stony

street ;

The
And

northern summer air

is

shrill and cold :

lo,

the

Hospital,

gray, quiet, old,

Where life
Thro'

and

death like

the

loud

spaciousness and

friendly charterers meet. draughty gloom

young !

A small,
Her little
Precedes

strange child
arm me

so aged yet so
and

besplinted

beslung,
room.

gravely
my

to the

waiting

limp behind,
on

confidence all gone.

The
And A

gray-haired soldier-porter waves me

on,

I crawl,

and still

my

spirits

fail

tragic meanness seems so to environ

corridors and stairs of stone and

These

iron,
half-jail.

Cold,

naked, clean

half-workhouse

and

IN HOSPITAL

n.

WAITING.

A scluare, Drab
Scissors

squat room

(a

cellar on

promotion),

to the soul,

drab

to the

very daylight ;
tinware ;

Plasters astray in unnatural-looking

and

lint

and apothecary's

jars.

Here,

on a

bench

a skeleton would writhe

wait

from,

Angry
Wait While

and

sore, I

to

be

admitted :

till

my heart is lead
two

upon

my stomach,
their chores.

at their ease

dressers do

One has A A

a probe

it feels to

me a crowbar.

small

boy

sniffs and shudders after explains

bluestone.

poor old

tramp
a

his

poor old ulcers.

Life is (I think)

blunder

and a shame.

RHYMES AND RHYTHMS

INTERIOR.

HE

gaunt

brown

walls meanness.

Look infinite in their decent

of

There is nothing

home in

the

noisy kettk

The fulsome fire.

The
Suggests
the

atmosphere of a

haunt

ghostly druggist.

Dressings

and

lint

on the

long, lean
for ?

table

Whom

are

the}'

The Or lie
A
as

patients yawn,
shroud
.md

in training for in the

coffin.

nurse

corridor scolds and wrangles.

grim and strange.

It's

IN HOSPITAL

Far footfalls

clank. unbandaged.

The bad burn

waits with

his head

My

neighbour chokes

in the

clutch of chloral

a gruesome world

RHYMES AND RHYTHMS

BEFORE.

D EHOLD

me

waiting

waiting for the knife.

A little while,

and at a of

leap

storm

The thick,

sweet

mystery
the

chloroform,

The drunken

dark,

little death-in-lifc.
I have
no

The

gods are good to me :

wife,

No innocent child,

to think of as

near

The fateful Unmans

Yet
am

minute

; nothing

ail-too

dear

me

for my bout

of passive strife.

I tremulous
to

and a trifle

sick,
shrink a

And,

face

face

with

chance, I
will

little

My
But,

hopes

arc

strong, my

is something
you.

weak.

Here

comes the

basket ?

Thank

I
:

am ready.

gentlemen

my porters, life is brittle

and

You carry C:tsar

his fortunes

steady!

IN HOSPITAL

OPERATION. in

OU

are carried

basket,
the

Like
the

a carcase a

from

shambles,

To

theatre,

cockpit,

Where they

stretch you on a table.

Then they bid

And they And Hot

you close your

eyelids, napkin,

mask you with a

the anaesthetic reaches

and subtle through your

being.

And
In

you

gasp,

and

reel,

and shudder

rushing, swaying rapture,

the voices at your elbow

While

Fade

receding

fainter

farther.

RHYMES

AND RHYTHMS

Lights

about you shower and

your

tumble,

And

blood

seems

crystallising

Edged Racked

and
and

vibrant,

yet within you

hurried back

and

forward.

Then

the

lights hear

grow

fast

and

furious, dizzy,

And And
In

you you

a noise of

waters,

wrestle, blind
of

and

an

agony

effort,

Till

a sudden

lull

accepts

you,

And And On
a

you sound an utter

darkness

awaken

with a struggle

hushed,

attentive audience.

IN HOSPITAL

VI.

AFTER.

T IKEAS

flamelet blanketed in smoke,

the anaesthetic shows

So through So flashes
and so

my life ;

fades my thought,
I heave
sweet.

at strife and choke

With the strong

stupor that so

And

sicken

at, it is
strange sudden

foully

Faces look Far voices, And hush

All

from

space

and

disappear.

loud,

offend

my

ear

as sudden.

Then my for
this

senses

fleet

were a

blank,
my

save

dull,
and

new pain

That
Time

grinds

leg

and

foot ;

brokenly
;

and the place glimpse on to me again

And,
I

unsurprised,

out of

uncertainty,

wake

relapsing

somewhat

faint

and

fain,

To

an

immense,

complacent

dreamery.

RHYMES

AND RHYTHMS

VII.

VIGIL.

T IVED
In Life is

on one's

back,
of repose

the

long

hours

a practical nightmare or awake.

Hideous, asleep

Shoulders

and
-

loins

Ache

!
mattress,
and

Ache,

and the

Run into boulders

hummocks,
daft

Glows like

kiln,

while the bedclothes

Tumbling, importunate,
Ramble
and

roll,

and the

gas,

Screwed to its
An inevitable

lowermost, light,

atom of

IN HOSPITAL

Haunts,
Snores

and a stertorous sleeper

me to

hate

and

despair.

All the

old time

Surges

malignant
old

before

me

Old voices,

kisses,
days

old songs

Blossom derisive
While Pass A
the new

about me

me

in

endless procession :

pageant of shadows

Silently, leeringly
On
. . .

wending
. . .

and stiil on

still on.

Far in

the stillness a cat

Languishes loudly.

cinder

Falls,
Lurch

and the shadows

to the

leap

of

the

flame.

The

next man to me

Turns
The

with a moan

and

the snorer,

drug

like

a rope at

his throat,

Gasps,

gurgles,
and

snorts

himself

free,

as the

night-nurse,

Noiseless

strange,

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

13

Her bull's-eye half-lanterned in apron,

(Whispering
Passes,
Round
. .

me, 'Are

sleepin'

ye no

yet?

')

list-slippered
and

and

peering,

is

gone.

Sleep Sleep

conies at

last

full

of

dreams
brutal

and misgivings

Broken
Voices

with

and sordid

and sounds on

That impose The

me, ere I

can wake to

it,

unnatural,

intolerable day.

IN HOSPITAL

VIII.

STAFF-NURSE: OLD STYLE. "'HE

T
And

greater masters of

the

commonplace,

Rembrandt
paint

and good

Sir Walter
experienced

only

these

Could

her

all

to

you :

ease,
;

antique

liveliness,

and ponderous grace

The

sweet old roses of

her

sunken

face

The depth

and malice of

her sly gray

eyes

The broad Scots tongue

that

flatters,
you

scolds, defies ;
a mace.

The

thick

Scots

wit

that

fells

like

These thirty
Some
Much is

years

has

she

of them under

Syme,

been nursing here, her hero still.

is
made of

she

worth,

and even more

her.

Patients

and students

hold her very dear.

tease
'

The doctors love

her,

her,

use

her

skill.
of

They

say

'

The Chief

himself is half-afraid

her.

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

LADY-PROBATIONER.

O OMI; three,
A Roman
Dark Are
eyes and

or

five,
;

or seven and

thirty

years

nose

dimpling

double-chin ;
of

shy that, ignorant

would

sin,
;

yet

acquainted, it
shape

seem,

with tears

A comely

slim, high-coloured
with a signet

hand,

Graced,
A

rather

oddly,

ring ;

A bashful air,

becoming
gown,

everything ;
at command. and

well-bred silence always

Her

plain print

prim

cap,
and

bright

steel chain

Look

out of place on

her,
soft
'

remain

Absorbed in

her,

as

in

a pleasant mystery.

Quick,
'

skilful, quiet,

in
'

speech and touch

Do

you

like
I

much.'

nursing?

Yes, Sir, very

has
a

Somehow,

rather think she

history.

16

IN HOSPITAL

STAFF-NURSE: NEW STYLE.

D LUE-eyed
Into
I
view

and

bright

of

face,

but waning fast

the sere of
as she

virginal

decay,

her

enters,

day by day,

As

a sweet sunset almost overpast.

Kindly and calm, patrician to the last, Superbly falls her gown of sober gray,
And The She
on

her

chignon's elegant

array

plainest

cap is

somehow touched with caste.

talks

Beethoven ; frowns disapprobation

sighs

At Balzac's name,
Knows
that she

it

at

'

poor

George

Sand's'

has exceeding pretty hands ;

;

Speaks Latin And

with a right accentuation

gives at need

(as

one who

understands)

Draught,

counsel,

diagnosis,

exhortation.

RHYMES AND

RHYTHMS

CLINICAL.
IT 1ST?

Through
Louder

the corridor's echoes

and nearer a great

Conies

shuffling

of

feet.

Quick, every
Straighten

one of you,

your

quilts,

and

be decent !

Here's

the

Professor.

In he

comes

first
we

With From

the the

bright look

know,
the

broad,
yet

white

brows

kind
at

eyes

Soothing
Towel
Fretful

nerving

you.

Here,

his

elbow.

White-capped,

white-aproned, the

Nurse,

on arm and with quills.

her inkstand

18

IN HOSPITAL

Here,

in

the ruck, anyhow,

Surging

along, exquisites, students,

and prigs

Louts, duffers,
Whiskers Hustle Round
and

foreheads, bed,

scarf-pins and spectacles !-

the the

Class !
first

And they ring

where the

themselves

Chief

(His dressers

and clerks at attention already.

!)

Bends in inspection

So

shows the

ring
round a conjuror

Seen,

from his

behind,

Doing

pitch

in the

street.

High shoulders, low shoulders, broad shoulders,

narrow

ones,
and

Round,

square,

angular, serry
voice,

and shove

While from

within a

Gravely
Sounds ;
(Look

and

weightily

fluent,
;
and

and then ceases

suddenly

at the stress of

the shoulders

!)

Out

of a quiver of

silence,

Over

the
a

hiss

of the

spray,

Comes

low cry,

and the sound

RHYMES AND RHYTHMS

19

Of breath

quick

intaken

through teeth the

Clenched in

resolve.

And

Master

Breaks from the crowd,

and goes.

Wiping
To

his

hands,
bed,
with

the next
and

his

pupils

Flocking

whispering behind him.

Now

one can sec.

Case Number One

Sits (rather pale)

Stripped up,
and

with

his bed-clothes

showing his foot

(Alas for God's image

!)
lint

Swaddled in wet,

white

Brilliantly

hideous

with red.

IN HOSPITAL

ETCHING.

'TWO

and

thirty is

the ploughman.

He's

a man of gallant

inches,

And his hair is

close and

curlv,

And his beard ;

But his face is And his
wan and

sunken,

eyes are

large

and

brilliant,
sharp,

And his

shoulder-blades are

And his knees.

He is Full

weak of

wits, religious, yearning,

of sentiment and

Gentle,

faded
And

with a cough

a snore.

When his

wife

(who

was a

widow,

And is many

years

his elder) is always,

Fails to write,

and that

He desponds.

RHYMES

AND RHYTHMS

Let his melancholy wander, And he'll tell

you

pretty have

stories
wooed

Of

the women that

him

Long
Or he'll sing

ago of

bonnie lasses

Keeping
With
a

sheep among the heather,

crackling,

hackling

click-

In his

voice.

IN

HOSPITAL

CASUALTY. S

with varnish red and

glistening
were rigid

Dripped his hair ; his feet

settled

Raised, he
You

stiffly
hurts

sideways :
were spinal.

could see the

He had fallen from

an

engine,
the metals.

And been dragged along It

was

hopeless,
covered

and

they knew it
and

So they

him,

left him.

As he

lay, by fits half sentient, Inarticulately moaning,

stockinged

With his

feet

protruded

Sharp

and awkward

from

the

blankets,

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS
woman,

To his bed
Stood

there came a

and

looked

and sighed a

little,

And departed As himself

a

without

speaking,
after.

few hours

was

told

it

was

his

sweetheart.

They
She

were on

the eve of marriage.

was

quiet as a

statue,
and writhen.

But her

lip

was

gray

24

IN HOSPITAL

AVE, CAESAR!
pROM
the winter's

gray despair,

From

the summer's golden

languor,

Death,
Frees

the

lover

of

Life,

us

for

ever.

Inevitable,
Shadow Signs

silent, unseen,

Everywhere always,

by

night and as

light in
chosen

the

day,

she at

last

to

her

And,

as she waves them

and

forth,
voices,

Sorrow

Joy
looks
and their

Lay by
One in

their

Set down

their

hopes,

and are made

the

dim Forever.

Into the

winter's

gray

delight,

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

25

Into the

summer's golden

dream,

Holy

and

high

and

impartial,
of

Death,

the mother
all men

Life,

Mingles

for

ever.

26

IN HOSPITAL

XV.

THE CHIEF.

U IS brow
Is

spreads
and

large

and with

placid,

and

his

eye

deep
of

bright,

Soft lines

tranquil thought

steady looks his face fulfill

that still.

His face

at once

benign

and proud and shy.

If envy scout, if ignorance

deny,

His faultless patience, his unyielding will, Beautiful gentleness, and splendid skill,

Innumerable
His wise, And

gratitudes reply.

rare smile

is

sweet with

certainties,

seems

in

all

his

patients to compel

Such love

and

faith

as

failure

cannot quell.

We hold him for

another

Herakles, disease,
and
with

Battling
As

with

custom, prejudice,

once the son of

Zeus

Death

Hell.

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

27

XVI.

HOUSE-SURGEON.

EXCEEDING tall, but built

Half-disappears in flow
Moustache

so well

his height

of chest and

limb ;

and whisker trooper-like

in

trim ;

Frank-faced, frank-eyed, frank-hearted

And
always punctual as a

always

bright

morning, noon,

and night ;

Bland

Jesuit,

sober as a

hymn ;
;

Humourous,
Gentle
and

and yet without a touch of whim

yet

amiable,

full

of

fight ; in strain,
common mood

His piety,
Has

though

fresh

and true

not yet whitewashed

up his

To

the

dead blank

of

his

particular most

Schism

Sweet,
Wild And

unaggressive,

tolerant,

humane,

artists

like his
his

kindly

elderhood.

cultivate

mild

Philistinism.

28

IN HOSPITAL

INTERLUDE.

THE

fun,

the

fun

and

frolic

That The Wind that Shakes the Barley

through a

Scatters Tickled

with artistic

penny whistle fingers !

Kate

the scrubber

(forty
a

summers,
a

Stout but sportive) treads

measure,

Grinning,
Fixed
as

in herself
upon

ballet,
audience.

fate

her

Stumps

are

shaking, crutch-supported ;
rhythm

Splinted fingers tap the And

a

head

all

helmed

with plasters

Wags

a measured approbation.

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

Of

their mattress-life oblivious, the

All

patients, brisk
the

and

cheerful,

Are encouraging

dancer,
musician.

And applauding the

Dim

the gases
so

in the
ardent

output

Of

many

smokers,

Full

of shadow

lurch the corners,

peeps and passes.

And

the

doctor

There are, maybe, Of

'

some suspicions

an alcoholic presence a

Talc'

sup

of

this, my but

wunmian

'

New Year

conies

once a twelvemonth.

IN HOSPITAL

xvm.

CHILDREN: PRIVATE WARD.

T_T ERE in this I

am a apt

dim, dull,
to a

double-bedded room,
of

father

brace

boys,
and

Ailing, Bedfast, but Roden,

the

but

for every

sort of

noise,

brilliant

yet with
'

health

bloom.

Irishman, is

past,'

sieven and

Blue-eyed,
A
cheerful

snubnosed, chubby,
and seems to collier

fair

of

face.

Willie's but six,

like
last.

the

place,

little
and

to the

They
All

eat,

laugh,
:

and

sing,

and

fight,
See

all

day ;
play

night

they sleep like dormice.

them

At Operations

Roden,

the

Professor,
and ties

Saws, lectures,

takes the

artery up,
with

Willie,

self-chloroformed,
the

half-shut eyes,
Case
and

Holding

limb

and

moaning

Dresser.

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

SCRUBBER.

QlIE's

tall and gaunt, and

in her hard,
fun's

sad

face,

With flashes

of the old

animation.

There lowers
Bred She
Saw

the

fixed

and peevish resignation

of a past where troubles came apace.

tells me that

her

husband,
little lass
whom

ere

he died,

seven of their children pass

never

away,

And

knew

the

at

play

Out

on the

green,

in

he's deified.
and

Her kin

dispersed, her friends forgot

her

gone,

All

simple

faith her honest Irish mind,

spoiled

Scolding

young saint,

she

labours
part,

on :

Telling

her her

dreams,

taking her

patients'

Trailing

coat sometimes :
quainter

and you shall

nor

find

No rougher,

speech,

kinder heart.

32

IN

HOSPITAL

VISITOR.

T_J ER little face is like

Her

a walnut shell

With wrinkling lines ; her soft,

either

white

hair

adorns

brow in quaint,
her

straight

curls, like horns ;

And

all about

clings an

old,

sweet smell.

Prim is her

gown and quakerlike

her

shawl. on

Well
Can

might

her bonnets have been born

her.

you conceive a

Fairy

Godmother ?
she

The
In

subject of a real religious call

snow or

shine, from bed

to

bed

runs,

Her

mittened

hands,

that ever give or

a

pray,

Bearing
A

a sheaf of

tracts,

bag

of

buns,

All twinkling

smiles and texts and pious tales :

wee old maid that sweeps the

Bridegroom's way, fails.

Strong

in

a cheerful trust that never

R H Y M ES

AND

RHYTHMS

33

ROMANCE.

T
'

ALK

of pluck

'

pursued the

Sailor,

Set I

at euchre on

his elbow,

was on the wharf at

ashore

Charleston,

Just

from

off the runner.

It

was

gray

and
a

dirty

weather,
go rolling,

And I heard

drum

Rub-a-dubbing
Awful dour-like

in the
and

distance,

defiant.

'

In

and out

among

the cotton,

Mud,
Poor

and chains, and

stores,

and anchors, scarecrows

Tramped
old

a squad of

battered

Dixie's bottom dollar !

c

34
'

IN HOSPITAL

Some had shoes, but

all

had rifles,
was

Them
And

that wasn't

bald,

beardless,
sir

the

drum

was

rolling

Dixie,
!

And they

stepped to

it like men,

'

Rags

and

tatters, belts
the

and

bayonets,

On they swung, Mum

and sour.
meant

drum a-rolling,

It looked like
it too,

fighting,
!
'

And they

by

thunder

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

35

PASTORAL.

""TIS

the

Spring.
and

Earth has conceived,

her

bosom,

Teeming

with

summer, is

glad.

Thro'

the

green

land,
adventure,
and

Vistas

of change and roads go

The gray
Peopled

beckoning

winding,

with

wains,

and melodious

With harness-bells jangling,

Jangling
To
Whistled

and

twangling
march of

rough rhythms
great

the slow

the stately,

horses

and shouted along.

White fleets Argosies Sail

the

of

cloud,
with

heavy

fruitfulness,
Green flame
the

blue

peacefully.

hedgerows.

36

IN HOSPITAL

Blackbirds

are

bugling,

and white

in

wet winds

Sway
Pass

the tall poplars.

of colour and

Pageants

fragrance,
May,

the sweet meadows, and viewless the mild spirit of

Walks

Visibly blessing
O O

the world.

the

brilliance

of

blossoming
stirred

orchards

the savour and thrill of the woods, their

When

leafage is

By

the

flight

of the angel of rain

Loud lows

the steer ;

in the fallows

Rooks Gurgle
Under

are alert

and the

brooks
Thro'

and tinkle and trill.

the gloaming,

the rare,

shy

stars,

Boy and girl Dreaming in

wander

darkness

and

dew.

It's A

the

Spring.
feeble
and squalid

sprightliness

Wakes in

the ward, and

winter at

I sicken,

Impotent,

heart.

RHYM E S

A ND

R H Y THMh

37

MUSIC.

TAOWN

the quiet

eve,
with

Thro'

my window,
Pipes to
me a

the sunset,

distant

organ

Foolish ditties ;

And,

as when you change

a magic

Pictures in

lantern,
and

Books, beds, bottles, floor,

Fade
and

ceiling

vanish,

And I '111

well once

more.

August flares

adust and of

torrid,

But my heart is full

April

Sap

and sweetness.

38

IN

HOSPITAL

In the I
am

quiet eve

loitering, longing, dreaming

and a

Dreaming,
Pipes
me

distant

organ

ditties.

I I

can see

the shop,
the sprinkled pavement,
her

can smell

Where

she serves senses.

chestnut chignon

Thrills my

the sight and scent,

eve and perfumed pavement
pipes an organ

Wistful

In the distance

The

sensation

Comes

to me anew,
a moment

And my spirit, for

Thro'

the music

breathes

the

blessed

Air

of

London.

RH YMES

A ND

RH Y TH MS

39

SUICIDE.

C TARING
See
the

corpselike at

the ceiling,

harsh,

unrazored

features,

Ghastly
And the

brown
throat

against

his pillow,

so

strangely bandaged !

Lack

of work and

lack

of

victuals, whisky,

A debauch
And his
Made

of smuggled

children
world

in
so

the workhouse,

the

black

a riddle

That he

plunged although

for

a solution ;
was

And,
He

his knife

edgeless,

was

sinking fast

towards

one,
and saved

When they came,

and

found,

him.

40

IN HOSPITAL

Stupid In

now with shame and

sorrow,

the night

I hear him he

sobbing.

But

sometimes

talks a

little.

He has told

me all

his

troubles.

In his

face,

so

tanned and

bloodless,
;

White

and wide

his

eyeballs glitter

And his smile,

occult and

tragic,
it.

Makes

you shudder when you see

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

APPARITION.

'

I 'HIN-lcgged, thin-chested,

slight

unspeakably,

Neat-footed

and weak-fingered :

in his face

Lean, large-boned,
race,

curved

of

beak,

and

touched with

Bold-lipped,
The brown

rich-tinted,

mutable as the

sea,

eyes radiant with

vivacity

There
A

shines a

brilliant
and

and romantic
with

grace,

spirit

intense

rare,

trace on trace

Of passion,

impudence,

and energy. ragged

Valiant in velvet, light in

luck,

Most vain, Buffoon A deal

most

generous,

sternly critical,

and

poet, lover

and sensualist :

of

Ariel,

just

a streak of

Puck,
all,

Much Antony, And something

of

Hamlet

most of

of the

Shorter-Catechist.

42

IN

HOSPITAL

ANTEROTICS.

T AUGHS
Thro'

the

happy

April

morn

my grimy, little window,

And

a shaft of sunshine pushes

Thro'

the shadows

in the

square.

Dogs

thro'

are

romping
are

the grass,
round the

Crows

cawing
the

chimneys,

And among Goes

bleaching

linen

the west at

hide-and-seek.

Loud

and cheerful clangs

the to

bell.

Here

the nurses

troop

breakfast.

Handsome,
O
the

ugly,

all are women

Spring

the Spring the

Spring

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

43

NOCTURN.

A
I

the

barren heart

of

midnight,

When
the

the shadow shuts and opens

pulse and

As

loud flames
a cistern

flutter,

can

hear

leaking.

Dripping, dropping, in

rhythm,

Rough,
Like
In

unequal,

half-melodious,
from
;
nature

the measures aped

the

infancy

of music

Like the

buz7ing

of an

insect.

Still, irrational,
I
must

persistent,

listen, listen, listen

In

.1

passion of attention ;

44

IN HOSPITAL

Till it

taps upon

my heartstrings,
goes

And my very life

dripping,

Dropping, dripping, drip-drip-dropping,

In the

drip-drop

of the cistern.

RHYMES

AND

RHY THMS

45

DISCHARGED.

/^ARRY

me out

Into Into
the

the

wind

and the sunshine.

beautiful

world.

the wonder, the spell of the streets

stature and strength of rustle and echo of

The The

the

horses.

footfalls,
!

The flat
A

roar and rattle of wheels

swift tram
a

floats huge

on us

It's

dream ?

The

smell of the mud

in my

nostrils

Is brave

like

breath

of the sea

As

of

old,
undulant

Ambulant,

drapery,

46

77V HOSPITAL

Vaguely
Flutters
Scarlet !

and and

strangely provocative,
beckons.

yonder

the glint of a

stocking !

Sudden

spire,
the mist
of

Wedged in
The

the

houses,
houses !

long

lines

lofty, gray

Cross-hatched These

with shadow and

light,

are the streets. an avenue

will

Each is

leading

Whither I

Free

Dizzy, hysterical, faint,

I sit,
and the carriage rolls on with me

Into

the wonderful world.

The Old

Infirmary, Edinburgh,

1873-75.

RHYMES

AND

RHYTHMS

47

ENVOY:

To Charles Baxter.

T^\0

you

remember
afternoon

That

that

Sunday

afternoon

When,
And

as

the

kirks

were

ringing in

the

gray city

teemed
and

With Sabbath feelings Lewis

aspects,

our

Lewis then,
world's!

Now

the whole
yet

and

you,
an

Young,
Laden

in

shape most

like

elder, came,

with

Balzacs

(Big,

yellow of

books,

quite

impudently French)
where

The first

many times,
back-kitchen

To

that transformed
so

lay

So long,

many

centuries
ago?

Or years, is it !

Dear

Charles,

since then

IN

HOSPITAL

We have been

friends, Lewis
'

and you and and you and

I,
I !

(How

good

it sounds,

Lewis

')

Such

friends,
us

I like to

think
and me and

That in

three, Lewis

you,

Is something

of that gallant

dream

Which

old

Dumas

the generous, the times to

humane,

The seven-and-seventy Dreamed for a blessing

be forgiven !

to the race,

The immortal Musketeers.

Our Athos The liberal Rests in

rests and

the wise, the

kind,

august, his fault atoned,

the crowded yard

There

at the west of

Princes Street.
still

We

three-

You, I,
Are
In
still

and

Lewis !

afoot,

together,

chime so

(God bless

lives, long, may keep the thought !)

and our

Unjangled

till the end.

W. E. H.

Chiswick, March,

1888.

LIFE AND DEATH

(ECHOES)

Aqui

estd encerrada el alma

del licenciado Pedro Garcias. Gil Blas

au lectevr.

TO MY MOTHER.

/^HIMING

dream

by

the

way
roar,

With
I

ocean's rapture and

met a maiden

to-day,
the shore
:

Walking Walking in
Modest

alone on

maiden

wise,
and

and

kind
of

fair,
eyes

The freshness
And
the

spring in her
of

fulness

spring in her hair.

Cloud-shadow Were
And

and

scudding floor

sun-burst

swift on the

of the

sea,

a mad wind was

what was

romping its worst,

?

But

their magic to me

52

LIFE

AND

DEATH

What

the charm of the midsummer skies

saw she was
of

I only A dream

there,
eyes

the sea

in her

And

the

kiss

of the sea

in her hair.

watched

her

vanish

in

space

;
;

She

came where

walked no more

But something had

passed of

her

grace

To

the spell of the wave and the shore :

as the glad stars

And now,

rise,
rare,
eyes

She

comes to me

rosy

and

The delight
And
the

of the wind
of

in her

hand

the wind

in her hair.

1872.

(ECHOES)

53

IFE is bitter.

All the faces

old,
are

of the
with

years,
travail
and with

Young
Must
1
n we

and

gray

tears.

only

wake

to

toil, to tire,

to

weep ?

the sun,

among

the

leaves,
death

upon the

flowers,
hours

Slumber

stills to

dreamy

the

heavy

Let

me sleep.

Riches Fame's

won

but

mock

the old

unable years

; ;

a pearl that must

hides beneath
must

a sea of tears
alone

Love
In

wither, or
the

live

and weep.

the sun,
we

between

leaves,

across the

flowers,
the

While

slumber, death

approaches

through

hours

Let

me sleep.

1872.

54

LIFE

AND

DEA TH

f~\
^"^

GATHER While
summer

me the

rose, the rose,

we

yet

in flower

find

it,

For

smiles, but

summer

goes,

And

winter waits

behind it.

For

with

the

dream

foregone, foregone,
will canker

The deed forborne for ever,

The worm, regret,

And
time
will

on,

turn

him

never.

So

well

it

were to

love, my love,

any laughter The fate beneath us and above,

cheat of

And

The dark before

and after.

(ECHOES) The
myrtle and the

55

rose, the rose,

swallow,
wish

The

sunshine and the

The dream The

that comes, the that

that goes,

memories

follow !

1874.

56

LIFE

AND

DEATH

f~\WT

of the night that covers as the pit

me,
to pole.

Black I

from

pole

thank whatever gods

may be

For my

unconquerable soul.

In the fell I have

clutch of circumstance

not winced nor cried aloud.

Under

the

bludgeonings

of chance

My

head is

bloody,

but

unbowed.

Beyond

this place of
the

wrath and of the

tears

Looms but
And
yet

Horror

shade,

the menace of the years

and shall

Finds,

find me,

unafraid.

(ECHOES)
It
matters not

57
gate,
the scroll,

how

strait the

How
I

charged with punishments

am the master of

my fate
my

am the captain of

soul.

1875.

58

LIFE

AND

DEA 7 H

T AM

the

Reaper.

All

things with
gather.

heedful hook

Silent I Pale Tall

roses touched with corn

spring,

in summer,
autumn,

Fruits

rich with still

and

frail

winter

blossoms-

Reaping,
All

reaping

things with

heedful hook

Timely

gather.

am

the

Sower. life
seed-sheet.

All the

unbodied

Runs through my Atom

with atom

wed,

Each quickening the other, Fall through my

hands,

ever

changing,

still changeless.

(ECHOES

59

Ceaselessly

sowing,

Life, incorruptible life,

Flows from my
seed-sheet.

Maker I

and

breaker, flood,

am the ebb and the

and

Here

Hereafter.
the tangle and coil

Sped through

Of infinite nature, Viewless Taker

I
and soundless

I fashion

all

being.

and

giver,

am the womb and the and the

grave,

The Now

Ever.

1875.

60

LIFE

AND

DEATH

ORAISE
In

the generous gods

for giving,
strife,

a world of wrath and

With

little
all

time

for
of

living,
life.

Unto

the

joy

At

whatever source we

drink

it,

Art
In

or

love

or

faith

or

wine,

whatever terms we think

it,

It is

common and

divine.

Praise

the

high gods, for in giving

alone,

This

to man, and this

made

They

have

his

chance of

living
1875.

Shine

the equal of their own.

(ECHOES)

61

CILL

a glass with golden

wine,
are wet.

And

the

while your

lips

Set

their perfume unto

mine,

And

forget,
take and give
of

Every

kiss
us

we

Leaves

less

life to live.

Fill

again

Your

whim

and mine
met.

In All

happy

while

have

your

sweets to me

resign,

Nor regret,

That

we press with

every breath,

Sighed

or

singing,

nearer

death.
1875.

62

LIFE

AND

DEATH

TN

the time of snows,

A thought that

glows

And In

hope

that

follows fearless.

the time of

buds,
and careless.

Two
And
an

beating

bloods

impulse blind

In

the time of

leaves,
dreads
the morrow.

A heart that heaves And

a

heart

that
of

In the time

fruit,
sorrow.

A wandering foot And

afar a

lonely

(ECHOES)
This is Of Their
the use

63

them that

loose

sail to the wind of pleasure :

year

The

outrun,

The dream undone,

And the

long,

regretful

leisure.

1875.

64

LIFE

AND

DEATH

"Vy/E'll

go no more

a-roving

by the

light

of the moon.

November

glooms are are

barren beside

the

dusk of June.
thoughts

The

summer

flowers

faded,

the summer

are sere :

We'll

go no more

a-roving, lest

worse

befall, my dear.

We '11

go no more

a-roving

by

the
and

light

of the moon.

The
Glad

songwe
ways

sang

rings

hollow,

heavy runs thetune.

shame

and words

remembered would

the

wretched year.

We'll

go no more

a-roving,

nor

dream

we

did, my dear.

We'll
If

go no more

a-roving

by

the

light

of the moon.

yet we walk

together,

we need not shun

the noon.

No

sweet

thing left

to savour, no sad

thing left
at

to

fear,

We'll

go no more

a-roving, but weep

home,

my dear.
1875.

(ECHOES)

65

'

I 'HE

sea

is full
of

of

wandering
cloud

foam,
;
roam.

The sky

driving
and

My

restless thoughts night

among

them

The

is dark

loud.

Where

arc the

hours
and

that came to me

So beautiful
A
wild wind

bright ?

shakes the wilder sea.

O dark

and

loud 's the

night

!
1876.

66

LIFE AND DEATH

XI.

T-'HICK is

the darkness-

Sunward,
Rough is
the

sunward

highway

Onward,

still onward

Dawn harbours surely East of the shadows.

Facing

us somewhere

Spread

the sweet meadows.

Upward

and

forward !

Time
Light is

will restore us :

above

us,
us.

Rest is before

376.

(ECHOES)

67

XII.

'

I 'O

me at

my fifth-floor window, in
rows

The
Arc

chimney-pots

sets of pipes

pandean,

For every

wind that

blows ;

And the smoke,

that

whirls and

eddies

In

a thousand

times and

keys,

Is really

a visible music

Set

to

my

reveries.

monstrous

pipes,

melodious

With fitful tune

and

dream,
audience,
theme

The

clouds arc your

only

Her

thought

is

your

only

!
1875.

68

LIFE

AND DEATH

XIII.

ID RING her again, O

Over Gentle

western

wind,

the western sea

and good and

fair

and

kind,

Bring

her

again to me.

Not

that

her

fancy

holds

me :

dear,

Not

that a

hope may be

Only

that

I may know her near,

Wind

of the western sea. 1875.

(ECHOES)

69

'

I 'HE

wan

sun westers

faint

and slow

The
An
eerie

eastern

distance

glimmers

gray

haze

comes

creeping low
;

Across the

little, lonely bay

sky-line

And from the

About
the quiet

far away

heaven
of

are spread

Mysterious hints

dying day,
of green and red.

Thin, delicate

dreams

And weak,
And

reluctant surges

lap
the strand.

rustle round and

down

No

other sound

....

If it

should

hap,

The ship

that sails

from fairy-land !

The

silken shrouds with spells are manned,

The hull is magically scrolled,

The

squat mast

lives,

and

in

the sand

The

gold prow-griffin claws a

hold.

70

LIFE

AND

DEATH

It

steals to sea-ward

silently ;
thro'

Strange fish-folk follow Great

wings

the gloom ;

flap

overhead

; I

see

The Castle
Vague

of the

Drowsy
And

Doom

thro'

the changeless twilight

ever there

loom,

Enchanted, hushed.
She Her
slumbers

in

eternal

bloom,
hair.

cushions

hid

with golden

1875.

(ECHOES)

71

'"THERE is Of
A But

wheel

inside my head
and

wantonness

wine,
without

cracked old

fiddle is grunting
the sea

the wind

with scents of

is fed,

And

the sun seems glad to shine

The

sun and the wind are akin to

you are akin

you,

As

to
. .

June ; it
giggles and

But

the

fiddle !

buzzes about,
the cue

And, love

and

laughter 1
your

who gave

him

He 's playing

favourite

tune.

1875.

72

LIFE

AND

DEATH

XVI.

VVTHILE

the west

is paling,

Starshine is begun.
While the dusk is

failing,

Glimmers up

the sun.

So,

till

darkness

cover

Life's retreating gleam,

Lover follows

lover,
dream.

Dream

succeeds to

Stoop

to

my endeavour,

O my

love,
for

and

be

Only

and

ever

Sun

and stars to me.

(ECHOES)

73

'

I 'HE

sands are alive with

sunshine,
throng,

The bathers lounge And Is

out

and

in

the

bay

bugle

lilting

a gallant song.

The

clouds go

racing eastward,
rest,

The blithe
And

wind cannot

a shard on the shingle

flashes.

Like the shining

soul of a

jest;

While
And

children

romp in

the surges,

sweethearts wander

free,
!
i875-

And
I

the

Firth it

as with

laughter dimples
over me

would

were

deep

74

LIFE

AND

DEATH

xvm.

I 'HE nightingale has

lyre

of

gold,

The lark's is
And
the

a clarion

call,
a

blackbird

plays

but

box-wood

flute,

But I love him best

of all.

For his song is And We

we

all of the mad

joy

of

life,

in the

spring weather,

two

have listened
and

Our hearts

till he sang lips together.

1876.

(ECHOES)

75

"Vf OUR heart has

trembled to
mine

my tongue,

Your hands in Your thought to Again

me

have

lain,
and

has leaned
again,

clung,

and yet

My dear,
Again
and yet again.

Now die The

the

dream,
is
not

or come the wife.

past

in vain,

For wholly
Can

as

it

was your

life

never

be again,

My dear,
Can
never

be

again.

1876.

76

LIFE AND

DEATH

XX.

'"PHE

surges gushed and

was the

sounded,
of

The blue
And low

blue

June,
east

above the

brightening

Floated

a shred of moon.

The

woods were

black

and

solemn,

The And in

night winds
your on

large

and

free,
seemed

thought a

blessing

To fall

land

and sea.

I877-

(ECHOES)

77

"VVT'E flash

across the

level.
the

We thunder

thro'

bridges.

Wc bicker down the

cuttings. ridges.

Wc sway along the

rush of

streaming hedges, lights

and

Of

jostling

shadows,

Of hurtling, Of racing

hurrying

stations,

woods and meadows.

Wc

charge the tunnels

headlong

The blackness
Wc
crash

roars and shatters.

embankments

between

The

open spins and scatters.

78

LIFE

AND

DEATH

We

shake off the miles might

like water,
;

We

carry

a royal ransom

And I

think of

her waiting, waiting,

a common

And long for

hansom.

1876.

(ECHOES)

79

""THE West

glimmering lake
of

of

light,

A dream
The first
The

pearly weather,

of stars

is

burning

white

star wc watch together.

Is April dead ?

The unresting

year

Will

shape us our
work

September, done, my
?
dear-

And April's
Do

is

vou not remember

gracious

eve

! O

happy

star,

Still-flashing,
Who lives So
of

glowing,

sinking !
far

lovers

near or

glad as

I in thinking ?

The

gallant world

is

warm and

green,

For

May

fulfils November.
and

When lights

leaves

and

loves have ?

been,

Sweet,

will vou

remember

80

LIFE

AND DEATH

star

benignant

and

serene,

I take the

good

to-morrow,
to
verge

That fills from

With
all

verge

my dream,
!

its

joy

and sorrow

The old,

sweet spell

is

unforgot

That

turns to

June December ;

And,

tho'

the world remembered not,

we would remember.

Love,

1876.

(ECHOES)

81

XXIII.

'

I 'HE skies are strown

with

stars,

The A

streets are

fresh

with

dew,

thin moon
night

drifts

to westward,
and cheerful :

The

is hushed
is

My

thought

quick with you.

Near

windows gleam

and

laugh,

And far away Clanks glowing

A

a train

through the stillness :

great content's

in in

all

things,

And life is

not

vain. 1877.

82

LIFE

AND

DEATH

'

I 'HE

full

sea rolls and thunders and

In glory

in

glee.

bury

me not

in

the senseless
sea

earth,

But in

the

living

Ay, bury
A

me where

it

surges

thousand miles

from shore,
unrest

And in its
1 '11

brotherly
for

range

evermore.

1876.

(ECHOES)

83

TN

the

year

that

's

come and

gone,

love,
bade

his

flying
walk

feather

Stooping
In

slowly,

gave

us

heart,

and

us

together. the year

that 's

coming on,

though

many

troth

be We
at

broken,
will not

least

forget

aught that

love hath

spoken.

In

the

year

that's comeand
words

gone,

dear, we wove

a tether

All

of

gracious

and

thoughts,

binding

two

together.

In

the

year

that

's coming on,

it
stronger

with

its

wealth of

roses,

Wc

shall weave

yet, ere the circle

closes.

84
In the
year

LIFE

AND

DEATH

that's come and gone,

in

the golden weather, the watch of

Sweet, my
In the
year

sweet,

we swore to

keep
in

life

together.
that

's coming on,

our

rich

joy

and

sorrow,

We

shall

light

lamp,

and

wait

life's

mysterious

morrow.

1877.

(ECHOES)

85

QHE

sauntered

by

the

swinging her car,

seas

A jewel

glittered at

And, teasing her

Brought many

along, the breeze

a rounded grace more near.

So passing,
She A

one with wave and

beam,

left,

for memory
thought,

to caress,

laughing
A hint
of

a golden gleam,

hidden loveliness.
1S76.

86

LIFE

AND

DEATH

To S. C.

ID LITHE dreams
And life feels
For the In
old

arise to greet
clean and

us,

new,

love

comes to meet us
and the

the

dawning
with

dew.

O'erblown

sunny shadows,
play,

O'ersped
The

with winds at

woodlands and

the meadows

Are

keeping
are

holiday.
scampering,
neighing-

Wild foals

Brave

merles their us go

hautboys blow.

Come ! let As in

a-maying,

the

Long-Ago.

Here

we

but

peak and

dwindle

The The

clank of chain and

crane,

whirr of crank and spindle

Bewilder heart

and

brain ;

ECHOES)
The
ends of our endeavour
wealth and

87

Are merely Yet in the We're

still

fame,
;

For-Ever

one and all the same still

Delaying,
We

delaying,

watch

the

fading

west

Come ! let

us go

a-maying,

Nor fear to take the best.

Yet beautiful

and spacious

The

wise old world appears.

Yet frank

and

fair

and gracious
years.

Outlaugh
Our

the

jocund

argument

disputing,
Pan

The
Still

universal

wanders

fluting

fluting

Fluting
His

to maid and man.

Our weary well-a-waying

music cannot still : us go

Come ! let And

a-maying,

pipe with

him

our

fill.

88

LIFE

AND

DEATH

Where

wanton winds are

flowing
grass

Among
And Where

the gladdening

Where hawthorn brakes

are

blowing,
;

meadow perfumes pass morning's grace

is greenest,
;

And fullest Where

noon's of pride

sunset spreads

serenest, ;

And
Where

sacred night's most wide

nests are

swaying, swaying,
voices

And

spring's

fresh

call,

Come ! let

us go

a-maying,
of all

And bless

the

God

!
1878.

(ECHOES)

To R. I.. S.

Child,
Curious
and

innocent, Nurse,
Fair.
and

Slips from his

rejoicing

Loses himself in

the

Thro'

the jostle and

din

Wandering,

he revels,
:

Dreaming, desiring, possessing

Till,
The Just

of a and

sudden,
afraid, he beholds

Tired

sordid assemblage as

it is ;
to

and

he

runs

With

a sob

his Nurse
on

(Lighting

at

last

him)

90

LIFE

AND

DEATH

And in her motherly bosom

Cries him

to sleep.

Thus

thro'

the
and

World,
and

Seeing
Tired

feeling
till at

knowing,

Goes Man,
of

last,
comforting breast

experience, he turns
and

To

the

friendly
old

Of the

nurse, Death.
1876.

(ECHOES)

91

XXIX.

1^"

ATE-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams,
Still

debating,

still

delay,
that gleams

And

the world's a

ghost

Wavers

vanishes away!

We

must

live

while

live

we can

We

should

love

while

love

we may.

Dread in woman, doubt in

man

So

the

Infinite

runs away. 1876.

92

LIFE

AND

DEATH

'

I 'HE

pretty washermaiden,
washes on always

She
And
as she

rubs,

and as she

wrings,
springs

Her shapely body sways and As if to burst her stays.

Her

cheek

is

rich and as

shining

And brown

any egg,
tub

And,

when she

dives into her

she's to

To duck
She

the

linen

scrub,

shows the neatest

leg !
lather,

Her

round arms white with elbows

Her
Her

fresh

and

red.

mouth

the rosiest of

buds,

Who

would not risk a shower of suds

To kiss her

dainty

head ?
1876.

(ECHOES)

93

f~\
^"^

FALMOUTH is

fine town

with ships

in

the

bay,
;

And I

wish

from my heart it's

was

there

was

to-day

wish

from my heart I in my

far away from

to

here,
want to

Sitting

parlour and

talking

my dear. it's home I

be.

For it's

home, dearie, home

Our

topsails are

hoisted,
ash,

and we'll
and the

away

to sea.

the

oak,
all

and the

bonnie birken tree,

They're

growing

green

in

the old countree.

In Baltimore a-walking With her babe

on

lady

I did meet, down

the street ;

her

arm as she came

And I

thought

how I sailed,

and the cradle

standing ready
its daddie.

For the pretty little babe

And it's

that

has

never seen

home, dearie, home,

94

LIFE

AND

DEA TH

O, if it be
With his He

lass,
a

she shall wear a golden

ring ;

And if it be

lad,
and

he his

shall

fight for his

and

king ;
blue,
do.
used to

hat,

dirk,

his little jacket

shall walk the quarter-deck as

his daddie

And it's

home, dearie, home,

O,

there

's

a wind

a-blowing, a-blowing from the west,

And

that of all the winds

at our

is the
and

one

I like

the

best,

For it blows And it

backs,
us

it

shakes our pennon

free,
to

soon will

blow

home to

the old countree.

For it 's

home, dearie, home hoisted,

ash,
and the

it 's home I

want

be.

Our

topsails are

and we'll and the

away

to sea.

the

oak,
all

bonnie birken tree,

They're

growing

green

in

the old countree.

1878.

Note.

The burthen

and the third stanza are old.

(ECHOES)

95

'

I 'HE

ways are green with

the

gladdening

sheen

Of

the

young

year's

fairest daughter. springing

!
wheat

the shadows that

fleet

o'er the
water

O The

the magic of
spirit of

running

spring is in every thing,

of

The banners
We
march

spring from

are

streaming,

to a tune
a

the

fifes

of

June.

And life's

dream

worth

dreaming.

It's

all

very

well

to sit and spell

no

At But

the

lesson there's deuce

gainsaying;

what the

are wont and use

world's a-maying?

When

the

whole mad

When
And

the meadow glows, and the orchard snows. the air's

with

love-motes teeming,
and the senses wake,

When fancies break,

O life's

dream

worth

dreaming!

96

LIFE

AND

DEATH

What
Is

nature

has

writ with and

her

lusty

wit

worded so
whoever

wisely

kindly,
manuscript

That

has dipped in her

Must up

and

follow her blindly.

is her blithest rhyme,

Now
In

the summer prime the

being
that

and the

seeming,
the overword

And they

have heard
a

Know life's

dream

worth

dreaming.

1878.

(ECHOES)

97

To K.

de

M.

Love blows

as

the

wind

blows,

Love blows into the heart.

Nile Boat-Song.

IFE in her creaking

shoes

Goes,
A

and more

formal grows,

round of calls and cues :

Love blows
Blows !
...

as the wind

blows.

in

the quiet close

As in

the

roaring

mart,

By

ways no mortal

knows.

Love blows into

the

heart.

The

stars some cadence

river

use,

Forthright the

flows,
blows.

In

order

fall

the

dews,
the
G
wind

Love blows

as

LIFE

AND

DEATH

Blows !

and what

reckoning

shows

The
A

courses of

his

chart

?
goes,

spirit that comes and

Love blows into

the

heart.

1878.

(ECHOES)

99

XXXIV.

MARGARITA

SORORI,

I. M.

late

lark

twitters

from

the quiet skies ;

And from the west, Where the sun, his day's Lingers
as work

ended,

in content,
on the

There falls

old, gray city

and

An influence luminous
A shining
peace.

serene,

The In

smoke ascends

a rosy-and-golden

haze.

The

spires

Shine,

and are changed. rise.

In the valley
sings on.

Shadows

The lark

The sun,

Closing
Sinks,

his benediction,

and the

darkening

air

LIFE

-AND

DEATH
the

Thrills

with a sense of with

triumphing

night

Night,

her train

of stars

And her

great gift of sleep.

So be my passing !

My My
Let

task accomplished and the

wages

long day done,

taken,

and

in my heart

Some late lark singing,

me

be

gathered to the quiet

west,

The

sundown splendid and

serene,

Death,

"j
1876.

(ECHOES)

(~~\&-

ever the

knightly

years were gone

With
I
was a

the old world to the grave,

king

in Babylon,

And

you were a christian slave.

I saw, 1 took, I I bent

and

cast you

by,
them

broke
well,

your pride.

You loved But

me

or

I heard

lie,

your

longing

was

denied.
and

Vaguely
You

I knew

that

by

by
died.

cursed your gods and

And

a myriad suns

have

set and shone

Since
Decreed

then upon the

grave,

by

the

king

in Babylon
slave.

To her

that

had been his

LIFE

AND

DEATH

The

pride

trampled

is

now

my scathe,

For it

tramples me again.

The

old resentment
you

lasts like

death,

For

love,

yet you refrain.

I break my heart

on your

hard unfaith,
vain.

And I break my heart in

Yet

not

for

an

hour do I

wish undone

The deed beyond

When I
was a

the grave,

king

in

Babylon,

And

you were a virgin slave.

(ECHOES)

103

^~\N

the

way

to

Kew,
Ago

By

the river old and gray,

Where in the

Long

We laughed I

and

loitered so,

met a ghost
ghost that

to-day,

A A

told of you,
replies

ghost of
sweet

low

And

inscrutable eyes,

Coming
As
you used

up from
to

Richmond,

do.

By

the river old and gray,

enchanted

The

Long
Kew,

Ago
anew.

Murmured

and smiled

On

the

way

to

104

LIFE

AND

DEATH

March had

the

laugh

of

May,

The bare boughs looked aglow, And

old

immortal

words

Sang
As I

in my breast like

birds,

Coming

up from

Richmond,

used with you.

With

the

life

of

Long

Ago

Lived my

thought of you.

By the river old and gray Flowing his appointed way,

As I watched, I knew

What is

so good to
not

know

Not in vain,
I
shall

in vain,
again,

look for

you

Coming
On
the

up from

Richmond,

way

to

Kew.

(ECHOES)

105

'

I 'HE

past was

goodly once,
it
we

and

yet,

when all

is said, dead.

The best

of

know is

that

it's done

and

Dwindled

and

faded quite,
at

perished

beyond recall,

Nothing

is left

last

of what one time was all.

Coming
Never

back like

ghost, staring
proves

and

lingering

on,

a word

it tells but

it dead

and gone.

Duty
And

joy these things and work and

it

cannot give

the present

is

life,

and

life is

good

to

live.

Let it lie

where

it

fell, far from

the

living

sun,
and

The

past

that, goodly once, is

gone and

dead

done.

106

LIFE

AND

DEATH

XXXVIII.

'

I 'HE spring,

my

dear,
spring.

Is Does
the

no

longer

blackbird sing
year?

What he sang last

Are

the skies the old

Immemorial Or
am

blue,
you,

I,

or are

Grown

cold?

Though life be change,

It is hard When
to

bear,
and strange.

the old sweet air

Sounds forced

To be

out of

tune,
I!
.

Plain You It
were

and

better to

die,

And

soon.

(ECHOES)

107

To R. A. M. S.

"J"

HE Spirit

of

Wine
and

Sang
With love

in my glass,

I listened

to

his

odorous

music,

His flushed

and magnificent song.

am

health,
the

am

heart, I
sun,

am

life !

For I

give

for

asking
the

The fire
And the

of

my father

strength of

my

mother the earth.

Inspiration in essence, I
am wisdom and wit to the wise,
visible muse

His

to the poet,

108

LIFE

AND

DEATH

The The

soul of

desire

to the

lover,

genius of

laughter

to all.

'

Come, Rise,
I
am

lean

on

me,

ye that are

weary,

ye

faint-hearted

and

doubting,
way !

Haste,
Valour
I

ye that

lag by
are

the

pride, the
and

consoler

;
;

hope

my henchmen

am the angel of rest.

'

am

life,

am

wealth, I

am

fame

For'

captain an

army dreams ;
are the

Of shining

and generous
all

And mine, too, Of

mine,

keys

that secret spiritual shrine,

Where,
Shut in

with

his work-a-day soul put his saint of saints

radiant and
and

by,
self !-

With his

conquering
and

Man worships,

talks,

is

glad.

'

Come,
Ye that

sit with

me,

ye

that are

lonely,

are paid with

disdain,

(ECHOES)
Ye I
I I
that are chained, and would soar

109

am
am

beauty
that

and

love ;
the comforter

friendship,
which

;
:

am

forgives

and

forgets.

The Spirit

of

Wine
and

Sang
His

in my

heart,

triumphed

In the

savour and scent of

his music,
song.

magnetic and

mastering

LIFE

AND

DEATH

XL.

wink

from

Hesper, falling
wintry sky,

Fast in

the

Comes

through the even

a word

blue,

Dear, like
Is it

from

you.

good-bye

Across the I

miles

between
for

us

send you sigh sweet

sigh.

Good-night,
Till life
Never

friend,

good-night :

and all take

flight,

good-bye.

(ECHOES)

T7ROM the brake the Nightingale Sings exulting to the Rose ;

Though he
In her While

sees

her waxing
repose,

pale

passionate

she triumphs

waxing

frail,
;

Fading

even while she glows

Though he knows

How it
Knows
of

goes

last

year's

Nightingale

Dead

with

last

year's

Rose.

Wise

the

enamoured

Nightingale
Rose !

Wise Love

the

well-beloved

and

life

shall still

prevail,

Nor the

silence at the close

LIFE

AND

DEA TH

Break

the magic of the tale

shows

In the telling, though it

Who but knows

How it
Life
a

goes

last
a

year's

Nightingale,
Rose.

Love

last

year's

(ECHOES)

XLII.

/^ROSSES

and

troubles
women

a-many have

proved me.

One

or

two
me.

(God bless them

!)

have

loved
I have

worked and

dreamed,
and

and

I 've talked

at will.

Of

art and

drink I have had my fill:

I 've

comforted

here, foes,

I 've

succoured

there.

I 've faced my

and

I 've backed my friends.

I 've blundered,
I have
prayed

and sometimes made amends.

for

light,
as

and

I 've known despair.

Now I look before, Come storm,

come

I look

behind,
befall,
mind,

shine,

whatever

With For

a grateful

heart

and a constant

the

end, I

know,

is

the

best

ol all.

BRIC-A-BRAC
BALLADES

RON DELS

SONNETS AND QUATORZAINS

RONDEAUS

The

tune

of the

time.'

Hamlet, concerning Osric.

BALLADES.
OF A TOYOKUNI COLOUR-PRINT.
To W. A.

YVTAS I

Samurai renowned, immense

?
of

Two-sworded, fierce,
A histrion

bow

angular and profound

a porter?

priest?

Child,

although

I have forgotten clean, I know

That in the

shade of

Fujisan,
blow,
Japan.

What time the I loved

cherry-orchards

you once

in

old

As here
And Your

you

loiter, flowing-gowned
sashed,
with pins a-row

hugely
quaint

head

as with even

flamclets crowned,

Demure, inviting

so,

118

BRIC-A-BRAC

When merry maids in Miyako To feel the sweet the year began,
o'

And

green gardens to
you once

overflow,

I loved

in

old

Japan.

Clear

shine the
cranes are
canal

hills ;

the rice

fields

round

Two

circling ; sleepy

and

slow,

A blue Breaks

the

lake's blue bound

at the
with

bamboo

bridge;

and

lo!

Touched
I
see you

the sundown's spirit and glow,

with

turn,

flirted fan,

Against
I loved

the plum-tree's
you once

bloomy
Japan !

snow.

in

old

Envoy.

Dear, 'twas
But
that

dozen lives

ago

was a

lucky

man

The Toyokuni here

I loved
you

will show:

once

in

old

Japan !

BALLADES

119

OF YOUTH AND AGE.

To T. E. B.

QPRING
Sails

at

her height

on a morn at
a

prime,

that

laugh from

flying

squall,

Pomp

of

harmony,

rapture of rhyme

Youth is the Winter

sign of

them,

one and all.

sunsets and

leaves

that

fall,
ball

An empty A

flagon,

folded page,
a tattered

tumble-down

wheel,

These

are a type of the world of

Age.

Bells

that clash that

in

gaudy chime,
in
onsets and the

Swords

clatter

tall,

The

words that

ring

fames

that climb

Youth is the
Hymnals
old

sign of

them,

one and all.

in

dusty
a

stall,

A bald, blind bird in The

scene of a

crazy cage,

faded festival

These

arc a type of the world of

Age.

BRIC-A Hours Deeds

that strut as the

-BRA

heirs

of

time,

whose rumour's a where

clarion-call,
-

Songs

the singers their souls sublime

Youth is
A
staff

the sign of

them,

one and all.

that rests

in

a nook of

wall,

A reeling

battle,

a rusted

gage,

The

chant of a

nearing funeral

These

are a type of the world of

Age.

Envoy. Struggle
and

turmoil,
sign of

revel and

brawl

Youth is the

them,

one and all.

-

A smouldering hearth

and a silent stage

These

are a type of the world of

Age.

BALLADES

OF THE FROWARDNESS OF WOMAN.

To E. S.

LL

the

idols

are

overthrowing,

Man the Maids

are

end of

his

reign

descries.
crowing,

clamouring,

wives are

Widows

thrill with a wild surmise.

Those

one

follows

and those one and the

flies,
to woo.

The loth to be won, Look

willing

at the world with

longing

eyes.

Nothing is left for

the men to

do.

Pulpit

and platform

overflowing,

Ready
See

the scheme of things to revise,

them

eager, militant, knowing!

Write,
Wield

plead, wrangle, philologize,

and vote

Answer papers,
a

supplies,

racquet, handle

cue,

Paint, fight, legislate, Nothing is left for

theorize.

the men to

do.

BRIC-A-BRAC

Cora's riding

and

Lilian's rowing,
books
one

Celia's
Julia's Sue is Flora Jane's

novels are

buys,

lecturing, Phyllis
a

is mowing,

dealer in

oils and

dyes,
blue,
do.

and
a

Dora poetize,
and

bore

Bee is

Sylvia lives

to anatomize.
the men to

Nothing

is left for

Envoy.

Prince,

our past on the

dust-heap
to

lies !

Saving

to scrub, to

bake,
and

brew,
do.

Nurse, dress,

prattle,

scandalize,

Nothing

is left for

the men to

BALL A DES

OF RAIN.
To H. W.

sombre, sagging sky

Of And

tossed and tumbled wrack

ragged

clouds, that lie

To
Or

meet the wind's

march

attack,

in
;

columns

black
still, ;

And

serried

then a

A feverish kind

of thrill

And whispering in

the

leaves,

And pattering
It

on the

pane,

falls,

in very sheaves,

The weary,

dreary

rain.

The
As

summer seems to

sigh,

she were

flouted back.

124

BRIC-A-BRAC

The
The

grasses rot and

corn

die,
crack.

begins to
would and

The flowers
It's
all so

like to pack,
chill,

dank

Discomfortable

and shrill.

While, flickering from

And gurgling down

the

eaves,

the

drain,

The

sodden world receives

The weary,

dreary

rain.

The

big

trees, broad

and

high,

Grow

thick and

blurred
to

and slack.

The birds,
Brood Shines.

too

dull

fly,
track

dismal,
If

and the

a sudden quack

Sound from

the

ducks that swill,

takes

The
But Its

damp

hush

it ill.

ever and on

it

weaves

rhythms with might and

all

main,

And

its

will

achieves,
rain.

The weary,

dreary

BALLADES

125

Envoy. It lapses
not :

it

cleaves

A way to heart It It

and

brain ;

dins,

it

duns,

it

deaves,
grieves,
rain.

worries and wastes and

The

weary,

dreary

126

BRIC-A-BRAC

OF ANTIQJUE DANCES.
To A. D.

DEFORE
And

the town
scared the

had lost its wits,

bravery from

its

beaux,

When
And

money-grubs were

merely cits,
prose,

verse was

crisp

and clear as came to

Ere Chloe For votes,

and

Strephon
and

blows

degrees,

cigarettes,

The
In

world rejoiced

to point
and

its toes

Gigues, Gavottes,

Minuets.

The

solemn

fiddlers

touch their

kits ;

The tinkling
With

clavichord o'erflows

contrapuntal quirks and

with all measure and

hits ;

And,
With

repose, shows,

Through figures

grave as royal

noble airs and

pirouettes,

They
In

move, to rhythms Handel

and

knows,

Gigues, Gavottes,

Minuets.

BALLADES

127
and

O Fans

and

Swords, O Sacques
better

Mits,
!

That

was

the
not

part you chose

You know

how
and

those gamesome chits

Waltz, Polka,
In

Schottische,

arose,

Nor how Quadrille

time and tunc
aired your

kind

of

doze

the

dance besets ;
the close

You
In

fashion to
and

Gigues, Gavottes,

Minuets.

Envoy.

Muse

of the

many-twinkling hose,

Terpsichore,
The
In

teach

your pets

charm that

shines, the
and

grace

that

glows

Gigues, Gavottes,

Minuets.

128

BRIC-A-BRAC

OF SPRING MUSIC.
To W. H. P.

O OUNDS
Seem Hark !

of

waking,

sounds of

growing

the

living

air to

fill.

the echoes are

yeo-hoing hill !
still

Valiantly
In
a

from

vale and

Nature's voices, moving

larger,
the

lustier swing,
with a will.

Work
'Tis

together

symphony

of

Spring !

Showers

are

singing,

clouds are

flowing,

Ocean thunders, Hark !

Hark ! And And
the

croons the rill.

clarion

West his
is

's

blowing !

the thrush

fluting

shrill,

the

blackbird

tries

his trill,

the skylark soars to the sparrow tunes

sing !
his
quill.

Even
'Tis

the

symphony

of

Spring

BALLADES

129

Lambs
Brisk

are

bleating,

steers are

lowing,

and rhythmic clacks the mill.

Kapellmeister And

April, glowing
skill,

superb with glee and orchestra to

Comes, his
In

drill

a music that will

ring
thrill :

Till
'Tis

the

gray

world yearn and

the

symphony

of

Spring

Envoy.

Princes,
Here's

though your

blood be chill,

shall make you

leap

and

fling

Fling

and

leap

like Jack
of

and

Jill 1

'Tis the symphony

Spring.

i3o

BRIC-A-BRAC

OF MIDSUMMER DAYS AND NIGHTS.

To W. H.

VfTTlTH

a ripple of

leaves
in

and a

tinkle of streams

The full And

world rolls

a rhythm of

praise,

the winds are one with the clouds and beams

midsummer

Midsummer days !

days !

The dusk
While
the

grows vast

; in

a purple

haze,
rights,

West from

a rapture of sunset

Faint

stars their exquisite nights

lamps

upraise

Midsummer

! O

midsummer nights

The

wood's green

heart is

a nest of

dreams,
sways,

The lush The

grass thickens and springs and

rathe wheat

rustles, the landscape

midsummer

gleams

Midsummer days ! In All

the

days !

stilly fields,

in

the

stilly ways,

secret shadows and mystic murmur and

lights,
and
gaze-

Late lovers
Midsummer

linger

nights

1 O

midsummer nights

BALLADES

131

There 's
Wild

a music of

bells from

the

trampling teams,
steams

skylarks

hover,

the gorses

blaze,

The rich,

ripe rose as with

incense

.Midsummer

days !

midsummer

days !

soul

from the honeysuckle strays,

from
prophet

And

the nightingale as to the

heights,

Sings

Earth
nights

of

her

million

Mays

Midsummer

! O

midsummer nights

Envoy. And it's O for my dear

Midsummer days !
and the charm that stays

midsummer

days !
that plights

It's O for my Love

Midsummer
nights

and the

dark

I O

midsummer nights

i32

BRIC-A-BRAC

OF DEAD ACTORS.
To E. J. H.

TV/ HERE
And
Where the For

are the passions

where

they essayed,
made to

the tears

they

flow ?

wild

humours they

portrayed

laughing

worlds

to see and

know ?

Othello's

wrath and

Juliet's

woe?

Sir Peter's

whims and

Timon's

gall

And Millamant Into

and

Romeo ?

the night go one and all.

Where

are the

braveries, fresh

or

frayed ?
and

The plumes, The The

cloth of
mantles

the armour

friend

foe?

gold, the rare

brocade,
fro ?
?

glittering

to and

The pomp, The

the pride, the royal show

cries of war and

festival ?

The youth,
Into

the grace, the charm, the glow

the night go one and all.

BALLADES

133

The

curtain

falls,

the

play is
the

played :

The Beggar

packs

beside

Beau ; Maid ;

The Monarch troops,

The Thunder huddles
Where

and troops the

with

the

Snow.

are the revellers

swords

high

and

low ?
call

The clashing

The lover's
row on row

The dancers gleaming

Into the

night go one and all.

Envoy.

Prince,
The Hero

in

one common overthrow

tumbles with the

Thrall

As dust Into

that

drives,

as straws that

blow,

the night go one and all.

134

BRIC-A-BRAC

MADE IN THE HOT WEATHER.

To W. C. M.

"COUNTAINS The
Pools
moss

that

frisk

and sprinkle

they

overspill

;
;

that the

breezes

crinkle

The

wheel

beside

the mill,

With its wet, weedy frill ; Wind-shadows in the A

water-cart

wheat

in the

street

The fringe

of

foam

that girds

An islet's ferneries ; A
green sky's minor

thirds

To

live,

think of these

Of ice

and glass

the

tinkle,

Pellucid,

silver-shrill

BALLADES Peaches Cherries From

without a wrinkle

135
;

and snow at will

china

bowls

that

fill

The

senses with a sweet

Incuriousness

of

heat ;
sherds

melon's

dripping

;
;

Cream-clotted
Dusk dairies

strawberries

set with curds

To

live, I

think of these

Vale-lily
The look
With

and periwinkle

Wet stone-crop
of

on the sill

leaves

a-twinkle

windlets clear and still of a

The feel That

forest fresh

rill and

wimples

fleet

About

one's naked

feet ;

The

muzzles of and

drinking

herds

Lush flags

bulrushes ; birds !
-

The chirp To live, I

of rain-bound

think of these

136

BRIC-A-BRAC

Envoy. Dark aisles,

Mermaidens'

new packs of

cards,

tails,

cool

swards,
seas,

Dawn dews

and starlit

White marbles,

whiter words

To

live,

think of these

BALLADES

137

OF

LADIES'

NAMES.

To A. L.

ID ROWN is for Lalage, Jones for Lelia,

Robinson's bosom for Beatrice glows,

Smith is

Hamlet before Ophelia.

if
the reason goes :

The

glamour stays

Every
Is
of a

lover the

years

disclose free. foes

:

beautiful

name made

One befriends, Anna's

and all others are

the name of names

for

me.

Sentiment hallows the

vowels of

Delia ;

Sweet simplicity breathes from Rose !

Courtly
Rosalind

memories

glitter

in Celia ;

savours of quips and of wits and and

hose,

Araminta
Prue
of

beaux,
Coralie
;

puddings,

All

of sawdust and spangled shows

Anna's

the name of names

for

me.

138

BRIC-A-BRAC

Fie

upon

Caroline, Jane,
cold

Amelia

These I
Mystical

reckon the essence of prose

Magdalen,

Cornelia,

Adelaide's attitudes, Mopsa's mowes,

Maud's magnificence, Totty's toes,
Poll
and

Bet

with their

twang
for

of the woes
me.

sea,

Nell's

impertinence,

Pamela's

Anna's

the name of names

Envoy.
Ruth like
a gillyflower smells and

blows,

Sylvia

prattles of
a

Arcady,
of names

Portia's only

Roman nose,
for
me

Anna's

the name

BALLADES

139

OF LIFE AND FATE.

To T. G. H.

COOLS may pine,

Cynics

and sots

may swill,
rail,

gibe and prophets scourge and and

Moralists may

drill,
quail.

Preachers prose,

fainthearts

Let

them whine, or

threat,

or wail

Till

the touch of to
a

Circumstance
sink the scale
a

Down

darkness

Fate's

fiddler, Life's

dance.

What it What if

skies

be

wan and

chill?

winds

be harsh
will

and stale

Presently
And

the east

thrill,

the sad and shrunken sail,

with a

Bellying
Bear
you

kindly
the

gale,

sunwards,

while your chance

Sends
'

you a

back

hopeful
a

hail,

Fate's

fiddler,

Life's

dance.'

140

BRIC-A-BRAC

Idle

shot or

coming
or

bill, bail,
1),

Hapless love

broken

Gulp

it (never

chew your pill

should

And if

Burgundy

fail,
!

Try
Gold

humble

pot of ale

Over

all

is heaven's among

expanse.

exists
a

the shale.
a

Fate's

fiddler, Life's

dance.

Dull Sir Joskin

sleeps

his

fill,

Good Sir Galahad

seeks the

Grail, frill,
;

Proud Sir Pertinax flaunts his Hard Sir And

jEger

dints his

mail

the while,

by

hill

and

dale,
glance,

Tristram's braveries
And his blithe horn
'Fate's
a

gleam and

tells

its tale,
a
dance.'

fiddler, Life's

Araminta's
Delia's

grand and

shrill,

passionate and an earnest

frail,
quill,

Doris drives

BALLADES

141

Athanasia

takes the veil ;

o'er

Wiser Phyllis At
the

her pail,

heart

of all romance

Reading,
'Fate's
a

sings to

Strephon's Life's
a

flail,

fiddler,

dance.'

Every

Jack

must

have his

Jill,

(Even Johnson had his Thralc

!)
!

Forward,

couples

with a will

This,

the world,

is

not a

jail.

Hear the music,

sprat and whale

advance

Hands across, retire,

! trail,

Though the doomsman's

on your

Fate's

fiddler, Life's

dance.

Envoy.
Boys
and

girls,

at

slug

and snail
askance.

And

their
your

kindred look

Pay

footing

on the nail : a

Fate's

fiddler, Life's

dance.

RONDELS.
i.
Nunca.'

'Por la

calle

de Despues

se acabe a

la

casa

de

TN

the street

ofBy-and-By

Stands

the

hostelry

of

Never. dissever
try.

Dream from deed he Who his fortune here

must

would

There's As
In
of

a pathos

in

the cry,

impotent

endeavour :

the street of

By-and-By
of

Stands

the

hostelry

Never.

Grave Dull YTou

If

or

gamesome, low
crass or

or

high,

or

dainty,
lose

clever,

must

your chance

for ever,

you

let it forth

to

fly

In

the street of

By-and-By.

RONDELS

143

II.

'

Hie habitat Felicitas.

'

'T7ELICITY.

Enquire

within.

Truly,
So read,
Some frail

the goddess

is

at

home !

'

so thought the rakes of

one's

Rome,

lintel fain to

win.

And

now

it blares

thro'

bronze

and

tin,

Thro'

clarion, organ, catcall,

'

comb :

Felicity.

Enquire

within.

Truly

the goddess

is

at

home !

'

For,

tent or studio,

bank

or

bin,

Platonic porch, Petrasan

Where'er
our

dome,
and

hobbies champ
brave

foam,

Thereo'er
'

the

old sign wc pin :

within.'

Felicity.

Enquire

144

BRIC-A-BRAC

III.
'

Alons

au

bois le may

cueillir.1

Charles

d'Orleans.

VVTE '11

to the woods and gather

the

may

Fresh from We'll

footprints every

of the rain

to the woods, at

vein

To drink

the spirit of the

day.

The
The

winds of needs of

spring

are out at

play,

spring in heart

and

brain.

We'll

to the woods and gather

may

Fresh from the footprints

of the rain.

The

world

's too

near

her end,

you

say ?
!

Hark to the blackbird's It

waits

mad refrain

for

her,

the vast

Inane?

Then,

girls, to

help

her

on the

way

We'll to

the woods and gather may.

RONDELS

145

IV.

TD ESIDE

the

idle

summer

sea,

And in Light Love Where

the vacant summer

days,

came

you were

fluting loitering

down

the ways

with me.

Who has

not welcomed even as we

minstrel and

That jocund
Beside
the

his lays

idle

summer

sea,

And in

the vacant summer

days ?

We

listened,

we were

fancy-free ;
amaze,

And lo ! in We

terror and

stood alone

alone at gaze

With

an

implacable memory,
summer sea.

Beside the idle

146

BRIC-A-BRAC

R. G. C.

B.,

1878.

I. M.
'

I 'HE

ways of all

Death

are

soothing
Death

and

serene,

And

the words of

are grave and sweet. and the

From camp She beckons

and

church, the fireside

and strife and

street,

forth,

song have been.

summer night

descending,
are

cool and green

And The
And

dark,

on

daytime's dust Death

and stress and and

heat,

ways of

soothing

serene,

all the words of

Death

are grave and sweet.

glad and
radiant

sorrowful,

with

triumphant

mien

And

faces look

upon and greet

This last
Her

of all your

kiss,

the

lovers, and to meet Comforter's, your spirit lean.

are

The

ways of

Death

soothing

and serene. -1

RONDELS

147

VI.

^TTE

shall

surely die

Must

we needs grow old

Grow And

old and

cold,
not

we

know

why ?

the

By-and-By,
's told !
:

And We

the tale that

shall

surely die

Must

we needs grow old

Grow

old and and

sigh,

Grudge
Resent

withhold,

and scold

Not We

you and

I!

shall

surely die !

SONNETS

and

QUATORZAINS.

AT QUEENSFERRY.
To W. G. S.

'

I 'HE blackbird sang, the skies were clear and clean.

We bowled along

a road

that curved

its

spine

Superbly
Thro'

sinuous and serpentine

silent symphonies of summer green. came on us

Sudden the Forth

sad of

mien,
:

No
A

cloud

to

colour

it,

no

breeze

to

line

sheet of or

dark, dull
two

glass,

without a sign

Of life
Water

death,
sky

beams

of sand
mist

between. together,

and

merged

blank in

The fort loomed spectral, Traced vague, black

We felt the dim

and the guardship's spars

shadows on the

shimmery
strange

glaze :

strange

years, the

gray

weather,

The

still strange

land,
rides

unvexed of sun or
thro'

stars,

Where Lancelot

clanking

the

haze.

SONNETS AND Q.UATORZAINS

149

ORIENTALS.

CHE's
A

an

enchanting little Israelite,

hidden dimples !
of the

world of

dusky-eyed,
Night,

A starry-glancing daughter

Bride,

With hair
I ler Her

escaped

from
check

some

Arabian

lip

is red, her

is golden-white,
set aside

nose a

scimitar; and,

The bamboo hat

Her dress And
a

she cocks with so much pride, of

dream

daintiness
with the

and

delight.

when she

passes,

dreadful boys loud

and

And romping girls,

the cockneys

crude,
to range

My
Of

thought,
o'

to the

Minorics tied,

yet moved with

The land

the sun, commingles

the noise

magian

drums,

the scent of
modern

sandalwood,

A touch Sidonian

brilliant

strange

150

BRIC-A-BRAC

FORENOON.

Q OFT
A tiny

as the whisper shut within a sea rustles white

wanton visible

shell,
the

The far

along

sand,

breeze, blown
of

from
;

the

land,
;

Teases it into dimples

A dream

blue,

the

Fife hills
and

sink and swell strand

The large light quivers,

A
vast content

from

to strand

seems,

breathing,
smiles

to expand ;
a

And

the

deep

heaven

down

sleepy

spell.

Dark bathers bob ;

the girders of the pier

against the quiet

Stand

softened

forth

blue ;
;

Dogs bark ;

the

wading

children take their pleasure

and

A horse The

comes

charging round,
waltz-rhythm,

can

hear

gallop's wild

falling

thro',

Change

to the trot's

deliberate

polka-measure.

SONNETS AND QUATORZAINS

151

IN FISHERROW.

hard north-easter

fifty

winters

long
her face
and neck

Has bronzed Her locks

and shrivelled sere

are wild and

gray, her teeth

a wreck

Her foot is vast, her bowed A

wide curt

leg

spare and strong.

blue cloak,
blue coats,

a squat and

sturdy throng

Of A

a mutch without a speck,

white vest

broidered

black,

her

person

deck,

Nor
Her

seems their stern and old-world quaintness wrong. great creel

forehead-slung,
strap
with

she wanders

nigh,

Easing
The Ever

the

heavy

gnarled, brown

fingers,

spirit of commerce watchful

in her eye,

and anon

imploring

you

to

buy,
lingers,
eye.

As

looking

down the

street she onward

Reproachful,

with a strange and

doleful

152

BRIC-A-BRAC

RAIN.

'

I 'HE sky

saggs

low

with convoluted

cloud,
to rim.

Heavy and imminent, rolled from rim bank of fog blots out of sight the brim
the

Of

leaden sea,
is

all spiritless and cowed. sheer and

The
The

rain

falling
is

strong

and grim

loud,
dim,

strand

desolate,

the

distance

With

threats of storm, the wet stones glimmer the wall the

. .
.

And to

dank

umbrellas crowd.

At home

the

dank

shrubs whisper

dismal mooded,

Black

chimney-shadows streak the eaves

are

shiny slates,
and steeped

The

strung

with

drops,

the

grasses,

A draggled fishwife

screeches at the

gates,

The baker hurries

In her

dripping

on,

and

hooded
passes.

wet prints a

pretty housemaid

SONNETS

AND

QUATORZAINS

153

BACK-VIEW.
To D. F.

watched you saunter

down the

sand :

Serene Flowed And

and

large,

the golden

weather

radiant round your peacock

feather,

glistered

from

your

jewelled hand.

Your tawny
And. bound

hair,

turned strand on strand

with ribands

blue together,
green

Streaked

the rough

tartan,

like heather

That
Your

round your

lissome

shoulder spanned.
sense

grace was quick

my

to seize :

The

quaint

looped hat,
scarf,

the twisted tresses.

and under

The
The

close-drawn

these

flowing, flapping

draperies

My

thought an outline still caresses,

Enchanting,

comic, Japanese !

154

BRIC-A-BRAC

CROQUIS.

To G. W.

I 'HE beach

was crowded.

He

groped and

fiddled
on the

Pausing doggedly

now and

then,

along,

His

worn

face glaring

thoughtless

throng

The stony
He

peevishness of sightless men.

seemed scarce older than

his

clothes.

Again,
wrong,

Grotesquing
So
cracked

thinly many

an old sweet

song,

his viol, his hand

could

so

frail

and

You

hardly

distinguish

one

in ten.

He stopped at last, and sate him on the sand, And, grasping wearily his bread-winner, Stared dim
towards the

blue

immensity,
poor old

Then leaned his head

He may have His
slept :

upon

his

hand ;

he did

not speak or stir :

gesture spoke a vast

despondency.

SONNE7S AND QUATORZAINS

155

JENNY WREN.

Ayr ISS WREN is O

so

wee, so

wee

So Her
waist

light,
is trig

so

light !

So neat,
be.

so neat

as waist can

She has The

the

funniest little

feet,
nose,

prettiest

hands,

the sauciest

The blackest eyes,

She comes,
With
she

the reddest
she

lips I
she

looks,

laughs,
dips.

goes,

petulant

little

turns and

Her little
She

self she perks and plumes.

chirps and

twitters,
wet

chirps and cheeps

As though among

apple-blooms,

With sudden, sidelong, little She

leaps,

flits,

she

flies !

Was

never seen

A daintier little

cutty-quean.

156

BRIC-A

BRAC

ATTADALE,

WEST HIGHLANDS.

To A. J.

black and

glassy float, opaque and still, The loch, at furthest ebb supine in sleep,
mirrored

Reversing,
The
calm

in its luminous
; the

deep
hill ;
haze ;
;

gray

skies

solemn spurs of

Heather The

and corn and wisps of

loitering

wee white

cots,

black-hatted,
jarred

plumed with smoke

The braes beyond

and when the ripple and

awoke,
glaze.

They
The
A

wavered with the

wavering

air was

hushed

and

dreamy.

Evermore

noise of

running

water whispered near.

A straggling crow cawed high and thin. A bird Trilled from the birch-leaves. Round the shingled shore,

Yellow

with

weed, there wandered,

mysterious

vague and

clear,

Strange vowels,

gutturals,

idly

heard.

SONNETS AND QUATORZAINS

157

FROM A WINDOW IN PRINCES STREET.

To M. M. M'B.

A
"^^

BOVE

the

Crags

that

fade
of

and gloom

Starts

the

bare knee

Arthur's Scat

Ridged high

against

the evening

bloom,
;

The Old Town rises,

With lamps

street on street straight

bejewelled,
the

ahead,

Like All

rampired walls

houses

lean,

spired and

domed

and

turreted,
green

Sheer to

the

valley's

darkling

While, heaped
Juts

against the western gray.

The Castle, menacing

gaunt

and severe.

into the

dying day
you

And in

the silver

dusk

hear,
scar,

Reverberated from crag

and

Bold bugles

blowing

points of war.

158

BRIC-A-BRAC

IN THE DIALS.
To w. J.

'

I 'O Garryoiuen

upon an organ ground

Two
With As in A
eyes

girls are

jigging.

Riotously they
on

trip,

aflame,

quick

bosoms, hand
round.

hip,
bound,

witches'

the tumult of a

crowd of youngsters round

them prance and

Two The

solemn

babes

twirl ponderously, and skip.

artist's teeth gleam

from his bearded lip.

tortured

High from

the

kennel

yells a

hound.

The

music reels and

hurtles,
;

and the night

Is full

of stinks and cries a

a naphtha

light

Flares from

barrow ; battered

and obtused

With vices, wrinkles, life

Each
with on

and work and

rags,

her inch

of

clay, two
critical

loitering hags
somewhat mused.

Look

dispassionate

RONDEAUS.

IV If Y love to

me

is

always

kind
nor

She She does

But

neither

storms,

is

she pined

not plead with tears or

sighs,

gentle words and soft replies earnest of

Good

the thought

behind.

They They
Yet

say
do

the

little

god

is

blind,
;

not count

him
could

quite too wise

he,

somehow,

bring and bind My love to me.

And

sweetest nut

hath
she

sourest rind

It may be Is
even

so

; but

prize

lovelier in

mine eyes

Than

good and gracious to

my

mind.

I bless

the

fortune

that consigned

My

love

to me.

160

BRIC-A-BRAC

II.

VX/TITH

strawberries we
we

filled

tray,

And then

drove away, away

the sea,

Along
Where

the

links beside

wave and wind were as

light

and

free,

And August felt

fresh

as

May.

And
With

where

the

springy
balm

turf was

gay
a

thyme and

and

many

spray

Of

wild

roses,

you

tempted me

With strawberries.

A shadowy sail, Stole like But

silent and

gray,

a ghost across the

bay ;
my

none could

hear

me ask

fee,
to

And Can

none could

know

what came

be.

sweethearts all their thirst

allay
?

With

strawberries

RONDEAUS

161

III.

'

I 'HE

leaves

are

sere,

and on the ground

They
A
sound

rustle with an eerie

sound,

half-whisper

and

half-sigh

The
Sad

plaint of sweet

things

fain

to

die,

things

for

which no ruth

is found.

With
But

summer once

the

land

was

crowned

now that autumn scatters round and summer

Decay,

fancies die,
are sere.

The leaves

Once, too, my thought within the bound Of summer frolicked, like a hound
In
meadows

jocund

with

July.
why.
and

Yet

now
all

sit and

wonder

With

my

waste of

penny

pound,

The leaves
L

are sere.

162

BRIC

A-BRAC

IV. To F. W.

T ET

us

be

drunk,

and

for

a while

forget,

Forget,
Live
As in
a

and, ceasing

even

from regret,
rhyme,

without reason and

in

spite of

dream

preposterous and

sublime,

Where

place and

hour

and means

for

once are met.

Where is

the use of effort

? Love
us

and

debt

And disappointment have Let

us

in

a net.

break out,

and taste the morning's prime

Let

us

be drunk.

In

vain our

little hour

we strut and

fret,
a

And We

mouth our wretched parts as

for

bet ;

cannot please the tragicaster

gain the crystal

Time.
clime,
yet,

To

sphere, the

silver on us

Where

Sympathy
Let
us

sits

dimpling

be drunk !

RONDEA US

163

To H. D. C.

TF I

were

king, my

pipe should

be

premier.

The
We

skies of time and chance are seldom clear :

would

inform them

all with azure weather.

Delight

alone would need to shed a

tear,

For dream

and

deed

should war no more together.

Art

should

aspire,

yet ugliness

be dear ; for feather

sere,
:

Beauty,
And

the shaft, should speed with wit

sweet

love,

love,

should never
were

fall

to

If I

king.

But

politics should

find

no

harbour
to

near

The Philistine
Tobacco In An

should

dread

slip his

tethe

should

be

duty free,

and

beer ;

fact, in

room of this the age of

leather,

age of gold all radiant should

appear,

If I

were

king.

164

BRIC-A-BRAC

VI.

"VVTHEN

you are

old,

and

am passed
your

away

Passed,
I think,

and

your

face,

golden

face,

is

gray

whate'er the

end, this dream

of

mine,

Comforting
Down
the

you,

friendly

star will shine

still

dim

slope

where

you

stumble

and

stray.

So may it be No
sad-eyed

that so

dead Yesterday,
generous and

ghost, but

gay,

May

serve your memories

like almighty wine,

you are old.

When

Dear

Heart,

it

shall

be

so.

Under

the

sway

Of death

the past's enormous

disarray

RONDEAUS

165
sign,

Lies hushed
Live

and

dark.

Yet

though there come no

and

on well pleased :
shall still tend

immortal
as

divine,
may,

Love

you,

God's

angels

When

you are old.

1 66

BRIC-A-BRAC

VII.

"VJ^HAT is
That

to come we

know
was

not. good

But

we

know-

what

has been

was good

to

show,

Better

to

hide,

and

best

of all

to

bear.
that were.

We

are the masters of the

days

We have

lived,

we

have

loved,

we

have

suffered

even so.

Shall
Life

we not take the ebb who

had

the
our

flow ? foe

was our

friend.
it

Now,

if it be
us

Dear,

though

spoil and

break

need we care

What is

to come

Let

the great winds their worst and wildest

blow,

Or the

gold weather round us mellow slow ;

RONDEA US

167

We have fulfilled ourselves, And In

we can

and we can

dare,

conquer, though we

may

not share

the rich quiet of the afterglow,

What is

to come.

The End.

1'iinled

by

T.
at

and

A.

Constahlk,

Printers to Her Majesty.

Press.

the Edinbitrgh

L'nir'efsity

!5STjrSg!*SH38P*%ffwTw*

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