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They are whipping and cursing the horses。 Lord！
What brutes men are when they think they're scored。
Behind； my bay gelding gallops with me；
In a steaming sweat； it is fine to see
That coach； all claret； and gold； and blue；
Hop about and slue。
They are scared half out of their wits； poor souls。
For my lord has a casket full of rolls
Of minted sovereigns； and silver bars。
I laugh to think how he'll show his scars
In London to…morrow。 He whines with rage
In his varnished cage。
My lady has shoved her rings over her toes。
'Tis an ancient trick every night…rider knows。
But I shall relieve her of them yet；
When I see she limps in the minuet
I must beg to celebrate this night；
And the green moonlight。
There's nothing to hurry about； the plain
Is hours long； and the mud's a strain。
My gelding's uncommonly strong in the loins；
In half an hour I'll bag the coins。
'Tis a clear； sweet night on the turn of Spring。
The chase is the thing！
How the coach flashes and wobbles； the moon
Dripping down so quietly on it。 A tune
Is beating out of the curses and screams；
And the cracking all through the painted seams。
Steady； old horse； we'll keep it in sight。
'Tis a rare fine night！
There's a clump of trees on the dip of the down；
And the sky shimmers where it hangs over the town。
It seems a shame to break the air
In two with this pistol； but I've my share
Of drudgery like other men。
His hat？ Amen！
Hold up； you beast； now what the devil！
Confound this moor for a pockholed； evil；
Rotten marsh。 My right leg's snapped。
'Tis a mercy he's rolled； but I'm nicely capped。
A broken…legged man and a broken…legged horse！
They'll get me； of course。
The cursed coach will reach the town
And they'll all come out； every loafer grown
A lion to handcuff a man that's down。
What's that？ Oh； the coachman's bulleted hat！
I'll give it a head to fit it pat。
Thank you！ No cravat。
~They handcuffed the body just for style；
And they hung him in chains for the volatile
Wind to scour him flesh from bones。
Way out on the moor you can hear the groans
His gibbet makes when it blows a gale。
'Tis a common tale。~
The Shadow
Paul Jannes was working very late；
For this watch must be done by eight
To…morrow or the Cardinal
Would certainly be vexed。 Of all
His customers the old prelate
Was the most important； for his state
Descended to his watches and rings；
And he gave his mistresses many things
To make them forget his age and smile
When he paid visits； and they could while
The time away with a diamond locket
Exceedingly well。 So they picked his pocket；
And he paid in jewels for his slobbering kisses。
This watch was made to buy him blisses
From an Austrian countess on her way
Home； and she meant to start next day。
Paul worked by the pointed； tulip…flame
Of a tallow candle； and became
So absorbed； that his old clock made him wince
Striking the hour a moment since。
Its echo； only half apprehended；
Lingered about the room。 He ended
Screwing the little rubies in；
Setting the wheels to lock and spin；
Curling the infinitesimal springs；
Fixing the filigree hands。 Chippings
Of precious stones lay strewn about。
The table before him was a rout
Of splashes and sparks of coloured light。
There was yellow gold in sheets； and quite
A heap of emeralds； and steel。
Here was a gem； there was a wheel。
And glasses lay like limpid lakes
Shining and still； and there were flakes
Of silver； and shavings of pearl；
And little wires all awhirl
With the light of the candle。 He took the watch
And wound its hands about to match
The time； then glanced up to take the hour
From the hanging clock。
Good； Merciful Power！
How came that shadow on the wall；
No woman was in the room！ His tall
Chiffonier stood gaunt behind
His chair。 His old cloak； rabbit…lined；
Hung from a peg。 The door was closed。
Just for a moment he must have dozed。
He looked again； and saw it plain。
The silhouette made a blue…black stain
On the opposite wall； and it never wavered
Even when the candle quavered
Under his panting breath。 What made
That beautiful； dreadful thing； that shade
Of something so lovely； so exquisite；
Cast from a substance which the sight
Had not been tutored to perceive？
Paul brushed his eyes across his sleeve。
Clear…cut； the Shadow on the wall
Gleamed black； and never moved at all。
Paul's watches were like amulets；
Wrought into patterns and rosettes；
The cases were all set with stones；
And wreathing lines； and shining zones。
He knew the beauty in a curve；
And the Shadow tortured every nerve
With its perfect rhythm of outline
Cutting the whitewashed wall。 So fine
Was the neck he knew he could have spanned
It about with the fingers of one hand。
The chin rose to a mouth he guessed；
But could not see； the lips were pressed
Loosely together； the edges close；
And the proud and delicate line of the nose
Melted into a brow； and there
Broke into undulant waves of hair。
The lady was edged with the stamp of race。
A singular vision in such a place。
He moved the candle to the tall
Chiffonier； the Shadow stayed on the wall。
He threw his cloak upon a chair；
And still the lady's face was there。
From every corner of the room
He saw； in the patch of light； the gloom
That was the lady。 Her violet bloom
Was almost brighter than that which came
From his candle's tulip…flame。
He set the filigree hands； he laid
The watch in the case which he had made；
He put on his rabbit cloak； and snuffed
His candle out。 The room seemed stuffed
With darkness。 Softly he crossed the floor；
And let himself out through the door。
The sun was flashing from every pin
And wheel； when Paul let himself in。
The whitewashed walls were hot with light。
The room was the core of a chrysolite；
Burning and shimmering with fiery might。
The sun was so bright that no shadow could fall
From the furniture upon the wall。
Paul sighed as he looked at the empty space
Where a glare usurped the lady's place。
He settled himself to his work； but his mind
Wandered； and he would wake to find
His hand suspended； his eyes grown dim；
And nothing advanced beyond the rim
Of his dreaming。 The Cardinal sent to pay
For his watch； which had purchased so fine a day。
But Paul could hardly touch the gold；
It seemed the price of his Shadow； sold。
With the first twilight he struck a match
And watched the little blue stars hatch
Into an egg of perfect flame。
He lit his candle； and almost in shame
At his eagerness； lifted his eyes。
The Shadow was there； and its precise
Outline etched the cold； white wall。
The young man swore； 〃By God！ You； Paul；
There's something the matter with your brain。
Go home now and sleep off the strain。〃