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Far back in the years that are dead
He knew of the bitterness cold
That saddens with silver the head
And makes a man suddenly old。
The dignity gracing his grief
Was ever a lesson to me;
He lies under blossom and leaf
In a grave by the cliffs of the sea。
Above him the wandering face
Of the moon is a loveliness now;
And anthems encompass the place
From lutes of the luminous bough。
Page: 194
The forelands are fiery with foam
Where often and often he roved;
He sleeps in the sight of the home
That he built by the waters he loved。
The wave is his fellow at night;
And the sun; shining over the lea;
Sheds out an unspeakable light
On this grave by the cliffs of the sea。
Page: 195
GALATEA
A silver slope; a fall of firs; a league of gleaming grasses;
And fiery cones; and sultry spurs; and swarthy pits and passes!
*
*
*
*
*
The long…haired Cyclops bated breath; and bit his lip and hearkened;
And dug and dragged the stone of death; by ways that dipped and darkened。
Page: 196
Across a tract of furnaced flints there came a wind of water;
From yellow banks with tender hints of Tethys' white…armed daughter。
She sat amongst wild singing weeds; by beds of myrrh and m鬺y;
And Acis made a flute of reeds; and drew its accents slowly;
And taught its spirit subtle sounds that leapt beyond suppression;
And paused and panted on the bounds of fierce and fitful passion。
Then he who shaped the cunning tune; by keen desire made bolder;
Fell fainting; like a fervent noon; upon the sea…nymph's shoulder。
Page: 197
Sicilian suns had laid a dower of light and life about her:
Her beauty was a gracious flower … the heart fell dead without her。
‘‘Ah; Galat?'' said Polypheme; ‘‘I would that I could find thee
Some finest tone of hill or stream; wherewith to lull and bind thee!
‘‘What lyre is left of marvellous range; whose subtle strings; containing
Some note supreme; might catch and change; or set thy passion waning? …
‘‘Thy passion for the fair…haired youth whose fleet; light feet perplex me
By ledges rude; on paths uncouth; and broken ways that vex me?
Page: 198
Ah; turn to me! else violent sleep shall track the cunning lover;
And thou wilt wait and thou wilt weep when I his haunts discover。''
But golden Galatea laughed; and Th魋a's son; like thunder;
Broke through a rifty runnel shaft; and dashed its rocks asunder;
And poised the bulk; and hurled the stone; and crushed the hidden Acis;
And struck with sorrow drear and lone the sweetest of all faces。
To Zeus; the mighty Father; she; with plaint and prayer; departed:
Then from fierce 苩na to the sea a fountained water started …
Page: 199
A lucent stream of lutes and lights … cool haunt of flower and feather;
Whose silver days and yellow nights made years of hallowed weather。
Here Galatea used to come; and rest beside the river;
Because; in faint; soft; blowing foam; her shepherd lived for ever。
Page: 200
BLACK KATE
Kate; they say; is seventeen …
Do not count her sweet; you know。
Arms of her are rather lean …
Ditto; calves and feet; you know。
Features of Hellenic type
Are not patent here; you see。
Katie loves a black clay pipe …
Doesn't hate her beer; you see。
Spartan Helen used to wear
Tresses in a plait; perhaps:
Kate has ochre in her hair …
Nose is rather flat; perhaps。
Page: 201
Rose Lorraine's surpassing dress
Glitters at the ball; you see:
Daughter of the wilderness
Has no dress at all; you see。
Laura's lovers every day
In sweet verse embody her:
Katie's have a different way;
Being frank; they ‘‘waddy'' her。
Amy by her suitor kissed;
Every nightfall looks for him:
Kitty's sweetheart isn't missed …
Kitty ‘‘humps'' and cooks for him。
Smith; and Brown; and Jenkins; bring
Roses to the fair; you know。
Darkies at their Katie fling
Hunks of native bear; you know。
Page: 202
English girls examine well
All the food they take; you twig:
Kate is hardly keen of smell …
Kate will eat a snake; you twig。
Yonder lady's sitting room …
Clean and cool and dark it is:
Kitty's chamber needs no broom …
Just a sheet of bark it is。
You may find a pipe or two
If you poke and grope about:
Not a bit of starch or blue …
Not a sign of soap about。
Girl I know reads Lalla Rookh …
Poem of the ‘‘heady'' sort:
Kate is better as a cook
Of the rough and ready sort。
Page: 203
Byron's verse on Waterloo;
Makes my darling glad; you see:
Kate prefers a kangaroo …
Which is very sad; you see。
Other ladies wear a hat
Fit to write a sonnet on:
Kitty has … the naughty cat …
Neither hat nor bonnet on!
Fifty silks has Madame Tate …
She who loves to spank it on:
All her clothes are worn by Kate
When she has her blanket on。
Let her rip! the Phrygian boy
Bolted with a brighter one;
And the girl who ruined Troy
Was a rather whiter one。
Page: 204
Katie's mouth is hardly Greek …
Hardly like a rose it is:
Katie's nose is not antique …
Not the classic nose it is。
Dryad in the grand old day;
Though she walked the woods about;
Didn't smoke a penny clay …
Didn't ‘‘hump'' her goods about。
Daphne by the fairy lake;
Far away from din and all;
Never ate a yard of snake;
Head and tail and skin and all。
Page: 205
A HYDE PARK LARRIKIN
Note:To the servants of God that are to be found in every denomination;
these verses; of course; do not apply
You may have heard of Proclus; sir;
If you have been a reader;
And you may know a bit of her
Who helped the Lycian leader。
I have my doubts … the head you ‘‘sport''
(Now mark me; don't get crusty)
Is hardly of the classic sort …
Your lore; I think; is fusty。
Page: 206
Most likely you have stuck to tracts
Flushed through with flaming curses …
I judge you; neighbour; by your acts …
So don't you dn my verses。
But to my theme。 The Asian sage;
Whose name above I mention;
Lived in the pitchy Pagan age;
A life without pretension。
He may have