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And that would seem to be as much as there will ever be。
〃Fifty years ago it was we found it where it sat。〃
And forty years ago it was old Archibald said that。
〃An apple tree that's yet alive saw something； I suppose；
Of what it was that happened there； and what no mortal knows。
Some one on the mountain heard far off a master shriek；
And then there was a light that showed the way for men to seek。
〃We found it in the morning with an iron bar behind；
And there were chains around it； but no search could ever find；
Either in the ashes that were left； or anywhere；
A sign to tell of who or what had been with Stafford there。
〃Stafford was a likely man with ideas of his own
Though I could never like the kind that likes to live alone；
And when you met； you found his eyes were always on your shoes；
As if they did the talking when he asked you for the news。
〃That's all； my son。 Were I to talk for half a hundred years
I'd never clear away from there the cloud that never clears。
We buried what was left of it； the bar； too； and the chains；
And only for the apple tree there's nothing that remains。〃
Forty years ago it was I heard the old man say；
〃That's all； my son。〃 And here again I find the place to…day；
Deserted and told only by the tree that knows the most；
And overgrown with golden…rod as if there were no ghost。
Hillcrest
（To Mrs。 Edward MacDowell）
No sound of any storm that shakes
Old island walls with older seas
Comes here where now September makes
An island in a sea of trees。
Between the sunlight and the shade
A man may learn till he forgets
The roaring of a world remade；
And all his ruins and regrets；
And if he still remembers here
Poor fights he may have won or lost；
If he be ridden with the fear
Of what some other fight may cost；
If； eager to confuse too soon；
What he has known with what may be；
He reads a planet out of tune
For cause of his jarred harmony；
If here he venture to unroll
His index of adagios；
And he be given to console
Humanity with what he knows；
He may by contemplation learn
A little more than what he knew；
And even see great oaks return
To acorns out of which they grew。
He may； if he but listen well；
Through twilight and the silence here；
Be told what there are none may tell
To vanity's impatient ear；
And he may never dare again
Say what awaits him； or be sure
What sunlit labyrinth of pain
He may not enter and endure。
Who knows to…day from yesterday
May learn to count no thing too strange：
Love builds of what Time takes away；
Till Death itself is less than Change。
Who sees enough in his duress
May go as far as dreams have gone；
Who sees a little may do less
Than many who are blind have done；
Who sees unchastened here the soul
Triumphant has no other sight
Than has a child who sees the whole
World radiant with his own delight。
Far journeys and hard wandering
Await him in whose crude surmise
Peace； like a mask； hides everything
That is and has been from his eyes；
And all his wisdom is unfound；
Or like a web that error weaves
On airy looms that have a sound
No louder now than falling leaves。
Old King Cole
In Tilbury Town did Old King Cole
A wise old age anticipate；
Desiring； with his pipe and bowl；
No Khan's extravagant estate。
No crown annoyed his honest head；
No fiddlers three were called or needed；
For two disastrous heirs instead
Made music more than ever three did。
Bereft of her with whom his life
Was harmony without a flaw；
He took no other for a wife；
Nor sighed for any that he saw；
And if he doubted his two sons；
And heirs； Alexis and Evander；
He might have been as doubtful once
Of Robert Burns and Alexander。
Alexis； in his early youth；
Began to steal from old and young。
Likewise Evander； and the truth
Was like a bad taste on his tongue。
Born thieves and liars； their affair
Seemed only to be tarred with evil
The most insufferable pair
Of scamps that ever cheered the devil。
The world went on； their fame went on；
And they went on from bad to worse；
Till； goaded hot with nothing done；
And each accoutred with a curse；
The friends of Old King Cole； by twos；
And fours； and sevens； and elevens；
Pronounced unalterable views
Of doings that were not of heaven's。
And having learned again whereby
Their baleful zeal had come about；
King Cole met many a wrathful eye
So kindly that its wrath went out
Or partly out。 Say what they would；
He seemed the more to court their candor；
But never told what kind of good
Was in Alexis and Evander。
And Old King Cole； with many a puff
That haloed his urbanity；
Would smoke till he had smoked enough；
And listen most attentively。
He beamed as with an inward light
That had the Lord's assurance in it；
And once a man was there all night；
Expecting something every minute。
But whether from too little thought；
Or too much fealty to the bowl；
A dim reward was all he got
For sitting up with Old King Cole。
〃Though mine；〃 the father mused aloud；
〃Are not the sons I would have chosen；
Shall I； less evilly endowed；
By their infirmity be frozen？
〃They'll have a bad end； I'll agree；
But I was never born to groan；
For I can see what I can see；
And I'm accordingly alone。
With open heart and open door；
I love my friends； I like my neighbors；
But if I try to tell you more；
Your doubts will overmatch my labors。
〃This pipe would never make me calm；
This bowl my grief would never drown。
For grief like mine there is no balm
In Gilead； or in Tilbury Town。
And if I see what I can see；
I know not any way to blind it；
Nor more if any way may be
For you to grope or fly to find it。
〃There may be room for ruin yet；
And ashes for a wasted love；
Or； like One whom you may forget；
I may have meat you know not of。
And if I'd rather live than weep
Meanwhile； do you find that surprising？
Why； bless my soul； the man's asleep！
That's good。 The sun will soon be rising。〃
Ben Jonson Entertains a Man from Stratford
You are a friend then； as I make it out；
Of our man Shakespeare； who alone of us
Will put an ass's head in Fairyland
As he would add a shilling to more shillings；
All most harmonious； and out of his
Miraculous inviolable increase
Fills Ilion； Rome； or any town you like
Of olden time with timeless Englishmen；
And I must wonder what you think of him
All you down there where your small Avon flows
By Stratford； and where you're an Alderman。
Some； for a guess； would have him riding back
To be a farrier there； or say a dyer；
Or maybe one of your adept surveyors；
Or like enough the wizard of all tanners。
Not you no fear of that； for I discern
In you a kindling of the flame that saves
The nimble elem