Part 4 (1/2)

_Tod's Amendment._

Not though you die to-night, O Sweet, and wail, A spectre at my door, Shall mortal Fear make Love immortal fail-- I shall but love you more, Who, from Death's House returning, give me still One moment's comfort in my matchless ill.

_By Word of Mouth._

They burnt a corpse upon the sand-- The light shone out afar; It guided home the plunging boats That beat from Zanzibar.

Spirit of Fire, where'er Thy altars rise, Thou art the Light of Guidance to our eyes!

_In Error._

Ride with an idle whip, ride with an unused heel.

But, once in a way, there will come a day When the colt must be taught to feel The lash that falls, and the curb that galls, and the sting of the rowelled steel.

_The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin._

It was not in the open fight We threw away the sword, But in the lonely watching In the darkness by the ford.

The waters lapped, the night-wind blew, Full-armed the Fear was born and grew, From panic in the night.

_The Rout of the White Hussars._

In the daytime, when she moved about me, In the night, when she was sleeping at my side,-- I was wearied, I was wearied of her presence.

Day by day and night by night I grew to hate her-- Would G.o.d that she or I had died!

_The Bronckhorst Divorce Case._

A stone's throw out on either hand From that well-ordered road we tread, And all the world is wild and strange; Churel and ghoul and Djinn and sprite Shall bear us company to-night, For we have reached the Oldest Land Wherein the powers of Darkness range.

_In the House of Suddhoo._

To-night, G.o.d knows what thing shall tide, The Earth is racked and fain-- Expectant, sleepless, open-eyed; And we, who from the Earth were made, Thrill with our Mother's pain.

_False Dawn._

Pit where the buffalo cooled his hide, By the hot sun emptied, and blistered and dried; Log in the reh-gra.s.s, hidden and lone; Bund where the earth-rat's mounds are strown; Cave in the bank where the sly stream steals; Aloe that stabs at the belly and heels, Jump if you dare on a steed untried-- Safer it is to go wide--go wide!

_Hark, from in front where the best men ride;--_ _'Pull to the off, boys! Wide! Go wide!'_

_Cupid's Arrows._

He drank strong waters and his speech was coa.r.s.e; He purchased raiment and forbore to pay; He stuck a trusting junior with a horse, And won gymkhanas in a doubtful way.

Then, 'twixt a vice and folly, turned aside To do good deeds and straight to cloak them, lied.

_A Bank Fraud._

COLD IRON