Part 28 (1/2)

You have no pa.s.sion for the play, Or park, or other showy scenes; And, hence, you have no scores to pay, And live within your husband's means.

Of course, his income isn't large,-- And not too certain--still you thrive By steering well inside the marge, And keep your little ones alive.

In short, in some respects you set A fine example; and a few Of those white matrons I have met Would show some sense by copying you.

Here let us part! I will not say, O lady free from scents and starch, That you are like, in any way, The auth.o.r.ess of ”_Middlemarch_”.

One cannot match her perfect phrase With commonplaces from your lip; And yet there are some s.e.xual traits That show your dim relations.h.i.+p.

Indeed, in spite of all the mists That grow from social codes, I see The liberal likeness which exists Throughout our whole humanity.

And though I've laughed at your expense, O Dryad of the dusky race, No man who has a heart and sense Would bring displeasure to your face.

Hy-Brasil

”Daughter,” said the ancient father, pausing by the evening sea, ”Turn thy face towards the sunset--turn thy face and kneel with me!

Prayer and praise and holy fasting, lips of love and life of light, These and these have made thee perfect--s.h.i.+ning saint with seraph's sight!

Look towards that flaming crescent--look beyond that glowing s.p.a.ce-- Tell me, sister of the angels, what is beaming in thy face?”

And the daughter, who had fasted, who had spent her days in prayer, Till the glory of the Saviour touched her head and rested there, Turned her eyes towards the sea-line--saw beyond the fiery crest, Floating over waves of jasper, far Hy-Brasil in the west.

All the calmness and the colour--all the splendour and repose, Flowing where the sunset flowered, like a silver-hearted rose!

There indeed was singing Eden, where the great gold river runs Past the porch and gates of crystal, ringed by strong and s.h.i.+ning ones!

There indeed was G.o.d's own garden, sailing down the sapphire sea-- Lawny dells and slopes of summer, dazzling stream and radiant tree!

Out against the hushed horizon--out beneath the reverent day, Flamed the Wonder on the waters--flamed and flashed and pa.s.sed away.

And the maiden who had seen it felt a hand within her own, And an angel that we know not led her to the lands unknown.

Never since hath eye beheld it--never since hath mortal, dazed By its strange, unearthly splendour, on the floating Eden gazed!

Only once since Eve went weeping through a throng of glittering wings, Hath the holy seen Hy-Brasil where the great gold river sings!

Only once by quiet waters, under still, resplendent skies, Did the sister of the seraphs kneel in sight of Paradise!

She, the pure, the perfect woman, sanctified by patient prayer, Had the eyes of saints of Heaven, all their glory in her hair: Therefore G.o.d the Father whispered to a radiant spirit near-- ”Show Our daughter fair Hy-Brasil--show her this, and lead her here.”

But beyond the halls of sunset, but within the wondrous west, On the rose-red seas of evening, sails the Garden of the Blest.

Still the gates of gla.s.sy beauty, still the walls of glowing light, s.h.i.+ne on waves that no man knows of, out of sound and out of sight.

Yet the slopes and lawns of l.u.s.tre, yet the dells of sparkling streams, Dip to tranquil sh.o.r.es of jasper, where the watching angel beams.

But, behold, our eyes are human, and our way is paved with pain, We can never find Hy-Brasil, never see its hills again; Never look on bays of crystal, never bend the reverent knee In the sight of Eden floating--floating on the sapphire sea!

Jim the Splitter

The bard who is singing of Wollombi Jim Is hardly just now in the requisite trim To sit on his Pegasus fairly; Besides, he is bluntly informed by the Muse That Jim is a subject no singer should choose; For Jim is poetical rarely.

But being full up of the myths that are Greek-- Of the cla.s.sic, and n.o.ble, and nude, and antique, Which means not a rag but the pelt on; This poet intends to give Daphne the slip, For the sake of a hero in moleskin and kip, With a jumper and snake-buckle belt on.