They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall; Like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide; Where lay the Porter, in uneasy sprawl, But his sagacious eye an inmate owns: The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groans. And they are gone: ay, ages long ago 370 These lovers fled away into the storm. That night the Baron dreamt of many a woe, And all his warrior-guests, with shade and form Of witch, and demon, and large coffinworm, Were long be-nightmared. Angela the old Died palsy-twitched, with meagre face deform;5 The Beadsman, after thousand aves told, For aye unsought-for slept among his ashes cold. (1820) THE RED FISHERMAN [The date represented by this symbolic poem is evidently 1485, that of the Battle of Bosworth Field (see line 130), in which Gloucester (Richard III) met his death. The hero may be supposed to be the Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds (see line 159), a powerful monastery whose head was entitled to a seat in the House of Lords. Mistress Shore (line 199) was a favorite of the late king, Edward IV, who is doubtless referred to in line 196. The mitre, with which the devil's hook was baited for the Abbot himself, is symbol of the office of bishop.] The Abbot arose, and closed his book, A starlight sky was o'er his head, And the flowers a thrilling fragrance shed, 5 deform. Distorted. aves. Prayers to Mary. 30 Companionless, for a mile or more, As a lover thinks of constancy, He did not mark how the skies in wrath 40 When suddenly rose a dismal tone,Was it a song, or was it a moan? "O ho! O ho! Above-below Lightly and brightly they glide and go! The hungry and keen on the top are leap ing; 70 The lazy and fat in the depths are sleeping; Fishing is fine when the pool is muddy, Broiling is rich when the coals are ruddy!” In a monstrous fright, by the murky light, He looked to the left and he looked to the right, And what was the vision close before him, All alone, by the side of the pool, The line the Abbot saw him throw 90 Had been fashioned and formed long ages ago, And the hands that worked his foreign vest Long ages ago had gone to their rest: 100 2 Congreve rockets. Military rockets, carrying balls like a modern shell. Flow of wine, and flight of cork, And the priest was ready to vomit, 151 When he hauled out a gentleman, fine and fat, With a belly as big as a brimming vat, And a nose as red as a comet. "A capital stew," the Fisherman said, "With cinnamon and sherry!" And the Abbot turned away his head, For his brother was lying before him dead, The Mayor of St. Edmund's Bury! There was turning of keys, and creaking 160 of locks, As he took forth a bait from his iron box. It was a bundle of beautiful things,A peacock's tail, and a butterfly's wings, A scarlet slipper, an auburn curl, A mantle of silk, and a bracelet of pearl, And a packet of letters, from whose sweet fold Such a stream of delicate odours rolled That the Abbot fell on his face, and fainted, And deemed his spirit was half-way sainted. 171 Sounds seemed dropping from the skies, One jerk, and there a lady lay, A lady wondrous fair; 180 190 But the rose of her lip had faded away, And her cheek was as white and as cold as clay, And torn was her raven hair. THE BELLE OF THE BALL-ROOM WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED Years, years ago, ere yet my dreams Had been of being wise or witty, Ere I had done with writing themes, Or yawned o'er this infernal_Chitty ;* Years, years ago, while all my joys Were in my fowling-piece and filly,In short, while I was yet a boy, I fell in love with Laura Lilly. I saw her at the County Ball: There when the sounds of flute and fiddle Gave signal sweet in that old hall ΙΟ |