And men forget the sordid lot— The sordid care, of cities gray; While yet, beset in homelier fray, They learn from you the lesson plain That Life may go, so Honour stay, The deeds you wrought are not in vain! ENVOY. HEROES of old! I humbly lay THE BALLAD OF THE THRUSH. ACROSS the noisy street I hear him careless throw One warning utterance sweet; What trick, what dream's deceit I, prisoned here below, Feel the fresh breezes blow; And see, thro' flag and rush, Sing on. What though thou beat On that dull bar, thy foe! Beyond the roofs a-row; Somewhere the blue skies show, Somewhere no black walls crush Poor hearts with hopeless woe Sing on, sing on, O Thrush! ENVOY. BIRD, though they come, we know, The empty cage, the hush; THE BALLAD OF THE BARMECIDE. one in Eastern clime, 'tis said, There came a man at eve with "Lo! Friend, ere the day be dimmed and dead, Hast thou a mind to feast, and know Fair cates, and sweet wine's overflow?" To whom that other fain replied "Lead on. Not backward I nor slow; Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?" Thereon the bidder passed and led To where, apart from dust and glow, They found a board with napery spread, And gold, and glistering cups a-row. "Eat," quoth the host, yet naught did show. To whom his guest" Thy board is wide; But barren is the cheer, I trow; Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?" "Eat," quoth the man not less, and fed From meats unseen, and made as though He drank of wine both white and red. 66 Eat, Short ere the day to darkness grow. space and scant the Fates bestow ! " What time his guest him wondering eyed, Muttering in wrath his beard below"Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?" LIFE, ENVOY. -'tis of thee they fable so. Thou bidd'st us eat, and still denied, Still fasting, from thy board we go:"Where is thy feast, O Barmecide?' |