"WHEN BURBADGE PLAYED"

(TO L. B.)

7HEN Burbadge played, the stage was bare

WHEN

Of fount and temple, tower and stair; Two backswords eked a battle out;

Two supers made a rabble rout;

The Throne of Denmark was a chair!

And yet, no less, the audience there
Thrilled through all changes of Despair,
Hope, Anger, Fear, Delight, and Doubt
When Burbadge played!

This is the Actor's gift; to share
All moods, all passions, nor to care
One whit for scene, so he without
Can lead men's minds the roundabout,
Stirred as of old those hearers were

When Burbadge played!

BUT

A GREETING

(TO W. C.)

UT once or twice we met, touched hands.
To-day between us both expands

A waste of tumbling waters wide,—

A waste by me as yet untried,

Vague with the doubt of unknown lands.

Time like a despot speeds his sands:

A year he blots, a day he brands ;
We walked, we talked by Thamis' side
But once or twice.

What makes a friend? What filmy strands Are these that turn to iron bands?

What knot is this so firmly tied

That naught but Fate can now divide ?—— Ah, these are things one understands

But once or twice!

LÉAL SOUVENIR

(E. F. B.)

'FOR old sake's sake!" "Twere hard to choose

Words fitter for an old-world Muse

Than these, that in their cadence bring
Faint fragrance of the posy-ring,

And charms that rustic lovers use.

The long day lengthens, and we lose
The first pale flush, the morning hues,—
Ah! but the back-look, lingering,

That we retain.

For old sake's sake!

Though Time refuse

To lift the veil on forward views,

Despot in most, he is not king
Of those kind memories that cling
Around his travelled avenues

For old sake's sake!

AFTER WATTEAU

(TO F. W.)

"EMBARQUONS-NOUS!" I seem to go

Against my will.

'Neath alleys low

I bend, and hear across the airAcross the stream-faint music rare,Whose "cornemuse," whose "chalumeau”?

Hark! was not that a laugh I know?
Who was it, hurrying, turned to show
The galley swinging by the stair?——
"Embarquons-nous !"

The silk sail flaps, light breezes blow;
Frail laces flutter, satins flow;

You, with the love-knot in your hair, "Allons, embarquons pour Cythère" ; You will not? Press her, then, PIERROT,

"Embarquons-nous !"

V TO ETHEL

(Who wishes she had lived-

"In teacup-times of hood and hoop,
Or while the patch was worn.”)

IN teacup-times!" The style of dress
Would suit your beauty, I confess;
BELINDA-like, the patch you'd wear ;
I picture you with powdered hair,-
You'd make a charming Shepherdess!

And I no doubt-could well express
SIR PLUME'S complete conceitedness,-
Could poise a clouded cane with care
"In teacup-times!"

The parts would fit precisely-yes:
We should achieve a huge success!
You should disdain, and I despair,
With quite the true Augustan air;
But.. could I love you more, or less,—
"In teacup-times"?