Exotic or Foreign Forms of Derse. [Mr. Swinburne, the distinguished English poet, Mr. Austin Dobson, Mr. E. H. Gosse, and several others, have written a great deal recently in exotic forms, which must conform to very strict rules. The most attractive of these forms are the French Ballade and the Rondeau. It would be somewhat wearisome to the young reader to enter into minute descriptions of them; but specimens dealing with attractive subjects may be given; and if he will but notice how the rhymes run, he will have a fair idea of what is meant by a Ballade or a Rondeau. The Ballade is properly written on three rhymes, and for success demands much ingenuity. All the specimens we here give are very true to the form, and Mr. Austin Dobson's old English spelling in the 'Loyall Ballade of the Armada" also merits attention.] I. 66 A LOYALL BALLADE OF THE ARMADA. To the Most High, Mightie, and Magnificent Empresse, Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, Frannce and Ereland, and of Virginia, Defender of the Faith, etc. KING PHILLIP had vaunted his claimes; He had sworne for a yeere he would sacke us; He was coming to faggot and stacke us; And shatter our Shippes on the maine; His Carackes were christned of Dames To the kirtles whereof he would tacke us; And Drake to his Devon againe, And Hawkins bowle rubbers to Bacchus,- BALLADE OF CLEOPATRA'S Needle. Let his Maiestie hang to St. James The axe that he whetted to hacke us; Alas! that his Greatness should lacke us! ENVOY. GLORIANA !-the Don may attacke us Whenever his stomacke be faine; He must reache us before he can racke us, And where are the Gallions of Spayne? II. AUSTIN DOBSON. BALLADE OF CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE. YE giant shades of Ra and Tum, If murmurs of our planet come To exiles in the precincts wan Where fetish or Olympian, To help or harm no more ye list, Look down, if look ye may, and scan This monument in London mist! Behold, the hieroglyphs are dumb That once were read by him that ran When leistron, cymbal, trump, and drum, Wild music of the Bull began; 221 When through the chanting priestly clan This stone endures though gods be numb; Of sands in wastes Arabian. What king may deem him more than man, ENVOY. Prince, the stone's shade on your divan It preaches, as times gnomen can, III. A.LANG. THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME. DOUBLE REFRAIN. WHEN the ways are heavy with mire and rut When the North Wind howls, and the doors are shut,— THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME. But whenever a scent from the whitethorn blows, When the brain gets dry as an empty nut, In a theme where the thoughts have a pedant-strut ENVOY. In the work-a-day world,—for its needs and woes 223 AUSTIN DOBSON. AT DAWN. RONDEAU. Ar dawn of day, when cow-bells ring And so my heart doth heavenward spring, The breath, the balm, the glow you fling To melodies which must desist When night-fall hath discrowned me king |