And Sir Romeo sticks in his ear a rose, Then hey! for the ripple of laughing rhyme! In a theme where the thoughts have a pedant strut, In a changing quarrel of "Ayes" and "Noes," In a starched procession of "If" and "But,"— There is place and enough for the pains of prose; But whenever a soft glance softer grows And the light hours dance to the trysting-time, And the secret is told "that no one knows," Then hey!for the ripple of laughing rhyme ! ENVOY. IN the work-a-day world, for its needs and woes, There is place and enough for the pains of prose; But whenever the May-bells clàsh and chime, Then hey! for the ripple of laughing rhyme! "O NAVIS." SHIP, to the roadstead rolled, What dost thou ?-O, once more Regain the port. Behold! Thy sides are bare of oar, Thy tall mast wounded sore Of Africus, and see, What shall thy spars restore ! Tempt not the tyrant sea! What cable now will hold When all drag out from shore! Fast - fast thy seams outpour, - What though thy ribs of old The pines of Pontus bore! Thou, or thou count'şt it store A toy of winds to be, Shun thou the Cyclads' roar, Tempt not the tyrant sea! ENVOY. SHIP OF THE STATE, before THE DANCE OF DEATH. (AFTER HOLBEIN.) "Contra vim MORTIS Non est medicamen in hortis." HE is the despots' Despot. All must bide, Later or soon, the message of his might; Princes and potentates their heads must hide, The lusty Lord, rejoicing in his pride, Nor for the Abbess' wailing will delay; All things must bow to him. And woe betide The Wine-bibber, - the Roisterer by night; Him 'twixt the pledging and the cup shall smite; The hard Rich Man, the hireling Advocate; He hath no pity, nor will be denied. |