Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/70

44 Envied the slave who held the red Umbrella o'er her queenly head! Envied the mastiff on whose back One fair and slender hand lay slack! Even the Fiscal pressed his hat With fervour 'gainst his laced cravat, And swept the pavement with a bow Before the lovely Jonge-vrouw.

When Swellengrebel gave a ball, He led her foremost down the hall; Her lightest word or look was law At picnic or at Wapenschaw; In church, distracted beaux gave scant Attention to the Predikant, But read their sermon in the smile That shone like sunshine down the aisle; And once at least upon the lawn Beneath the Castle walls at dawn Hard breathing men with sword to sword Tramped a circle on the sward, Athirst to make a rival feel The cruel chastisement of steel.

But now, I prithee, tell me, Muse, How came she to wear English shoes?

An English ship one summer day Let fall her anchor in the Bay, Answered the Castle gun for gun— The Walpole or the Addison, Laden with sandalwood and spice, And other goodly merchandize.