Page:Pocahontas and Other Poems (NY).pdf/268

Rh Glow like a greenhouse. Full frisets and curls Lay unregarded, till a prudish Pike, Suspected to be somewhat in her wane, Assumed a wig, declaring it more cool, And vastly more delightful to the head Than was the natural hair. Such varied stores Of gay gauze robes on seaweed hedges hung, That the plebeians thought to have a ball In the old Coral Palace. Thither came The Codlings, deck'd with drooping Ostrich-plumes, The purblind Lampreys, each with opera-glass Uplifted pertly, and gay safety-chain The gilded watch within their belts to guard; The Lobsters toiling their red arms to hide 'Neath long kid gloves, and their strange nether limbs Ensconced in gaiter-boots; while countless shoals Of Herrings flock'd, false brilliants in their heads In gorgeous knots; and Crabs with widespread fans, Aping the elegant, but inly chafed To find their retrograding step confound Their partners, figuring in the favourite waltz.

—A barge of Oysters reach'd St. Petersburgh: Extremely loth they were to be dissected, For those sly people in their cloister'd cells, Close-mouth'd as Achan with his wedge of gold, Lock'd hoards of jewelry, broaches and rings Profuse as ancient Cannæ's battle spoil.

—Even thus it is. What bodeth loss to one Doth prove another's gain. The adversity