Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/11



a desert prophet sighed I

For some fairy dreams elysian.

Rarach came meanwhile, the tempter,

Hopped into my cave, derision

In his eyes, and fluttered round me;

Straddlewise my nose bespanned,

Like a Cupid his pagoda,

With the lotus in his hand

Waved the wonder-working floweret,

Lo! a thousand imps and nixies,

Pucks and gnomes and winged goblins,

Fairies, elfin wisps and pixies

O’er the mussels swarmed in countless

Hosts, and lusty carols sung

In the crystal sea’s recesses,

And their tinkling handbells rung.