Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/50

 Confined: the Bois de Boulogne and St. James’.

But ah! I see in soul, how o’er my fancies

Like snow-white butterfly that flits o’er roses

Too oft a tender hand o’er lips reposes—

Lips whose light ennui e’en their charm enhances.

And hear the sigh that flutters o’er my mystery,

“Instead of rose and tender nightingale,”

He limns us grinning monkey masks and fails

E’en thus to keep the slight thread of his history.

Ah, me! I feel the weight of your just anger,

But peace! the coming Canto shall work wonders,

There, like a tempest, roars the battle’s clangour

And in a cataract the action thunders.

Long time in peace the ape empire bloomed, progressing,

His work’s success the king with pleasure filled,

Only at times the parrot plague distilled

A drop of wormwood in his cup of blessing.

These spottled dolts we all know have the failing

To mimic what they hear with dismal wailing.

Thus it befel one graceless bird kept screeching

“Humanity,” here “Culture” one went preaching,

Here “Progress,” “Freedom,” through the leaf-wove thatch whirred,

There “Ideal” the fools squalled on and on,

And clumps of parrots pealed their favourite catchword

In chorus: “Ci—Civilization.”

These words exalted in those idiot echoes

Rang as in scorn around the breeched makakoes

And stung them all day long, nor could the king