Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/99

 In dark platoons, it flounced, bounced, hammered

Against the stubborn planks, and stammered

Vain imprecations as the portals

Respinged that surge of clamouring mortals.

So things unchanged awhile went on,

And then, when all the panes were gone,

The saints above put up the shutters,

And as they did so, blandly bowed

And smiled triumphant at the crowd

(Much as grimalkin in the cherry-

Tree safe ensconced at Trot makes merry).

To hear the stones rebound upon

The scalps below or line the gutters.

No wonder, hampered thus and gagged,

This flagstone conversation flagged,

And steadier than that rain of knocks

On craniums thick and orthodox,

Moved by some instinct deep and subtle

Flowing from soul to soul magnetic,

A hush, a silence sympathetic

Falls spell-like on th’ impassioned tumult.

Those battering in the gateway’s gloom halt:

The flights of stones from mid-street shatter

The panes no more, but idly patter,

Harmless, upon the kindred paving

From slackening fists, as o’er the lists

Lo! the same lanky leader waving

His spidery arms like flails, and craving,

In accents higher than Strasburg spire,

Like a bat raving so shrilly, shaving,

Brand, firewood, torch, to fill the porch,