Page:Veil other poems .djvu/93

 'OId Father Time—Time—Time!' jeered twittering throat. A squirrel capered on the leader's rump, Slithered a weasel, peered a thieflike stoat, In sandy warren beat on the coney's thump. Mute as a mammet in his saddle sate The hunched Postilion, clad in magpie trim; Buzzed the bright flies around his hairless pate; Yaffle and jay squawked mockery at him.

Yet marvellous peace and amity breathed there. Tranquil the labyrinths of this sundown wood. Musking its chaces, bloomed the brier-rose fair; Spellbound as if in trance the pine-trees stood.

Through moss, and pebbled rut, the wheels rasped on; That Ancient drowsing on his box. And still The bracken track with glazing sunbeams shone; Laboured the horses, straining at the hill. . . . But now — a verdurous height with eve-shade sweet; Far, far to West the Delectable Mountains glowed. Above, Night's canopy; at the horses' feet A sea-like honied waste of flowers flowed.