按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
For my voice； and the other pricked out on his track；
And one eye's black intelligence；…ever that glance
'er its white edge at me； his own master； askance！
And the thick heavy spume…flakes which aye and anon
His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on。
VI。
By Hasselt； Dirck groaned； and cried Joris； ‘‘Stay spur！
‘‘Your Roos galloped bravely； the fault's not in her；
‘‘We'll remember at Aix''…for one heard the quick wheeze
Of her chest； saw the stretched neck and staggering knees；
And sunk tail； and horrible heave of the flank；
As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank。
VII。
So； we were left galloping； Joris and I；
Past Looz and past Tongres； no cloud in the sky；
The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh；
'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff；
Till over by Dalhem a dome…spire sprang white；
And ‘‘Gallop；'' gasped Joris； ‘‘for Aix is in sight！''
VIII。
‘‘How they'll greet us！''…and all in a moment his roan
Rolled neck and croup over； lay dead as a stone；
And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight
Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate；
With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim；
And with circles of red for his eye…sockets' rim。
IX。
Then I cast loose my buffcoat； each holster let fall；
Shook off both my jack…boots； let go belt and all；
Stood up in the stirrup； leaned； patted his ear；
Called my Roland his pet…name； my horse without peer；
Clapped my hands； laughed and sang； any noise； bad or good；
Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood。
X。
And all I remember is…friends flocking round
As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground；
And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine；
As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine；
Which （the burgesses voted by common consent）
Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent。
THROUGH THE METIDJA TO ABD…EL…KADR。
＇Abd…el…Kadr was an Arab Chief of Algiers who resisted the French in 1833。＇
I。
As I ride； as I ride；
With a full heart for my guide；
So its tide rocks my side；
As I ride； as I ride；
That； as I were double…eyed；
He； in whom our Tribes confide；
Is descried； ways untried
As I ride； as I ride。
II。
As I ride； as I ride
To our Chief and his Allied；
Who dares chide my heart's pride
As I ride； as I ride？
Or are witnesses denied…
Through the desert waste and wide
Do I glide unespied
As I ride； as I ride？
III。
As I ride； as I ride；
When an inner voice has cried；
The sands slide； nor abide
（As I ride； as I ride）
O'er each visioned homicide
That came vaunting （has he lied？）
To reside…where he died；
As I ride； as I ride。
IV。
As I ride； as I ride；
Ne'er has spur my swift horse plied；
Yet his hide； streaked and pied；
As I ride； as I ride；
Shows where sweat has sprung and dried；
…Zebra…footed； ostrich…thighed…
How has vied stride with stride
As I ride； as I ride！
V。
As I ride； as I ride；
Could I loose what Fate has tied；
Ere I pried； she should hide
（As I ride； as I ride）
All that's meant me…satisfied
When the Prophet and the Bride
Stop veins I'd have subside
As I ride； as I ride！
NATIONALITY IN DRINKS。
I。
My heart sank with our Claret…flask；
Just now； beneath the heavy sedges
That serve this Pond's black face for mask
And still at yonder broken edges
O' the hole； where up the bubbles glisten；
After my heart I look and listen。
II。
Our laughing little flask； compelled
Thro' depth to depth more bleak and shady；
As when； both arms beside her held；
Feet straightened out； some gay French lady
Is caught up from life's light and motion；
And dropped into death's silent ocean！
…
Up jumped Tokay on our table；
Like a pygmy castle…warder；
Dwarfish to see； but stout and able；
Arms and accoutrements all in order；
And fierce he looked North； then； wheeling South；
Blew with his bugle a challenge to Drouth；
Cocked his flap…hat with the tosspot…feather；
Twisted his thumb in his red moustache；
Jingled his huge brass spurs together；
Tightened his waist with its Buda sash；
And then； with an impudence nought could abash；
Shrugged his hump…shoulder； to tell the beholder；
For twenty such knaves he should laugh but the bolder：
And so； with his sword…hilt gallantly jutting；
And dexter…hand on his haunch abutting；
Went the little man； Sir Ausbruch； strutting！
…
Here's to Nelson's memory！
'Tis the second time that I； at sea；
Right off Cape Trafalgar here；
Have drunk it deep in British Beer。
Nelson for ever…any time
Am I his to command in prose or rhyme！
Give me of Nelson only a touch；
And I save it； be it little or much：
Here's one our Captain gives； and so
Down at the word； by George； shall it go！
He says that at Greenwich they point the beholder
To Nelson's coat； ‘‘still with tar on the shoulder：
‘‘For he used to lean with one shoulder digging；
‘‘Jigging； as it were； and zig…zag…zigging
‘‘Up against the mizen…rigging！''
GARDEN FANCIES。
I。 THE FLOWER'S NAME
Here's the garden she walked across；
Arm in my arm； such a short while since：
Hark； now I push its wicket； the moss
Hinders the hinges and makes them wince！
She must have reached this shrub ere she turned；
As back with that murmur the wicket swung；
For she laid the poor snail； my chance foot spurned；
To feed and forget it the leaves among。
II。
Down this side ofthe gravel…walk
She went while her rope's edge brushed the box：
And here she paused in her gracious talk
To point me a moth on the milk…white phlox。
Roses； ranged in valiant row；
I will never think that she passed you by！
She loves you noble roses； I know；
But yonder； see； where the rock…plants lie！
III。
This flower she stopped at； finger on lip；
Stooped over； in doubt； as settling its claim；
Till she gave me； with pride to make no slip；
Its soft meandering Spanish name：
What a name！ Was it love or praise？
Speech half…a