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XXI。
Each in the crypt would cry
‘‘But one freezes here！ and why？
‘‘When a heart； as chill；
‘‘At my own would thrill
‘‘Back to life； and its fires out…fly？
‘‘Heart； shall we live or die？
‘‘The rest。 。 。 。 settle by…and…by！''
XXII。
So； she'd efface the score；
And forgive me as before。
It is twelve o'clock：
I shall hear her knock
In the worst of a storm's uproar；
I shall pull her through the door；
I shall have her for evermore！
UP AT A VILLA…DOWN IN THE CITY。
（AS DISTINGUISHED BY AN ITALIAN PERSON OF QUALITY。）
I。
Had I but plenty of money； money enough and to spare；
The house for me； no doubt； were a house in the city…square；
Ah； such a life； such a life； as one leads at the window there！
II。
Something to see； by Bacchus； something to hear； at least！
There； the whole day long； one's life is a perfect feast；
While up at a villa one lives； I maintain it； no more than a beast。
III。
Well now； look at our villa！ stuck like the horn of a bull
Just on a mountain…edge as bare as the creature's skull；
Save a mere shag of a bush with hardly a leaf to pull！
…I scratch my own； sometimes； to see if the hair's turned wool。
IV。
But the city； oh the city…the square with the houses！ Why？
They are stone…faced； white as a curd； there's something to take the eye！
Houses in four straight lines； not a single front awry；
You watch who crosses and gossips； who saunters； who hurries by；
Green blinds； as a matter of course； to draw when the sun gets high；
And the shops with fanciful signs which are painted properly。
V。
What of a villa？ Though winter be over in March by rights；
'Tis May perhaps ere the snow shall have withered well off the heights：
You've the brown ploughed land before； where the oxen steam and wheeze；
And the hills over…smoked behind by the faint grey olive…trees。
VI。
Is it better in May； I ask you？ You've summer all at once；
In a day he leaps complete with a few strong April suns。
'Mid the sharp short emerald wheat； scarce risen three fingers well；
The wild tulip； at end of its tube； blows out its great red bell
Like a thin clear bubble of blood； for the children to pick and sell。
VII。
Is it ever hot in the square？ There's a fountain to spout and splash！
In the shade it sings and springs； in the shine such foam…bows flash
On the horses with curling fish…tails； that prance and paddle and pash
Round the lady atop in her conch…fifty gazers do not abash；
Though all that she wears is some weeds round her waist in a sort of sash。
VIII。
All the year at the villa； nothing to see though you linger；
Except yon cypress that points like a death's lean lifted forefinger。
Some think fireflies pretty； when they mix i' the corn and mingle；
Or thrid the stinking hemp till the stalks of it seem a…tingle。
Late August or early September； the stunning cicala is shrill；
And the bees keep their tiresome whine round the resinous firs on the hill。
Enough of the seasons；…I spare you the months of the fever and chill。
IX。
Ere you open your eyes in the city； the blessed church…bells begin：
No sooner the bells leave off than the diligence rattles in：
You get the pick of the news； and it costs you never a pin。
By…and…by there's the travelling doctor gives pills； lets blood； draws teeth；
Or the Pulcinello…trumpet breaks up the market beneath。
At the post…office such a scene…picture…the new play； piping hot！
And a notice how； only this morning； three liberal thieves were shot。
Above it； behold the Archbishop's most fatherly of rebukes；
And beneath； with his crown and his lion； some little new law of the Duke's！
Or a sonnet with flowery marge； to the Reverend Don So…and…so
Who is Dante； Boccaccio； Petrarca； Saint Jerome and Cicero；
‘‘And moreover；'' （the sonnet goes rhyming；） ‘‘the skirts of Saint Paul has reached；
‘‘Having preached us those six Lent…lectures more unctuous than ever he preached。''
Noon strikes；…here sweeps the procession！ our Lady borne smiling and smart
With a pink gauze gown all spangles； and seven swords stuck in her heart！
_Bang…whang…whang_ goes the drum； _tootle…to…tootle_ the fife；
No keeping one's haunches still： it's the greatest pleasure in life。
X。
But bless you； it's dear…it's dear！ fowls； wine； at double the rate。
They have clapped a new tax upon salt； and what oil pays passing the gate
It's a horror to think of。 And so； the villa for me； not the city！
Beggars can scarcely be choosers： but still…ah； the pity； the pity！
Look； two and two go the priests； then the monks with cowls and sandals；
And the penitents dressed in white shirts； a…holding the yellow candles；
One' he carries a flag up straight； and another a cross with handles；
And the Duke's guard brings up the rear； for the better prevention of scandals：
_Bang…whang…whang_ goes the drum； _tootle…te…tootle_ the fife。
Oh； a day in the city…square； there is no such pleasure in life！
A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S。
＇Galuppi was a famous Italian composer of
the eighteenth century。 He was in London
from 1741 to 1744。＇
I。
Oh Galuppi； Baldassaro； this is very sad to find！
I can hardly misconceive you； it would prove me deaf and blind；
But although I take your meaning； 'tis with such a heavy mind！
II。
Here you come with all your music； and here's all the good it brings。
What； they lived once thus at Venice where the merchants were the kings；
Where Saint Mark's is； where the Doges used to wed the sea with rings？
III。
Ay； because the sea's the street there； and 'tis arched by 。。。 what you call
。。。 Shylock's bridge with houses on it； where they kept the carnival：
I was never out of England…it's as if I saw it all。
IV。
Did young people take their pleasure when the sea was warm in May？
Balls and masks begun at midnight； burning ever to mid…day；
When they made up fresh adventures for the morrow； do you say？
V。
Was a lady such a lady； cheeks so round and lips so red；…
On her neck the small face buoyant； like a bell…flower on its bed；
O'er the breast's superb abundance where a man might base his head？
VI。
Well； and it was graceful of them…they'd break talk off and afford
…She； to bite her mask's black velvet…he； to finger o