Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/445
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THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY.
427
Where Raineses and Sabacon lie down,
And splendid Psammis in his hide of crust;
Princes and heroes, men of high renown,
Who in their day kicked up a mighty dust,—
Their swarthy mummies kicked up dust in numbers,
When huge Belzoni came to scare their slumbers!
And splendid Psammis in his hide of crust;
Princes and heroes, men of high renown,
Who in their day kicked up a mighty dust,—
Their swarthy mummies kicked up dust in numbers,
When huge Belzoni came to scare their slumbers!
Who'd think these rusty hams of mine were seated
At Dido's table, when the wondrous tale
Of "Juno's hatred" was so well repeated?
And ever and anon the queen turned pale;
Meanwhile the brilliant gas-lights, hung above her,
Threw a wild glare upon her shipwrecked lover.
At Dido's table, when the wondrous tale
Of "Juno's hatred" was so well repeated?
And ever and anon the queen turned pale;
Meanwhile the brilliant gas-lights, hung above her,
Threw a wild glare upon her shipwrecked lover.
Aye, gaslights! mock me not; we men of yore
Were versed in all the knowledge you can mention;
Who hath not heard of Egypt's peerless lore?
Her patient toil? acuteness of invention?
Survey the proofs,—our pyramids are thriving,—
Old Memnon still looks young and I'm surviving.
Were versed in all the knowledge you can mention;
Who hath not heard of Egypt's peerless lore?
Her patient toil? acuteness of invention?
Survey the proofs,—our pyramids are thriving,—
Old Memnon still looks young and I'm surviving.
A land in arts and sciences prolific,
On blocks gigantic building up her fame!
Crowned with signs and letters hieroglyphic,
Temples and obelisks her skill proclaim!
Yet though her art and toil unearthly seem,
Those blocks were brought on railroads and by steam!
On blocks gigantic building up her fame!
Crowned with signs and letters hieroglyphic,
Temples and obelisks her skill proclaim!
Yet though her art and toil unearthly seem,
Those blocks were brought on railroads and by steam!
How, when, and why, our people came to rear
The Pyramid of Cheops, mighty pile!
This and the other secrets thou shalt hear;
I will unfold if thou wilt stay awhile,
The history of the Sphinx, and who began it,
Our mystic marks, and monsters made of granite.
The Pyramid of Cheops, mighty pile!
This and the other secrets thou shalt hear;
I will unfold if thou wilt stay awhile,
The history of the Sphinx, and who began it,
Our mystic marks, and monsters made of granite.
Well, then, in grievous times, when King Cephrenes—
But, ah! what's this?—the shades of bards and kings
Press on my lips their fingers! What they mean is,
I am not to reveal these hidden things.
Mortal, farewell! Till Science' self unbind them,
Men must e'en take these secrets as they find them.
But, ah! what's this?—the shades of bards and kings
Press on my lips their fingers! What they mean is,
I am not to reveal these hidden things.
Mortal, farewell! Till Science' self unbind them,
Men must e'en take these secrets as they find them.
The Days of Chivalry.
Alas! the days of chivalry are fled!
The brilliant tournament exists no more!
Our loves are cold, and dull as ice or lead,
And courting is a most.enormous bore!
The brilliant tournament exists no more!
Our loves are cold, and dull as ice or lead,
And courting is a most.enormous bore!