Mathieu Ropars: et cetera Part 21

A wise King bade the lazy fool Observe my Second's ways, And notice--as it were in school-- The wisdom she displays.

Yet hers is a devouring race, And might--though strange it be-- Eat up, in given time and place, My First, or you, or me.

As for my whole--in every age Mankind must have its show; In actual life, on mimic stage, In peace, war, joy, or woe.

Now 'tis a wedding, now a death, A gathering, or a play; It comes, but, like a pa.s.sing breath, Full soon 'tis swept away.

III.

When Richard of the Lion Heart In arms the Paynim sought, I of his panoply was part, And, wielding me, he fought.

When ladies on a different field With men their skill essay, I am the weapon that they wield If they would gain the day.

When cooks in certain dishes show Their culinary art, I am on hand--the masters know What flavour I impart.

IV.

I'm a word of one syllable. Look you for me Mid Niagara's roar; in the turbulent sea; Where the winds and the waters are wildest at play, And fling off their laughter in volumes of spray.

I'm a noun of five letters; but throw one aside-- I'm a verb; with the noun I'm no longer allied.

I'm a grave, solemn verb; nay, I truly might say, Those who follow my precept do nothing but pray.

But again; let two letters be dropped--there's a change; As a noun--and by no means a grave one--I range.

Now I'm here; now I'm there; seen by night and by day, For in short, I'm a beam, or a flash, or a ray.

Thus a verb and two nouns packed together you see, In a word of one syllable.--What can it be?

V.

There are some words, that in a double sense Must be interpreted; of these am I.

Your housemaid, thus, wilt know me literally Better than you do; but, with all respect For Betty's carefulness, she scarce can catch My finer meaning. I'm, with her, a thing For brush and duster; in me, you behold A symbol. So much for me as I stand.

Now cut my head off--I'm another word Of narrow and of wide significance, Handful of dust, the very world itself.

Cut off my tail--the effect is still the same; I'm yet another of those duplex words: Mental and bodily, an essential part Of all mankind, without which no one lives, Nay, not an animal, though you may swear, And truly too, that I have no existence, And never had, in certain men and women.

Enough: it is not difficult to find Three words, six meanings, in one syllable.

VI.

Well may I call myself cosmopolite, Being of all lands and times. Barbaric tribes Know me, and honour. In the gentler world, Scholars have studied me, and poets sung, And painters painted, and musicians hymned.

Nor from Religion have I held myself Apart. In Pagan and in savage rites Largely I mingle; and some Saints at least, Wors.h.i.+pped among us, owe me much. In short, Theme, inspiration, puzzle--I am all.

As to my form, it may not be defined; Yet this is certain: were I rent in twain And of one half bereft, I should not have A leg to stand on--of the other half Equally mulcted, I should endless be.

VII.

In me, as the scholar saith, Is exhaustion, wasting, death.

But--so close do grave and gay Touch, in this our world--you may, By a change of accent made, Change the meaning I conveyed; Change me so that I proclaim Victory won, and spoils, and fame!

VIII.

My first's a French noun; and, without it, stands not Church, palace, or hospital, villa, or cot.

My Second no feature distinctive can claim; It but echoes my First--'t is precisely the same.

Yet my Whole to French parentage makes no pretence; It is plain Anglo-Saxon, in sound as in sense; Nor more widely asunder does pole lie from pole, Than my Gallican parts and my Anglican whole.

Impalpable, it--solid, tangible, they; They may last, for long ages--it pa.s.ses away!

Now a sign of approval, a token of scorn; Sometimes of the wind or the waves it is born; Though its presence at intervals surely you'll trace Where my First and my Second have stablished their place; Where King hath his dwelling or Trade hath her marts-- A whole evanescent, material parts!