The Deluge and Other Poems Part 7

IN ARCADIA

See how Pan through the forest goes, The forest of Arcadia, Giving a sidelong leer at the rose, Trampling the daisies with hairy toes, And wrinkling his ugly gnarled old nose, In the forest of Arcadia.

Evil and ugly, Pan is bored, In the forest of Arcadia; Tired of hours with honey stored, What diversion can it afford The whole green forest of which he's lord, The forest of Arcadia?

Till suddenly, the glimpse of a face In the forest of Arcadia!

In the verdant depths where leaves enlace, And dapple with shadow the body's grace-- And Pan, with a snort, gives the Dryad chase, In the forest of Arcadia.

She is off, on the nimblest of little feet, In the forest of Arcadia; Light as a bird where the treetops meet, For with sudden terror her pulses beat, And desire has made the old G.o.d fleet, In the forest of Arcadia.

Milk-white down the long green avenues, In the forest of Arcadia, Like a dove she flies, and he pursues, Like a hungry hawk when its prey it views-- --And Zeus, on Olympus, prepares a ruse For the forest of Arcadia.

Nearer draws Pan, with outstretched hand, In the forest of Arcadia, To grasp her long hair's floating strand; --But Zeus, with Olympian wink, had planned That another form for the girl's should stand In the forest of Arcadia.

And the poor old sinner who thought to seize, In the forest of Arcadia, The daintiest thing that sense could tease, Found only a satyr if you please, As like himself as peas to peas, In the forest of Arcadia.

A BALLAD OF KING RICHARD

1. _The Banner_

King Richard wiped the wine from his lips And laughed full scornfully; "Oh, I care not a bit for King Philip's wit, Nor the honour of France," quoth he;

"And I care not a straw for Austria's wrath, And little of Templars reck; If I lead not this host, by the Holy Ghost, May my head be struck from my neck."

King Richard drank, and swore in his cups --And a mighty man was he-- "Let the mongrels yap, I care not a rap, I am Richard the Lion," quoth he.

The news went forth to the King of France And the Dukes of high degree, How Richard had sworn that no man born Should lead the armies but he.

The Kings were wroth at King Richard's words That were carried to them that day; "Does he make a mock of our ancient stock, This king of an hour?" quoth they.

"This b.a.s.t.a.r.d son of a b.a.s.t.a.r.d sire The standard first would plant On the city's walls when Jerusalem falls; Must we this honour grant?

"Not so; if Christ would have Richard lead, Let Christ give grace to his arms.

We will stand aside from the battle pride And the fury of war's alarms.

"Our men are sick and outnumbered sore, And words from home reveal That our country cries for our governance wise; We will look to our country's weal.

"For we came to fight for a Holy Cause, Not dance to an upstart king; The cause must wait for Richard the Great, For our weapons down we fling."

Breathless and hushed the messengers spoke As they told King Richard the news How the kings were set and the council met, And the kings to fight refuse.

Louder than ever laughed the King In the depths of his golden beard.

"G.o.d rest my soul, I will reach the goal, And show if Richard's afeared;

"I will plant my flag amidst this camp As a token seen of all; Nor Austria's lance, nor the frown of France, Shall make its splendour fall."

So the sultry breezes of Ascalon Saluted the lions three, And Austria frowned from his camping ground, And cursed right bitterly.

"Shall this b.a.s.t.a.r.d son of a b.a.s.t.a.r.d sire Boast he o'erruleth me?

By the Holy Cross, be it living loss, This shame shall never be."

So he planted his banner firm and fast, And it floated high and free, On the selfsame mound in the Christian ground Flew eagle and lions three.

Word they brought to Richard the King Where in his tent he lay, "Lo, Austria's hand on the lion's land Has loosed the eagle," said they.

Richard arose and strode in haste --Oh the banners floated free-- "Ill eagles fare in the lion's lair, Take down your banner," quoth he.

But word for word the Archduke gave.

He answered, "Eagles fly; Let the lion keep to the fields and sheep, To the eagle leave the sky."

"Do you give me words?" cried Richard the King; "Ho, now, at your words I laugh."

And he tore the flag like a worthless rag, And he wrenched and splintered the staff,

And he set his foot on the silken flag, His foot on Austria's fame; With a swordless hip, yet a smiling lip, He mocked the eagle's shame.

(Oh, Richard the Lion, woe is me For the sorrow your deed shall bring, For the dungeon walls, and the gloom that falls On the heart of Richard the King;

For the long despair of the prison dark, And the traffic in lordly things, When the Austrian sold for an Emperor's gold The son of the English kings.)

But Richard laughed in the noonday sun That beats on Palestine.

And Leopold turned, while in hate he burned Against Plantagenet's line;

He trusted not in his own right arm, But justice cried from France, And France spake fair, but he did not dare Withstand King Richard's glance.

Sullenly Austria turned from the Kings And back to his tents went he; And the lions of gold above Richard the bold Floated alone and free.

2. _The Imprisonment_

Word they brought to Leopold, Spake in Austria's ear; "Rejoice this day that brings your prey, Your enemy Richard is here;

"Now is revenge for an ancient grudge Given into your hand, He mocked aloud 'mid the allies' crowd And is now alone in your land."

Leopold started out of his seat; "Good be the news indeed!

Now quickly bring to me hither the king, He shall sue to me in his need."

Richard the King is before the Duke, Garbed in a mean disguise, Yet kings.h.i.+p claim the mighty frame And the glance of the kingly eyes,

And the Jove-like head with its close-cut hair, And the flowing golden beard; No rags can hide the huge limbs' pride, In kingly cradle reared.

Gay, and kingly, and debonair The Lion-hearted stood.

"Fair come to land, by this right hand, Your welcome shall be good."

"Fair thanks to you, our cousin the Duke,"

Said Richard, no whit beguiled; "I thought not to prove the worth of your love When I entered your land," he smiled.