INSTANS TYRANNUS. I. Of the million or two, more or less, I rule and possess, One man, for some cause undefined, II. I struck him, he grovelled of course— I pinned him to earth with my weight And persistence of hate And he lay, would not moan, would not curse, As his lot might be worse. III. "Were the object less mean, would he stand At the swing of my hand! For obscurity helps him and blots The hole where he squats." So I set my five wits on the stretch To inveigle the wretch. All in vain! gold and jewels I threw, I tempted his blood and his flesh, Choicest cates and the flagon's best spilth— IV. Had he kith now or kin, were access To his heart, did I press— Just a son or a mother to seize ! No such booty as these! Were there simply a friend to pursue 'Mid my million or two, Who could pay me in person or pelf What he owes me himself! No! I could not but smile through my chafe, For the fellow lay safe As his mates do, the midge and the nit, V. Then a humour more great took its place The droop, the low cares of the mouth, The trouble uncouth 'Twixt the brows, all that air one is fain To put out of its pain— And, no! I admonished myself, "Is one mocked by an elf, Is one baffled by toad or by rat? The gravamen's in that! How the lion, who crouches to suit His back to my foot, Would admire that I stand in debate! But the Small turns the Great If it vexes you—that is the thing! Toad or rat vex the King? Though I waste half my realm to unearth VI. So I soberly laid my last plan To extinguish the man. Round his creep-hole, with never a break Ran my fires for his sake; Over-head, did my thunder combine With my under-ground mine : Till I looked from my labour content To enjoy the event. VII. When sudden . . . how think ye, the end? Did I say "without friend?" Say rather, from marge to blue marge The whole sky grew his targe With the sun's self for visible boss, While an Arm ran across Which the earth heaved beneath like a breast Where the wretch was safe prest! Do you see? just my vengeance complete, The man sprang to his feet, Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and prayed! -So, I was afraid. HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY. I ONLY knew one poet in my life: You saw go up and down Valladolid, Was courtly once and conscientious still, And many might have worn it, though none did : threads, Had purpose, and the ruff, significance. He walked and tapped the pavement with his cane, Scenting the world, looking it full in face, An old dog, bald and blindish, at his heels. They turned up, now, the alley by the church, That leads no whither; now, they breathed them selves On the main promenade just at the wrong time. You'd come upon his scrutinising hat, Making a peaked shade blacker than itself, Trying the mortar's temper 'tween the chinks Vo as into 2 Lgs. He cows v His eyes had to live under-clear as fint and coloured, like an eagle's claw. with A.'s surprising fate? her old E. disappeared |