دو "HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS, ETC." 17 And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. VI. By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! "Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, "We'll remember at Aix"-for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, VII. So, we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, VIII. "How they'll greet us!"-and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim. IX. Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Robert Browning. III. 2 Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. Χ. And all I remember is, friends flocking round Who dares chide my heart's pride As I ride, as I ride? Or are witnesses denied Through the desert waste and wide Do I glide unespied As I ride, as I ride? As I ride, as I ride, III. When an inner voice has cried, The sands slide, nor abide (As I ride, as I ride) O'er each visioned homicide That came vaunting (has he lied?) To reside-where he died, As I ride, as I ride. As I ride, as I ride, IV. Ne'er has spur my swift horse plied, Yet his hide, streaked and pied, As I ride, as I ride, Shows where sweat has sprung and dried, -Zebra-footed, ostrich-thighed How has vied stride with stride As I ride, as I ride! As I ride, as I ride, V. Could I loose what Fate has tied, Ere I pried, she should hide (As I ride, as I ride) All that's meant me-satisfied NATIONALITY IN DRINKS. I. My heart sank with our Claret-flask, Just now, beneath the heavy sedges II. Our laughing little flask, compelled Thro' depth to depth more bleak and shady; As when, both arms beside her held, Feet straightened out, some gay French lady Up jumped Tokay on our table, Jingled his huge brass spurs together, Went the little man, Sir Ausbruch, strutting! Here's to Nelson's memory! Am I his to command in prose or rhyme! GARDEN FANCIES. I. THE FLOWER'S NAME. I. HERE 's the garden she walked across, Arm in my arm, such a short while since: |