THE LADY (_smiling_). Thanks! he knows. Thanks! Thanks!
M. JOLICOEUR (_insidiously_). And shall we not renew Our ... "_Ems_ acquaintanceship?"
THE LADY (_still smiling_). Adieu! My thanks instead!
M. JOLICOEUR (_with pathos_). It is too hard! (_Laying his hand on the grating._) To find one's Paradise is barred!!
THE LADY. Nay.--"Virtue is her own Reward!" [_Exit._
M. JOLICOEUR (_solus_). BEAU-_vau_?--BEAU-_vallon_?--BEAU-_manoir_?-- But that's a detail! (_Waving his hand after the carriage._) AU REVOIR!
(_We lay our story in the East. Because 'tis Eastern? Not the least. We place it there because we fear To bring its parable too near, And seem to touch with impious hand Our dear, confiding native land._)
HAROUN ALRASCHID, in the days He went about his vagrant ways, And prowled at eve for good or bad In lanes and alleys of BAGDAD, Once found, at edge of the bazaar, E'en where the poorest workers are, A Carver.
Fair his work and fine With mysteries of inlaced design, And shapes of shut significance To aught but an anointed glance,-- The dreams and visions that grow plain In darkened chambers of the brain.
And all day busily he wrought From dawn to eve, but no one bought;-- Save when some Jew with look askant, Or keen-eyed Greek from the Levant, Would pause awhile,--depreciate,-- Then buy a month's work by the weight, Bearing it swiftly over seas To garnish rich men's treasuries.
And now for long none bought at all, So lay he sullen in his stall. Him thus withdrawn the Caliph found, And smote his staff upon the ground-- "Ho, there, within! Hast wares to sell? Or slumber'st, having dined too well?" "'Dined,'" quoth the man, with angry eyes, "How should I dine when no one buys?" "Nay," said the other, answering low,-- "Nay, I but jested. Is it so? Take then this coin, ... but take beside A counsel, friend, thou hast not tried. This craft of thine, the mart to suit, Is too refined,--remote,--minute; These small conceptions can but fail; 'Twere best to work on larger scale, And rather choose such themes as wear More of the earth and less of air, The fisherman that hauls his net,-- The merchants in the market set,-- The couriers posting in the street,-- The gossips as they pass and greet,-- These--these are clear to all men's eye Therefore with these they sympathize. Further (neglect not this advice!) Be sure to ask three times the price."