A DIALOGUE.
MARK. So Maurice you sail to-morrow, you say, And you may or may not return, Be sociable man! for once in a way, Unless you're too old to learn. The shadows are cool by the water side Where the willows grow by the pond, And the yellow laburnum's drooping pride Sheds a golden gleam beyond. For the blended tints of the summer flowers, For the scents of the summer air, For all nature's charms in this world of ours, 'Tis little or naught you care, Yet I know for certain you haven't stirr'd Since noon from your chosen spot, And you've hardly spoken a single word, Are you tired, or cross, or what? You're fretting about those shares you bought, They were to have gone up fast, But I heard how they fell to nothing—in short They were given away at last.
MAURICE. No, Mark, I'm not so easily crossed; 'Tis true that I've had a run Of bad luck lately, indeed, I've lost: Well! somebody else has won.
MARK. The glass has fallen, perhaps you fear A return of your ancient stitch, That souvenir of the Lady's mere, Park palings, and double ditch.
MAURICE. You're wrong! I'm not in the least afraid Of that, if the truth be told When the stiffness visits my shoulder blade, I think on the days of old; It recalls the rush of the freshening wind, The strain of the chesnut springing, And the rolling thunder of hoofs behind, Like the Rataplan chorus ringing.
MARK. Are you bound to borrow, or loth to lend? Have you purchased another screw? Or backed a bill for another friend? Or had a bad night at loo?
MAURICE. Not one of these, you're all in the dark, If you choose you can guess again, But you'd better give over guessing, Mark, It's only labour in vain.
MARK. I'll try once more, does it plague you still, That trifle of lead you carry? A guest that lingers against your will Unwelcome, yet bound to tarry.
MAURICE. Not so! that burden I'm used to bear, 'Tis seldom it gives me trouble, And to earn it as I did then and there, I'd carry a dead weight double. A shock like that for a splintered rib Can a thousandfold repay— As the swallow skims thro' the spider's web We rode through their ranks that day!
MARK. Come, Maurice, you shan't escape me so! I'll hazard another guess; That girl that jilted you long ago, You're thinking of her, confess!
MAURICE. Tho' the blue lake flushed with a rosy light, Reflected from yonder sky, Might conjure a vision of Aphrodite To a poet's or painter's eye, Tho' the golden drop with its drooping curl, Between the water and wood, Hangs down like the tress of a wayward girl, In her dreamy maidenhood; Such boyish fancies seem out of date To one half inclined to censure Their folly, and yet—your shaft flew straight, Though you drew your bow at a venture. I saw my lady the other night In the crowded opera hall, Where the boxes sparkled with faces bright; I knew her amongst them all. Tho' little for these things now I reck, I singled her from the throng By the queenly curves of her head and neck, By the droop of her eyelash long. Oh! passionless, placid, and calm and cold, Does the fire still lurk within That lit her magnificent eyes of old, And coloured her marble skin; For a weary look on the proud face hung, While the music clash'd and swell'd. And the restless child to the silk skirt hung, Unnoticed tho' unrepelled. They've paled, those rosebud lips that I kist, That slim waist has thickened, rather, And the cub has the sprawling mutton fist And the great splay foot of the father. May the blight ——
MARK. Hold hard there Maurice, my son, Let her rest since her spell is broken, We can neither recall deeds rashly done, Nor retract words hastily spoken.
MAURICE. Time was when to pleasure her girlish whim, In my blind infatuation, I've freely endangered life and limb; Aye, perill'd my soul's salvation.
MARK. With the best intentions we all must work But little good and much harm, Be a Christian for once, not a Pagan Turk Nursing wrath and keeping it warm.
MAURICE. If our best intentions pave the way To a place that is somewhat hot, Can our worst intentions lead us, say, To a still more sultry spot?
MARK. 'Tis said that charity makes amends For a multitude of transgressions.
MAURICE. But our perjured loves, and our faithless friends, Are entitled to no concessions.