Lapsus Calami (Apr 1891)/To W. H.

For other versions of this work, see To W. H..

←

To W. H.

→

An editorial note in the posthumous edition put out by the author's brother says that "These lines were addressed to the author's friend Mr William Harvey, of King's College."

1789256Lapsus Calami — To W. H.James Kenneth Stephen

To W. H.

What are the habits of the ruby floodWe reek with? man had questioned many a year:And William Harvey spoke in accents clearThese words: "the circulation of the blood."Man owned that this was so, and asked for food;And fate bestowed upon him beef and beer:But beef was coarse, indelicate and sere:So Harvey proffered Sauce and made it good.My friend! be worthy of thy forbears' glory,And if old truths thou canst not rediscover,Yet canst thou live those truths out here on earth:Make stagnant conversations, void of mirth,To circulate with quip and crank and story,Make life's dull dish with piquant sauce run over.

July 1882.