184
A VISION OF POETS.
And some with conscious ambling free,
Did shake their bells right daintily
On hand and foot, for harmony.
Did shake their bells right daintily
On hand and foot, for harmony.
And some composing sudden sighs,
In attitudes of point-device,
Rehearsed impromptu agonies.
In attitudes of point-device,
Rehearsed impromptu agonies.
And when this company drew near
The spirits crowned, it might appear
Submitted to a ghastly fear.
The spirits crowned, it might appear
Submitted to a ghastly fear.
As a sane eye in master-passion
Constrains a maniac to the fashion
Of hideous maniac imitation
Constrains a maniac to the fashion
Of hideous maniac imitation
In the least geste—the dropping low
O' the lid—the wrinkling of the brow,—
Exaggerate with mock and mow,—
O' the lid—the wrinkling of the brow,—
Exaggerate with mock and mow,—
So, mastered was that company
By the crowned vision utterly,
Swayed to a maniac mockery.
By the crowned vision utterly,
Swayed to a maniac mockery.
One dulled his eyeballs, as they ached
With Homer's forehead—though he lacked
An inch of any! And one racked
With Homer's forehead—though he lacked
An inch of any! And one racked
His lower lip with restless tooth,—
As Pindar's rushing words forsooth
Were pent behind it. One, his smooth
As Pindar's rushing words forsooth
Were pent behind it. One, his smooth
Pink cheeks, did rumple passionate,
Like Æschylus—and tried to prate
On trolling tongue, of fate and fate!
Like Æschylus—and tried to prate
On trolling tongue, of fate and fate!
One set her eyes like Sappho's—or
Any light woman's! one forbore
Like Dante, or any man as poor
Any light woman's! one forbore
Like Dante, or any man as poor
In mirth, to let a smile undo
His hard shut lips. And one, that drew
Sour humours from his mother, blew
His hard shut lips. And one, that drew
Sour humours from his mother, blew
