AN AUTUMN IDYL. LAWRENCE. All worship mine. Her purity doth hedge her Round with so delicate divinity, that men, Stained to the soul with money-bag and ledger, Bend to the goddess, manifest again. FRANK. None worship mine. But some, I fancy, love her, Cynics to boot. I know the children run, Seeing her come, for naught that I discover, Save that she brings the summer and the sun. LAWRENCE. Mine is a Lady, beautiful and queenly, Crowned with a sweet, continual control, Grandly forbearing, lifting life serenely E'en to her own nobility of soul. AN AUTUMN IDYL. FRANK. Mine is a Woman, kindly beyond measure, Fearless in praising, faltering in blame; Simply devoted to other people's pleasure,— Jack's sister Florence,-now you know her name. LAWRENCE. "Jack's sister Florence!" Never, Francis, never. Jack, do you hear? Why, it was she I meant. She like the country! Ah, she's far too clever Sorry to differ. Jack,-the word's with you. AN AUTUMN IDYL. FRANK. How is it, Umpire? Though the motto's thread bare, "Cælum, non animum,”—is, I take it, true. JACK. "Souvent femme varie," as a rule, is truer; Flattered, I'm sure,-but both of you romance. Happy to further suit of either wooer, Merely observing-you haven't got a chance. LAWRENCE. Yes. But the Pipe- FRANK. The Pipe is what we care for, JACK. Well, in this case, I scarcely need explain, Judgment of mine were indiscreet, and therefore, Peace to you both. The Pipe I shall retain. A DIALOGUE FROM PLATO. "Le temps le mieux employé est celui qu'on perd.” CLAUDE TILLIER. 'D "read" three hours. Both notes and text I'D Were fast a mist becoming; In bounced a vagrant bee, perplexed, And filled the room with humming, Then out. The casement's leafage sways, And, parted light, discloses Miss Di., with hat and book,-a maze Of muslin mixed with roses. "Your're reading Greek?" "I am-and you?". 66 Oh, mine's a mere romancer!" "So Plato is." "Then read him-do; And I'll read mine in answer." A DIALOGUE FROM PLATO. I read. "My Plato (Plato, too, That wisdom thus should harden!) Declares 'blue eyes look doubly blue She smiled. My book in turn avers (No author's name is stated) That sometimes those Philosophers Are sadly mis-translated." "But hear, the next's in stronger style: The Cynic School asserted That two red lips which part and smile May not be controverted!" She smiled once more- My book, I find, Observes some modern doctors Would make the Cynics out a kind Of album-verse concoctors." |