按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a child； pity that shows itself in a smile。 I try to render that other
inscription for the tomb of little Erotion：
65
… Page 66…
Letters on Literature
Here lies the body of the little maid Erotion； From her sixth winter's
snows her eager shade Hath fleeted on！ Whoe'er thou be that after me shalt
sway My scanty farm； To her slight shade the yearly offering pay； Sosafe
from harm … Shall thou and thine revere the kindly Lar； And this alone Be；
through thy brief dominion； near or far； A mournful stone！
Certainly he had a heart； this foul…mouthed Martial； who claimed for
the study of his book no serious hours； but moments of mirth； when men
are glad with wine； 〃in the reign of the Rose：〃 ｛9｝
〃Haec hora est tua； cum furit Lyaeus； Cum regnat rosa； cum madent
capilli； Tunc mevel rigidi legant Catones。〃
But enough of the poets of old； another day we may turn to Carew and
Suckling； Praed and Locker； poets of our own speech； lighter lyrists of our
own time。 ｛10｝
66
… Page 67…
Letters on Literature
ON VERS DE SOCIETE
To Mr。 Gifted Hopkins。
Dear Gifted；If you will permit me to use your Christian； and
prophetic； namewe improved the occasion lately with the writers of light
verse in ancient times。 We decided that the ancients were not great in
verses of society； because they had； properly speaking； no society to write
verses for。 Women did not live in the Christian freedom and social
equality with men； either in Greece or Romeat least not 〃modest
women；〃 as Mr。 Harry Foker calls them in 〃Pendennis。〃 About the others
there is plenty of pretty verse in the Anthology。 What you need for
verses of society is a period in which the social equality is recognized； and
in which people are peaceable enough and comfortable enough to 〃play
with light loves in the portal〃 of the Temple of Hymen； without any very
definite intentions； on either part； of going inside and getting married。
Perhaps we should not expect vers de societe from the Crusaders； who
were not peaceable； and who were very earnest indeed； in love or war。
But as soon as you get a Court； and Court life； in France； even though the
times were warlike； then ladies are lauded in artful strains； and the lyre is
struck leviore plectro。 Charles d'Orleans； that captive and captivating
prince； wrote thousands of rondeaux； even before his time a gallant
company of gentlemen composed the Livre des Cent Ballades； one
hundred ballades； practically unreadable by modern men。 Then came
Clement Marot； with his gay and rather empty fluency； and Ronsard； with
his mythological compliments； his sonnets； decked with roses； and led like
lambs to the altar of Helen or Cassandra。 A few； here and there； of his
pieces are lighter； more pleasant； and； in a quiet way； immortal； such as the
verses to his 〃fair flower of Anjou；〃 a beauty of fifteen。 So they ran on；
in France； till Voiture's time； and Sarrazin's with his merry ballade of an
elopement； and Corneille's proud and graceful stanzas to Marquise de
Gorla。
But verses in the English tongue are more worthy of our attention。 Mr。
Locker begins his collection of them； Lyra Elegantiarum （no longer a very
67
… Page 68…
Letters on Literature
rare book in England）； as far back as Skelton's age； and as Thomas Wyat's；
and Sidney's； but those things； the lighter lyrics of that day； are rather
songs than poems； and probably were all meant to be sung to the virginals
by our musical ancestors。
〃Drink to me only with thine eyes；〃 says the great Ben Jonson； or sings
it rather。 The words； that he versified out of the Greek prose of
Philostratus； cannot be thought of without the tune。 It is the same with
Carew's 〃He that loves a rosy cheek；〃 or with 〃Roses； their sharp spines
being gone。〃 The lighter poetry of Carew's day is all powdered with gold
dust； like the court ladies' hair； and is crowned and diapered with roses；
and heavy with fabulous scents from the Arabian phoenix's nest。 Little
Cupids flutter and twitter here and there among the boughs； as in that feast
of Adonis which Ptolemy's sister gave in Alexandria； or as in Eisen's
vignettes for Dorat's Baisers：
〃Ask me no more whither do stray The golden atoms of the day； For
in pure love did Heaven prepare These powders to enrich your hair。〃
It would be affectation； Gifted； if you rhymed in that fashion for the
lady of your love； and presented her； as it were； with cosmical cosmetics；
and compliments drawn from the starry spaces and deserts； from skies；
phoenixes； and angels。 But it was a natural and pretty way of writing
when Thomas Carew was young。 I prefer Herrick the inexhaustible in
dainties； Herrick； that parson…pagan； with the soul of a Greek of the
Anthology； and a cure of souls （Heaven help them！） in Devonshire。 His
Julia is the least mortal of these 〃daughters of dreams and of stories；〃
whom poets celebrate； she has a certain opulence of flesh and blood； a
cheek like a damask rose； and 〃rich eyes；〃 like Keats's lady； no vaporous
Beatrice； she； but a handsome English wench； with
〃A cuff neglectful and thereby Ribbons to flow confusedly； A
winning wave； deserving note In the tempestuous petticoat。〃
Then Suckling strikes up a reckless military air； a warrior he is who
has seen many a siege of heartshearts that capitulated； or held out like
Troy…town； and the impatient assailant whistles：
〃Quit； quit； for shame： this will not move； This cannot take her。 If
of herself she will not love； Nothing can make her … The devil take her。〃
68
… Page 69…
Letters on Literature
So he rides away； curling his moustache； hiding his defeat in a big
inimitable swagger。 It is a pleasanter piece in which Suckling； after a
long leaguer of a lady's heart； finds that Captain honour is governor of the
place； and surrender hopeless。 So he departs with a salute：
〃March； march （quoth I）； the word straight give； Let's lose no time
but leave her： That giant upon air will live； And hold it out for ever。〃
Lovelace is even a better type in his rare good things of the military
amorist and poet。 What apology of Lauzun's； or Bussy Rabutin's for
faithlessness could equal this？ …
〃Why dost thou say I am forsworn； Since thine I vowed to be？ Lady；
it is already morn； It was last night I swore to thee That fond
impossibility。〃
Has 〃In Memoriam〃 nobler numbers than the poem； from exile； to
Lucasta？ …
〃Our Faith and troth All time and space controls； Above the highest
sphere we meet； Unseen； unknown； and greet as angels greet。〃
How comes it that in the fierce