His eyes had to live under! - clear as flint On either side the formidable nose Curved, cut, and coloured, like an eagle's claw. Had he to do with A.'s surprising fate? When altogether old B. disappeared And young C. got his mistress, was 't our friend, His letter to the King, that did it all? What paid the bloodless man for so much pains? I set the watch, how should the people know? Forget them, keep Me all the more in mind!" Was some such understanding 'twixt the Two? I found no truth in one report at least- Blazing with lights, four Titians on the wall, In that new, stuccoed, third house by the bridge, Ten, struck the church clock, straight to bed went he. My father, like the man of sense he was, Would point him out to me a dozen times; "St St" he'd whisper, "the Corregidor!" I had been used to think that personage Was one with lacquered breeches, lustrous belt, Who blew a trumpet and proclaimed the news, He had a great observance from us boys — I'd like now, yet had haply been afraid, Thro' a whole campaign of the world's life and death Doing the King's work all the dim day long, You are sure, for one thing! Bless us, all the while A second, and the angels alter that. Well, I could never write a verse, could you? Let's to the Prado and make the most of time. THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER. I SAID - 1. Then, dearest, since 'tis so, Since now at length my fate I know, Since nothing all my love avails, Since all my life seemed meant for, fails, Since this was written and needs must be My whole heart rises up to bless Your name in pride and thankfulness! Take back the hope you gave, I claim -And this beside, if you will not blame, Your leave for one more last ride with me. 2. My mistress bent that brow of hers, Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs With life or death in the balance - Right! The blood replenished me again: My last thought was at least not vain. So one day more am I deified. Who knows but the world may end to-night? 8. Hush! if you saw some western cloud And moon's and evening-star's at once And so, you, looking and loving best, 4. Then we began to ride. My soul Smoothed itself out, a long-cramped scroll Past hopes already lay behind. What need to strive with a life awry? Had I said that, had I done this, |