INSTANS TYRANNUS. 1. Or the million or two, more or less, I rule and possess, One man, for some cause undefined, Was least to my mind. 2. I struck him, he grovelled of course For, what was his force? I pinned him to earth with my weight And persistence of hate And he lay, would not moan, would not curse, As if lots might be worse. 3. "Were the object less mean, would he stand At the swing of my hand! For obscurity helps him and blots The hole where he squats." So I set my five wits on the stretch To inveigle the wretch. All in vain! gold and jewels I threw, I tempted his blood and his flesh, Hid in roses my mesh, Choicest cates and the flagon's best spilth Still he kept to his filth! 4. Had he kith now or kin, were access To his heart, if I press Just a son or a mother to seize No such booty as these! Were it simply a friend to pursue 'Mid 'my million or two, Who could pay me in person or pelf What he owes me himself. No! I could not but smile through my chafe For the fellow lay safe As his mates do, the midge and the nit, Through minuteness, to wit. 5. Then a humor more great took its place The droop, the low cares of the mouth, The trouble uncouth "Twixt the brows, all that air one is fain To put out of its pain And, no, I admonished myself, "Is one mocked by an elf, Is one baffled by toad or by rat? The gravamen's in that! How the lion, who crouches to suit His back to my foot, Would admire that I stand in debate! But the Small is the Great If it vexes you, that is the thing! Toad or rat vex the King? Though I waste half my realm to unearth Toad or rat, 'tis well worth!" 6. So I soberly laid my last plan To extinguish the man. Round his creep-hole, — with never a break Ran my fires for his sake; Over-head, did my thunders combine With my under-ground mine: Till I looked from my labor content 7. When sudden... how think ye, the end? Say rather, from marge to blue marge The whole sky grew his targe With the sun's self for visible boss, While an Arm ran across Which the earth heaved beneath like a breast Do you see? just my vengeance complete, Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and prayed! - So, I was afraid! A PRETTY WOMAN. 1. THAT fawn-skin-dappled hair of hers, And the blue eye Dear and dewy, And that infantine fresh air of hers! 2. To think men cannot take you, Sweet, And enfold you, Ay, and hold you, And so keep you what they make 3. You like us for a glance, you know For a word's sake, Or a sword's sake, you, Sweet! All's the same, whate'er the chance, you know. |