THE LOST CHIMES
And Other Poems
GUSTAV MELBY
BOSTON
RICHARD G. BADGER
THE GORHAM PRESS
Copyright, 1918, by Gustav Melby
All Rights Reserved
The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.
To the Memory of My Friend
Dr. Frank J. Cressy
Whose Skill as a Physician Saved My
Child’s Life, and Whose Kindness as
a Friend Lent Inspiration to Life’s
Pursuits
CONTENTS
THE LOST CHIMES
“Count not the cost, a thousand more or less
Is not the question, but a perfect tone,
A clang as clear as the Italian sky,
As strong and joyful as the victor’s cry,
As deep and mellow as the ocean’s moan,
And tender as a mother’s fond caress.”
“And let there be no stint of pure alloy,
Of bronze and silver, no, not even of gold,
Yea, let this be thy very master-piece,
In all its making,—if it doth me please,
Half of my fortune shall to thee be told,
And to its praise my life I shall employ.”
Thus spake Sordino, noble Florentine,
To one who was renowned for casting bells,
Who now was asked to make a set of chimes,
A task he had accomplished many times,
But this, he thought, the highest skill compels,
And yet the work he promised to begin.
But first for thoughts and dreams he leisure found,
For consecration to the work at hand,
Since this the glory of his life should be,
A grand creation, a sweet symphony
Of human life, which all might understand,
Their souls re-echoed in the liquid sound.