ON STURMINSTER FOOT-BRIDGE
(ONOMATOPOEIC)
Reticulations creep upon the slack stream’s face
When the wind skims irritably past,
The current clucks smartly into each hollow place
That years of flood have scrabbled in the pier’s sodden base;
The floating-lily leaves rot fast.
On a roof stand the swallows ranged in wistful waiting rows,
Till they arrow off and drop like stones
Among the eyot-withies at whose foot the river flows;
And beneath the roof is she who in the dark world shows
As a lattice-gleam when midnight moans.
ROYAL SPONSORS
“The king and the queen will stand to the child;
’Twill be handed down in song;
And it’s no more than their deserving,
With my lord so faithful at Court so long,
And so staunch and strong.
“O never before was known such a thing!
’Twill be a grand time for all;
And the beef will be a whole-roast bullock,
And the servants will have a feast in the hall,
And the ladies a ball.
“While from Jordan’s stream by a traveller,
In a flagon of silver wrought,
And by caravan, stage-coach, wain, and waggon
A precious trickle has been brought,
Clear as when caught.”
The morning came. To the park of the peer
The royal couple bore;
And the font was filled with the Jordan water,
And the household awaited their guests before
The carpeted door.
But when they went to the silk-lined cot
The child was found to have died.
“What’s now to be done? We can disappoint not
The king and queen!” the family cried
With eyes spread wide.
“Even now they approach the chestnut-drive!
The service must be read.”
“Well, since we can’t christen the child alive,
By God we shall have to christen him dead!”
The marquis said.