And helms and hauberks cloven,
On music of Beethoven
We dream and meditate.”
* * * * *
But all lovers of dainty books and quaint old world ballades will go to the fountain head to taste this stream.
Several excellent imitations of Swinburne’s style remain to be quoted from Punch, one, which appeared January 7, 1882, entitled “Clowning and Classicism,” contains some skits on Burne Jones, Oscar Wilde, and John Ruskin; another, dated December 11, 1886, commences as follows:—
Babydom.
A Contribution to the Poetry of Pap.
Baby, see the flowers!