.tt.#^.ii:

^'^, m-' f '1^

'mm

1

;* '■' % %

L' «" SiK^;.; ?s-

% #i. ^'' 1.1

THE LIBRARY OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

AT DAWN AND DUSK

First Edition, July 1898 Second Impression, November 1898 Third Impression, November 1910 Fourth Impression, January 1913

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive

in 2008 witii funding from

IVIicrosoft Corporation

littp://www.arcliive.org/details/atdawnduskpoemsOOdale

^^^^-^^^^^

JJP^-, 5^?

1711

VAi^-^t

!?X-\..1K? *V^>H>

■^ %'f ^-

M^Wi^^'lli^l^^i

".m,%v..;. ...... ■ ...

.ii.*# J

4i- ^r.: ti. s

AT DAWN AND DUSK

BY

VICTOR J. DALEY

AUTHOR OF "wine AND ROSES'

LONDON

ANGUS AND ROBERTSON LTD. 1913

Fourth Impression

Printed by Bloxham & Chambers, Wentworth Place, Sydney

FOR

ANGUS & ROBERTSON, Ltd. T/jndon: The Oxford University Press, Amen Comer, E.C

TO MY SISTER

In memory of our young days askine

With dreams, when life was yet an opening rose,

Tale, Alice dear, this little book of mine. All made of dreams and dying sunset-glows,

A lonely bird that singeth far apart —

Yet shall sing sweeter in its Jiome, thy heart.

91799^

Almost all the verses contained in this volume

were first published in the Sydney Bulletin. I wish

to thank the editor and proprietor of this journal

for their kindness in allowing me to reprint. Other

verses appeared in the Sydney Mail, Sydney

Freeman's Journal, Melbourne Table Talk, and

Melbourne Punch. To these journals also my

thanks are due.

V. J. D.

CONTENTS

Dreams	1 3 10
IjETHE Love-Laubel (In Memory of Henry Kendall)
A Vision of Youth	17
Aphrodite	20
The Rajah's Sapphires	22
The Cruise of the IN MEMORIAM	27
In a Wine Cellar	37
A-ROVING	44
Brunette	46
Years Ago	48
ViLLANELLE	54
The Voice of the Soul . . . .	56
Cares	59
Ponce De Leon	61
Sonnets : —
Death	64
Life	65
Christmas in Australia	66
Questions	67
The Gods	68
The Gleaner	69

X CONTENTS
Love	70
Passion Flower	72
To My Lady	73
The Hawthorn	74
Spring Dirge	75
Fragments : —
i. Her Last Day . . . .	78
ii. Sunset	83
iii. Years After	86
"Unto this Last"	93
The Nightingale . .	94
The Two Keys	97
Lachesis	. . 104
Symbols	. . 105
At the Opera	. . lOG
Ne^ra's Wreath	.. Ill
Camilla	.. 112
Sixty to Sixteen	.. 113
Bouquet and Bracelet	115
Cupid's Funeral	.. 11(J
The First of May	.. 118
A Ghost	. . 121
Even So	. . 124
Song — "What Shall a Man Remember ?'	. . 127
A Sunset Fantasy	128
Poppies	. . 132

CONTENTS			xi.
Amaranth				. 134
The Little People				. 137
A King in Exile				140
Tamerlane . .				142
The Dead Child				. 145
In Memory of an Actress				. 149
The River Maiden				. 151
A Picture				160
Sea-Gifts				161
Day and Night				. 163
The Poet Care				165
Voices				167
The Ascetic				168
The Serpent's Legacy . .				169
His Soul				. 170
The Dream of Margaret				172
The Martyr				183
His Mate				188
The Old Wife and the New .				. 195
A Christmas Eve				. 199
Night				. 203

DREAMS

I HATE been dreaming all a summer day

Of rare and dainty poems I would write ;

Love-lyrics delicate as lilac-scent,

Soft idylls woven of wind, and flower, and stream,

And songs and sonnets carven in fine gold.

The day is fading and the dusk is cold ; Out of the skies has gone the opal gleam, Out of my heart has passed the high intent Into the shadow of the falling night — Must all my dreams in darkness pass away ?

I have been dreaming all a summer day : Shall I go dreaming so until Life's light Fades in Death's dusk, and all my days are spent? Ah, what am I the dreamer but a dream ! The day is fading and the dusk is cold. I

DREAMS

My songs and sonnets carven in fine gold Have faded from me with the last day-beam That purple lustre to the sea-line lent, And flushed the clouds with rose and chrysolite; So days and dreams in darkness pass away.

I have been dreaming all a summer day Of songs and sonnets carven in fine gold ; But all my dreams in darkness pass away ; The day is fading, and the dusk is cold.

LETHE.

Through the noiseless doors of Death Three passed out, as with one breath.

Two had faces stern as Fate, Stamped with unrelenting hate.

One upon her lips of guile Wore a cold, mysterious smile.

Each of each unseen, the pale Shades went down the hollow vale

Till they came unto the deep Kiver of Eternal Sleep.

Breath of wind, or wing of bird, Never that dark stream hath stirred ;

LETHE

Still it seems as is the shore. But it flows for evermore

Softly, through the meadows wan To the Sea Oblivion.

In the dusk, like drops of blood, Poppies hang above the flood ;

On its surface lies a thin, Ghostly web of mist, wherein

All things vague and changing seem As the faces in a dream.

Two knelt down upon the bank And of that dark water drank.

But the Third stood by the while. Smiling her mysterious smile.

Rising up, those shades of men Gazed upon each other, then

Side by side, upon the bank. In a bed of poppies sank. 4

LETHE

" What/' one to tlie otlier saitli,

"Scut tltee thi'OLig'li the doors of death ?" — •

^"^ While life throbbed in every vein. For a woman I was slain.

" Love is but a fleeting- spell. Hate alone remembers well.

" For my slayer I shall wait, And tlioiigh he at Heaven's gate

" Stand, and wear an angel's crown, I shall seize and drag him down !"

So the stern shade made reply. Then the first that spake said : " I

" For a woman's sake, also. Slew myself — and slew my foe.

" Slew myself, that in no shape He my vengeance should escape,

" Till Oblivion swallow both : And I swore a solemn oath 5

LETHE

" I would — hate remembers well — iluut his spotted soul to hell.

^' But I left_, ere leave-taking, Round her throat a dark red ring.

" I shall know her — yoa shall note — By that red ring round her throat.

" Well I loved va^ fair, (ulse wife, And perchance in this new life

" She may love me — we shall see — She shall choose 'twixt him and me,'*'

Softly did the other sigh : " My love's love will never die.

" Love is not a fleeting spell — Love, like hate, remembers well.

'' Soon — mayhap on this dim shore — We shall meet to part no more."

Then the first Shade spoke and said : " In this Kingdom of the Dead 6

LETHE

" Let us, who so strangely meet, Pledge each other in this sweet

" Water, our revenge to wreak Side by side, and so to seek,

" Side by side, whate'er our fate, Those we love and those we hate."

Kneeling on the dim shore then. Side by side, they drank again.

And they saw, like drops of blood, Poppies nodding o'er the flood.

And they gazed upon the thin (xhostly web of mist, wherein

All things vague and changing seem As the faces in a dream ;

And by some enchantment weird. As they gazed thereon appeared

Unto each, down-bending low. Form and features of his foe, 7

LEI ^^

For a moment, then ^vere gone, And npon the meadows wan —

Half in Death and half a-swoon — Shone a pale and specti'al moon.

Then these twain rose, drowsy-eyed. And departed side by side.

But the Woman Shade the while Smiled her cold, mysterious smile.

And her beauty made a h'o-ht In that realm of pallid night

(Beauty laughs at Avorm and grave) Like the moon beneath the wave.

Back she flung her hair of gold, Glowing, gleaming, fold on fold,

Showing — all but these might note— The red ring around her throat.

But they passed with cold surprise, And unrecognising eyes.

LETHE

Lightly laughed she then, and said : " In this Kingdom of the Dead

" Strange the sights that one may see ! There go twain who died for me

" Seeking^ through Creation wide, For each other — side by side \"

Then she wove a j^^pjiy crown. Placed it on her head, and d(.)\vn

On the river's margin sank Midst the poppies of its b:ink_,

Saj'ing : " In the world al)Ove Long he tarries, my true love.

" Here beside this river's rim I will sleep, and wait for him."

LOYE-LAUKEL

[In MicwoiiY OF Henj;y Kkndall.]

Ah! tlint God once would touch my lips with

soug To pierce, as pi-iyer doth heaven, earth's breast of iron, So that with sweet mouth I might sing to

thee, 0 sweet dead singer buried by the sea, A song, to woo tliee, as a Avooing siren. Out of that silent sleep which seals too long Thy mouth of melody.

For, if live lips might speak awhile to dead, Or any speech could reach the sad world under This woi'ld of ours, song surely should awake Thee who didst dwell in shadow for song's sake !

LOVK-LAUUEL

Alas ! thou canst not hear the voice oF thiuiJer, Nor low dirg'e over thy low-lyini^ head The winds of morniiiy make.

Down through the clay tliere comes no sound of

these ; Down in the grave there is no sign of Summer, Nor any knowledge of tlie soft-eyed. Spring; But Death sits there, with outspread, ebon wing, Closing with dust the mouth of each new- comer To that mute land, Avhere never sound, of seas Is heard, and no birds sing.

Now thou hast found the end of all thy days Hast thou found any heart a vigil keeping

For thee among the dead — some heart that

heard Thy singing when .thou weit a brown, sweet bird

LOVB-LADREL

Gray seons gone, in some old forest sleeping Beneath the seas long since ? in Death's (lira ways Has thy heart any word ?

For surely those in whom the deathless spark

Of song is kindled, sang from the beginning If life were always ? But the old desires — Do they exist when sad-eyed Hope expires ?

How live the dead ? what crowns have they for winning ?

Have they, to warm them in the dreamless dark, For sun earth's central fires ?

Are the dead dead indeed whom we call dead ? Has God no life but this of ours for giving ? — When that they took thee by each well- known place, Stark in thy coffin with a cold white face. What thought, 0 Brother, hadst thou of tlio living ?

12

LOVE-LAOREL

What of the sun that round thee glory shed ? What of the fair day's grace ?

Is thy new life made up of memories Or dreams that lull the dead^ bright visions bringing

Of Spring above ! Are thy days sliort or long?

Tliou who wert master of our singing throng Mayhap in death thou hast not lost thy singing, But chauntst unheard, beside the moaning sea,

A solitary song.

The chance spade turns up skulls. God help the

dead And thee whose singing days have all passed over — Thee, Avhom the gold-haired Spring shall

seek in vain When at the gUid year's doors she stands again, Remembering the song-garlands thou hast wove her

13

LOVE-LAUREL

In years gone by : but all those years have fle;l AV'itli all their joy and pain.

My soul Jaughed out to hear my heart speak so, And sprang forth skyward, as an eagle, hoping To look upon thy soul with living eyes. Until it came to where our dim life dies, And dead suns darkly for a grave are groping Through cycles of immeasurable woe, Stone-blind in the blind skies.

The stars walk shuddering on that awful verge From which my soul, with swift and fearless motion. Clove the black depths, and sought for God

and thee ; But God dwells where nor stars nor suns there be — No shore there is to His Eternal Ocean ; A thousand systems are a fi'inge of surge On that great starless sea. •4

LOVE-LAUUEL

And thou wertnot. So that-, with weary plumes, My sonl tlirougli the great void its way came wing'ing To earth again. "What hope for him who

sings Is there?" it sighed. "Death ends all sweetest things." When lo ! there came a swell of mighty singing, Flooding all space, and swift athwart the glooms A flash of sudden wings.

Dreamer of dreams, thy songs and dreams are

done. Down where thou sleepest in earth's secret bosom There is no sorrow and no joy for thee, Who canst not see what stars at eve there he, Nor evermore at morn the green dawn blossom Into the golden king-flower of the sun Across the golden sea. «5

LOVE-LAUREL

lint liaply there sliall come in days to bo One wlio shall licar his own heart beatinG: faster^ ri'.'.king- a rose sprung from thy heart

beneath, And from his soul, as sword from out its sheath, iSong- sliall leap forth where now, 0 silent

master, On t!iy lone grave beside the sounding sea, I lay this laurel-wreath.

A AnSION OF YOUTH

A HORSEMAN on a hilltop green Di-ew rein, and woiinl liis horn ;

So bright he looked ho might have been The Herald of the Morn.

His steed was of the sovran strain In Fancy's meadows bred —

And pride was in his tossing mane, And triumph in his tread.

The rider's eyes like jewels glowed — The World was in his hand —

As down the woodland way he rode When Spring was in the land. 17

A VISION OF YOUTH

From golden hour to golden hour

For him the woodland sang, And from the heart of every flower

A siriL^-ing fairy sprang.

rie rode along with rein so free.

And, as he rode, the Blue Mysterious Bird of Fantasy

Ever before him flew.

He rode by cot and castle dim Through all the greenland gay ;

]3right eyes through casements glanced at him ; He laughed — and rode away.

The world with sunshine was aflood. And glad were maid and man,

And throuo-h his throbbincf veins the blood In keen, sweet shudders ran.

His steed tossed head with fiery scorn, And stamped, and snuifed the air — i8

A VISION OF YOUTH

As tliougli he heard a sudden horn Of far-off battle blare.

Erect the rider sat awhile With flashing eyes, and then

Turned slowly, sighing, with a smile, " O weary world of men ! "

For aye the Bird of Fantasy Sang magic songs to him,

And deep and deeper still rode he Into the Forest Dim.

That rider with his face aglow

With joy of life I see In dreams. Ah, years and years ago

He parted ways with me !

Yet, sometimes, when the days are drear

And all the world forlorn. From out the dim wood's heart I hear

The echo of his horn.

19

APHRODITE

On a golden dawn in the dawn sublime Of years ere the stars had ceased to sing", Beautiful out of the sea-deeps cold Aphrodite arose — the Flower of Time — That, dear till the day of her blossouiiug-, The oldj old Se.a had borno in his heart. Around her worshipping- waves did part Tremulous — glowing in rose and gold.

And the birds broke forth into singing sweet, And flowers born scentless breathed perfume : Roftly she smiled upon Man forlorn, And the music of love in his wild heart beat, And down to the pit went his gods of gloom. And earth grew bright and fair as a bride. And folk in star-worlds wondering cried — "Lo iu the skies a new star is born !"

APHRODITE

O Beloved^ tiiiis on my small world you Rose^ flushing it all with rosy flame ! Changing sad thouglits to a singing throng, And creating the earth and the sky anew! As Love you appeared — and^ lo^ you are Fame, And, all my follies and sins despite, You yet, Beloved, may see my light — Small, but a star — mid tlie stars of song.

THE EAJAH'S SAPl^HIRES

In my garden, O Beloved ! Many pleasant trees are growing. Peach, and apricot, and apple, Myrtle, lilac, and laburnum.

Fair are they, but midst them lonely. Like an exiled Eastern Princess In a strange land far from kindred. Stands a lonely fair Pomegranate.

Dreaming of its native Orient Always is the fair Pomegranate, And beneath it I lie dreaminsr Of thine eyes and thee. Beloved !

TUE KAJAHS MArrHlRES

Overhead its red globes^ gleaming Like red moons, old tales recall of Eastern moons and songs of Hafiz — • Nightingales, and wine, and i-oses.

And at times it seems a mystic Tree Circean, whose red fruit is Broken hearts of old-time lovers. Thus their secrets sad revealing.

And within each red sun-cloven Glossy globe, like little rosy- Hearts within a great heart glowing, Glow translucent seeds of crimson.

Like the fruit of the Pomegrauatp Full of little hearts liiy heart is. And the little hearts so glowing They are thoughts of thee, Beloved !

Haply these at times are woven In with dreams of the Pomegranate ; Thus, perchance, I dreamt the wondrous Dream within a dream here written. 23

THE RAJAU S SAPPHIRES

In liis palace-liallj methouglit, I Saw a splendid Indian Rajah; Fame and Fortune were his vassals, But his heart was sad within liiin.

Round him stood his chiefs and captains. " Great art thou," they cried, " 0 Rajah ! And thy hand is strong in battle." But he smiled not at their speeches.

Silently through his Zenana

Passed he, glanced with cold iuid careless

Byes at women, fair as houris

Seen in visions bred of hasheesh.

Like to dawn, and noon, and starry Night — like all the moods of passion — Were they, rose-and-white Circassians, Amber Hindoos, dark-eyed ]*ersians.

Dancing girls with golden armlets, Golden rings around their aiiklos — ■ Making music clear, melodious As the plash of crystal fountains

THE rajah's sapphires

Heard in still, hot niglits of sununer— Danced the Lovers' Dunce before hiiti; But he heeded not their dancing, For his heart was sad within him.

Thence unto liis treasure-chanihor Strode he — there to gaze on gems that Rajahs dead had won and hoarded ; Tragic-storied, splendid jewels —

Flashing diamonds, like fallen Stars, for whose bright evil beauty Blood in old days had been spilt that Should have made them burn like rubies;

Emeralds greener than Spring's garments, Pearls like unto tears of Peris Weeping by the gates of Kden ; Opals with their fateful lustre.

Lonsr on these, and countless other Many-coloured gems, the Rajah Gazed, but found no- more delight in Their sun-flashing brilliant beauty. 25

TUB KAJAH S SAl'l'IIIRKS

lie had dreamt a dream enclianting Of twin-sappliires, blue as Heaven, And his ho;i,rfc was filled with hunger And with yearuini^ to possess them.

Therefore unto his Vizier he Told his dream, and g-ave command tliat He sliould seek the wide world over, Till he found the wondrous sa})phires.

Doth that sad Vizier still wander O'er the earth the snpphires seeking ? Sooth, I know not — hut I know that He will never find them, never.

For they were no cold, bright sapphires That the Rajah in his dream saw, . . . Waking from my dream I knew that They were thy blue eyes. Beloved !

26

THE CRUISE OF THE "IN MEMORTAM"

The wan lig-lit of a stormy dawn

Gleamed on a tossing ship: It was the In Memoriam

Upon a mourning' trip.

Wild waves were on the windward bow.

And breakers on the lee ; And through her sides the women heard

The seetliing of the sea.

" O Captain ! " cried a widow fair.

Her plump white hands clasped she,

" Thinkst thou, if dro.wned in this dread storm, 'J'hat savtid we shall be ? " 27

TUE CRUISE OF THE " IN MEMORIAM

" You speak in riddles, lady dear^ How saved can we be If we are drowned ?" "Alas, I mean In Paradise !" said she.

" 0 I've sailed North, and I've sailed South

(He was a godless wight), " ]>ut l)oy or man, since my days began,

That sliore I ne'er did sight !"

The Captain told the First Mate bold

What that fair lady said; The First Mate sneered in his black beai'd —

Ilis eyes burned in his head.

'' Full forty souls are here aboard, A-sailing on the wave — Without the crew, and, 'tvvixt us two, I tliink tlieifve none to save —

" Full forty souls, and each one is A mourner, as you know. They weep the scuppers full ; the ship Is waterlog-ged with woe." 28

THE CRUISE OF TITK " IN MEMORIAM

Again he sneered in his black beard : " The cruise is not so brief, But, ere we land on earthly strand, All will have found relief."

"Nay, nay," the Captain said, " First Mate, You have forgotten one With eyes of blue ; the tears are true From those dear eyes that run !

"She mourns her sweetheart drowned last year, A seaman he, forsooth ! I would not di-own for Christ his crown If she were mine, Fair Ruth !"

" Brave words ! but words," the First Mate cried, " Are wind ! Behold in me The warmest lover and the last ! ]\Iiue shall the maiden be."

Fair Ruth stood by the talfrail high, A cross dropped in the sea, 29

THE CRUISE OF THE " IN MKMOltlAM

" If you lie liere^ my sweetheart dear, By this remember me \"

h'luv Ruth stood by the taiJrail high, A ring dropped in the sea : " Marry him not, ye false mermaids. Married he's now to me ! "

The heavens flashed flame; a black cloud came,

Its wings the sky did span, And liovered above the fated ship

Like death o'er a dying man.

Bended the spars and shrieked the shrouds,

The sails flew from the mast, And, like a soul by fiends pui'sued.

The ship fled through tho blast.

" More sail ! more sail ! " the First Mate cried

(The Captain stood atrhast), "More sail! more sail '."and he laughed in scorn. All by the mi^ou mast. 30

THE CRUISli; OF THE IN MEMORIAII

'^ 0 bretlireii dear, there's nongbt to fear, The steward told nie so V 'Twas tlie parson meek who thus did speak, Just come up from below :

"And Jt'ere there/' he said, with uprnis ^1 head.

And hands clasped piously, " I have a sainted spouse in Heaven —

I trow she waits for me."

Then grimly laughed the false First Hate ' " Good parson, let her be ! I've a wife in every poi't but flud — And that we shall not see."

"Oh, pardon seek !" cried the parson meek, " And pray, if jn-ay you can, For much I fear, by your scornful sneer, Tliat you are a sinful man."

Then louder laughed the false Fii\st Mate,

Louder and louder still. And the wicked crew Inughed loudly too,

As wicked seamen will. 31

THli CRUISE OF THE "IN MEMORIAM

"O Captain !" whispered a gentle dame, '' When shall we see the land ?" The Captain answered never a word, But clasped her by the hand.

Day after day, night after night,

On, on the ship did reel : The Captain drank with the second mate,

The First Mate held the wheel.

Down came a black cloud on the ship. And wrapped her like a pall,

And horror of awful darknes-; fell Upon them one and all.

The night had swallowed them utterly,

None could his fellow see, But ghostly voices up and down

Went whispering fearsomely.

No faint ray shone from moon or suti, The light of Heaven was gone, 32

The ciiUisE OF the " in memoriam '^

But ever the First Mute lield tlie wheel, And ever the ship rushed on.

• ••••••

Fair Ruth knolt doAvu in t1i;it grim gloom, tShe prayed beneath her breath : " God carry me o'er this dread sea That seems the Sea of Death \"

She ceased — and io ! a lurid glow

O'er that dark water spread, And in the blackness burned, afar,

A line of bloody red.

" Wiiat lights are yon ?" the Captain said.

The First Mate answered then : " No lights that ever shone upon

The world of living men."

'' Down on your knees \" the parson cried ; "Thank God, for all is well!'' The First Mate laughed: "Those lights, they are The harbour lights of Hell." 33

THE CUULSE 01'' THE IN MEMURIAM

Oil Hew the sliip; to every lip

An aslien pallor came, For all might see that suddenly

The sea had turned to flame.

The lights were near; the Sea of Fear,

Amid the silence dire, On that dread shore broke evermore

In soundless foam of fire.

" Oil; what are yon gray ghosts and wan ! The parson cried, " who seem With coloured strings of beads to play. As in a dreadful dream ?"

"Damned souls;" the First Mate said; "they sit And count, through endless years, The moments of Eternity On beads of burning tears."

Then, "Who are you," the parson said, " That talk so free of Hell ?" 34

THE CRUISE OF THE ' IN MEMORIAM

" My natne is Satan/' he replied, " Ilave I not steered you well ?"

" Back — back the yards !" the Captain cried Then quoth the false First Mate :

" Like many more who sight this shore, You back your yards too late."

" There are the dear deceased you mourned Witli such exceeding zest ; They call you — whoso freely goes E'en yet may save the rest."

One pale ghost waved the vessel back

With gestures sad and dumb — Fair Ruth has plunged into the sea, " My love, my love, I come ! "

All in a moment shone the sun, Blue gleatned the sky and sea,

The brave old ship upon the waves Was dancing merrily. 35

THE CRUISE OF TUE " IN MEMOillAM

And merrily to sound of bells

To lier old port full soon The In Memoriam that went forth

Returned the Honeymoon.

There o'er their grog sea-captains still

Her wondrous story tell, And how her Captain backed his yards

A biscuit-throw from Hell.

IN A WINE CELLAR

See how it flashes^

This grnpo-blond fine !- Our beards it splaslies,

0 comrade mine ! — Life dust and ashes

Were, wanting wine.

Amontillado

Fires heart and eyes; Champagne the shadow

Of care defies ; An El Dorado

In llhine-wine lies;

Pot't has the mintage Of generous deeds; 37

IN A WINE CELLAR

Tokay scorns stintage And richly bleeds ;

But this great vintage The Wine-March leads.

Yet it is wanting

In poesy ; No legends haunting

Its vassals be, No tales enchanting

Of chivalry.

Spain's grape hath stories;

Its blood the bold Conquistadores

Drank deep of old — A wine of glories,

A wine of gold.

Who drinks not sparing,

Beholdeth he The great Cid bearing

His banner free, 38

IN A WINE CELLAR

Columbus daring The unknown Sea ,

And, liaply biding, In this dream- Spn in,

Don Quixote riding Across the plain,

His squire confiding Beside his rein.

The wine of France is

Aglow to-day With flash of lances,

With feast and friiy, And dark-eyed glances

Of ladies gay.

See wliere together,

A flagon near, Lie hat with feather.

And long rapier — Fine courting weather,

0 Cavaher ! 39

IN A WINE CELLAR

Bright Rhenish, gleaming Mo on- white ! Perchance

Thy wave clear beaming Still gnards Romance,

Not dead, but dreaming In spell-bound trance !

Not in Rhine-water, But Rhine-wine fair

Sir Rupert sought her (As bards declare)

The Rhine King's daughter With golden hair.

Still 'neath its smiling Wave's amber rings,

Men sweetly wiling From earthly things,

Her song beguiling The Loreley sings.

Your cup, wild siren.

That Deutschland drains- 40

IN A WINE CELI-AR

Her heart of iron

Movanl by your strains — ■ No l»Jo()(l sliall lire iu

Australian veins ;

Nor yours whose cliarm is

Your to])az eyne, Nor yours whose armies

In g'old caps shine, Shall charm or harm us —

Eh, comrade mine ?

No vintage alien

For thee or me ! Our fount Castalian

Of poesy Shall wine Australian,

None otlier be.

Then place your hand in This hand of mine,

And while we stand iu Her brave sunshine

4.1

IN A WINE CELLAR

I'ledge deep our laud in Our laud's owu wiue.

It has no glamour

Of old romance, Of war and amour

In Spain or France; Its poets stammer

As yet, perchance ;

But he may wholly

Become a seer Who quails it slowly;

For he shall heai-, Though faintly, lowly,

Yet sweet and clear.

The axes ringing On mountain sides.

The wool-boats swinging Down Darling tides.

The drovers singing Where Clancv rides,

IN A WINK CKI-LAIi

Tlie iiiiiiors driving,

The stockman's strife;

All sounds conuiving To tell the rife,

Ilich^ rude, strong-striving Australian life.

Once more your hand in This hand of mine !

And while we stand in The brave sunshine.

Pledge deep our land in Our land's own wine !

43

A-KOVING

When the sap runs up tlio tree,

And the vine runs o'er the wall, When the blossom draws the bee,

From the forest comes a call, Wild, and clear, and sweet, and strati l'iv

Many-toned and murmuring Like the river in the range —

'Tis the joyous voice of Spring !

On the boles of gray old trees

See the flying sunl)eams play Mystic, sonn(Pe;s melodies —

A fantastic march and gay ; But the young loaves hear them — hark,

How they rustle, every one ! — And the sap beneath the bark

Hearing, leaps to iiK^ct the sun,

44

A-ROVING

0, the world is wondrous fair

When tlio tide of life's at flood ! There is magic in the air^

There is music in the blood ; And a glamour draws us on

To the Distance, rainbow-spanned, And the road we tread upon

Is the road to Fairyland.

Lo ! the elders hear the sweet

Voice, and know the wondrous song; And their ancient pulses beat

To a tune forgotten long ; And they talk in whispers low.

With a smile and with a sigh. Of the years of long ago,

And the roving days gone by.

45

BRUNETTE

WiiKN trees iu Spring Are blossomiug

My lady wakes P'rom dreams wliose lii^lit Made dark days bright.

For their sweet sakes.

Yet in her eyes A shadow lies

Of bygone mirth; And still she seems To walk in dreams,

And not on earth.

0

BUUNl'n'TE

Some men ni:i,y liold That hair of gold

Is lovelier Than darker sheen : They liave not seen

My lady's hair.

Her eyes are bright. Her bosom white

As the sea foam On sharp rocks spra3'od ; Her mouth is made

Of honeycomb.

And whoso seeks In her dusk cheeks

May see Love's sign — ■ A blush that glows Like a red rose

Beneath brown wine.

47

YEARS AGO

Thk old dead flowers of bygone sumniers, The old sweet songs that are no more sung,

The rose-red dawns that were welcome comers When you and I and the world were young,

Arc lost, 0 love, to the light for ever, And seen no more of the moon or sun,

For seas divide, and the seasons sever, And twain are we that of old were one,

0 fair lost love, when the ship went sailing Across the seas in the years agone.

And seaward-set were the eyes unquailing, And landward-looking the faces wan, 48

YEA us AGO

My heart went back as a dove goes hoineward With wings aweary to seek its nest,

While fierce sea-eagles are flying foaniward And storm-winds whiten the surge's crest ;

And far inland for a farewell jiardon

Flew on and on, while the ship went South —

The rose was red in tlie red-rose garden, And red the rose of your laughing mouth.

But no word came on the wind in token Of love that lasts till the end ; and so

My heart returned to me bruised and broken, From you, my love, of the long ago.

The green fields seemed in the distance growing To silken squares on a weaver's loom, ,

As oversea came the land-wind blowing The faint sweet scent of the clover bloom.

A rarer odour to me it carried,

In subtle delicate way to tell Of you, ere you and the world were married —

The lilac-odour you loved so well. 49

YEARS AGO

Again, I saw you beueatli the blooms of Those lilac-trees in the garden old.

All me ! each tree is a mark for tombs of Dead dreams and memories still and cold.

And Death comes there with his breath scent- laden,

And gathering gently the blossoms shed (In guise of Autumn, the brown-browed maiden)

With your and my dead buries his dead.

0, fairer far than the fair ideal

Of him who imaged the foam-born Queen In foam-wliito marble — a dream made real —

To me were you in those years, I ween.

Your lips were redder than night-shade berries That burn in borders of hedge rowed lanes,

And sweeter far than the sweet wild cherries The June snn flushes with ci'imson stains.

And grny your eyes as a gray dove's wings were — A gray soft-shadowing deeps profound,

CO

YEARS AGO

Where thoughts that reached to the heart of things were, And love lay dreaming though seeming drowned.

Twin-tulip-breasted like her the tread of Whose feet made music in Paphos fair,

The world to me was not worth a thread of Your brown, ambrosial, braided hair.

Mayhap you loved me at one time truly, And I was jealous, and you were proud ;

But mine the love of the king in Thule,

Till death J and yours — sleeps well in shroud.

So night came down like a sombre raven. And southward ever the ship was borne.

Till glad green fields and lessening haven Grew faint and faded like ghosts at morn.

As fields of Heaven eternal blooming, Those flowerful fields of my mother-laud

In midnight visions are still perfuming All wild waste places and seas of sand. SI

YEARS AGO

A.nd still in seasons of storm and tlinndcr, In strange lands under your land and mine,

And tliougli our ways have been wide asunder, In calm and tempest and shade and shine

Your face I see as I saw the last time —

As one borne space-ward on wings of light,

With eyes turned back to a sight of past time, Beholds for ever that self-same sight.

But scorn has died on your lips, and through yon Shines ont star-bright an immortal grace.

As though God then to His heaven drew you, And sent an angel to take your place.

I ]ilucked one rose from the tree you cherished. My heart's blood ebbing has kept it rod,

And all my hopes with its scent have perished; Why mourn them now — are the dead not dead ?

And yet, God knows, as this rose I kiss, you May feel the kisses across the sea ;

And soul to soul for the larger issue

Your soul may stand with the soul of me, 52

YEARS AGO

Unknown to you — for tho strings of Being Are not so easily snapped or torn ;

And we may journey with eyes unseeing On paths that meet in the years unborn.

Farewell, dear heart. Warm sighs may sever Ripe lips of love like a rose-leaf curled,

But you remain unto me for ever The one fair woman in all the world.

5?

VILLANELLE

We said farewell, my youth and I,

When all fair dreams were gone or going, And Love's red lips were cold and dry.

When white blooms fell from tree-tops high-

Our Austral winter's way of snowing — We said farewell; my youth and I.

We did not sigh — what use to sigh

When Death passed as a mower mowing, And Love's red lips were cold and dry 't

Bat hearing Life's stream thunder by,

That sang of old through flowers flowing, We said farewell, my youth and I. 54

VILLANELLE

There was no hope iu the blue sky.

No music in the low winds blowing". And Love's red lips were cold and dry.

My hair is black as yet, then why

So sad ! I know not, only knowing We said farewell, my youth and I.

All are not buried when they die ;

Dead souls there are through live eyes showin" When Love's red lips are cold and dry.

So, seeing where the dead men lie.

Out of their hearts the grave-flowers growings We said farewell, my youth and I, When Love's red lips were cold and dry.

55

TUE VOICE OF THE SOUL

In Youtli; wlicn through our veins runs fast

The bright red stream of life, The Soul's Voice is a trumpet-blast

That calls us to the strife.

The Spirit spurns its prison-bars,

And feels with force endued To scale the ramparts of the stars

And storm Infinitude.

Youth passes ; like a dungeon grows

The Spirit's house of clay : The voice that once in music rose

In murmurs dies away. 56

THE VOICE OP THE SOUL

But in the day when sickness sore

Smites on the body's walls, The Soul's Voice through the breach once more

Like to a trumpet calls.

Well shall it be with him who heeds

The mystic summons then ! His after-life with loving deeds

Shall blossom amongst men.

He shall have gifts — the gift that feels

The germ within the clod, And hears the whirring of the wheels

That turn the mills of God !

The gift that sees with glance profound

The secret soul of things, And in the silence hears the sound

Of vast and viewless wings !

The veil of Isis sevenfold

To him as gauze shall be, Wherethrough, clear-eyed, he shall behold

The Ancient ]\lys((My. 57

THE VOICE OP THE SOUL

He sliall do battle for the True, Defend till death the Right,

With Shoes of Swiftness Wrono^ pursue, With Sword of Sharpness smite.

And, dying, he shall haply hear,

Like golden trumpets blown For joy, far voices sweet and clear —

Soul-voices like his OAvn.

So welcomed may ho join the Throng

Upon the Shining Shore, As one who, after wandering long,

Returneth home once more !

58

CARES

Hav^ing certain cares to drown, To the sea I took tliem down :

And I threw them in the wave. That engulfed them like a grave.

Swiftly then I plied the oar With a light heart to the shore.

But behind me came my foes : Like a nine-days' coi-pse each rose,

And (a ghastly sight to see!) Clutched the boat and girned at me !

With n heavy heart, alack, To the land I bore them back. •if)

CARES

Not in Water or in Wine

Can I drown these cares of mine.

But some day, for good and sure, I shall bury them secure,

Where the soil is rich and brown, With a stone to keep them down.

And to let their end be known, Have my name carved on the stone ;

So that passers-by may say, " llere lie cares that had their day,"

And sometimes by moonlight wan, I may sit that stone upon —

With a spectre's solemn phlegm — In my shroud, and laugh at them;

Or — who knows, when all is said ? — Maybe weep liecause they're dead.

6q

PONCE DE LEON

By a black wharf I stood lately, When the night was at its noon ;

Keen, malicious stars were shining, And a wicked^ white-faced moon.

And I saw a stately vessel,

Built in fashion quaint and old ;

From her masthead, in tlie moonlight. Hung a flag of faded gold.

Black with age her masts and spars were. Black with age her ropes and rails ;

Like a ghost through cere-cloths gazing Shone the white moon through her sails. 6i

PONCK DE LEON

Not a movement stirred the stillness, Not a sound the silence broke,

Save alone the livid water

Lapping round her sides of oak.

Then to her unseen commander Spake I, as to one I knew — " Don Juan Ponce de Leon, I have waited long for you.

" Take me with you, I implore you ! Take me with you on your quest For the Fount of Youth Eternal, For the Islands of the Blest."

Then above the bulwarks ancient

I beheld a head arise ; And the moon with ghastly glimmer

Lit its sad and hollow eyes.

" Grieved am I, seiior, and sorry,"

Very courteously it said, '"J'hat I may not take you witli me —

But I only take the De:i,d. 62

PONCE DE LEO^^

"These alone may dare tlie voyage, Tliese aloue sail on the quest For the Fount of Youth Eternal, For the Islands of the Blest."

63

DEATH

The awfal seers of old, who wrote in words Like drops of blood great thoughts that

through the night Of ages burn, as eyes of lions light Deep jungle-dusks ; who smote with songs like

swords The soul of man on its most secret chords,

And made the heart of him a harp to smite, — Where are they ? where that old man lorn of sight. The king of song among these laurelled lords ? But where are all the ancient singing-spheres That burst through chaos like the summer's breath Through ice-bound seas where never seaman steers ? Burnt out. Gone down. No star rcmembereth These stars and seers well-silenced through the years — The pono-less yenrs of everlasting death. 64

LIFE

What know we of the dead, who say these things.

Or of the life in death below the mould —

What of the mystic laws that rule the old Gray realms beyond our poor imaginings Where death is life ? The bird with spray-wet wings

Knows more of what the deeps beneath him hold.

Let be : warm hearts shall never wax a-cold. But burn in roses through eternal springs : For all the vanished fruit and flower of Time

Are flower and fruit in worlds we cannot see, And all we see is as a shadow-mime

Of things unseen, and Time that comes to Abv Is but the broken echo of a rhyme

In God's great epic of Eternity.

65

CHEISTMAS IN AUSTIIALIA

O DAY. the crown and crest of all tlie year !

Thou comest not to us amid the snows,

But midmost of the reig'n of the red rose ; Our hearts have not yet lost the ancient cheer That filled our fathers' simple hearts when sere

The leaves fell, and the winds of Winter f i oze

The waters wan, and carols at the close Of yester-eve sang the Child Christ anear. And so we hail thee with a greeting high,

And drain to thee a draught of our own wine, Forgetful not beneath this bluer sky

Of that old mother-land beyond tlie brine. Whose gray skies gladden as thou drawest nigh,

0 day of God's good-will the seal and sign !

66

QUESTIONS

Soul, dost thou sliuclder at the narrow tomb '{ Heart, dost thou dread to moulder in the dust — To meet the fate that all things mortal must, Strength in its pride, and beauty in its bloom ? What have ye done to merit nobler doom ? How used one life that ye for more should lust ? Time in his course doth all things downward thrust : The unborn generations wait for room ! Blind we were born, blind die : yet we must still Take God to task with Whither? Whence? and Why ? What if God, giving us our wish and will,

Said, " Judge thyself '' to each ! Who dares reply ? . He knows the end wlio made the perfect plan — Hell were too small if man were judged by man. 67

THE GODS

Last nif^htj as one wlio hears a tragic jest,

I woke from dreams, lialf-laugliing, half iu

tears ; Methought that I had journeyed in the spheres And stood upon the Planet of the Blest ! And found thereon a folk who prayed with zest Exceeding, and through all their painful years, Like strong souls struggled on, ^mid hopes and fears ; ''Where dwell the gods," they said, "we shall

find rest." The gods? What gods, I thought, are these who so Inspire their worshippers with faith that flowers Immortal, and who make them keep aglow

The flames for ever on their altar-towers? " Where dwell these gods of yours ?" I asked — and lo ! They pointed upward to this earth of ours !

68

THE GLEANER

Methought I came unto a world-wide plain Where souls stood thick as grain at harvest- tide, And many reapers, full of pious pride, With rapid scythe-sweeps mowed them down

amain ; And zealous binders bound them up like grain In sheaves : the reapers at each onward stride Trod many souls down. These the binders eyed With careless looks or glances of disdain. But, following slow, a patient Gleaner came And gathered all the Binders cast aside. And made fair sheaves thereof. Whereat I cried : " Why gather these ? Who art thou ? Name thy name ! " The Gleaner in a sad, sweet voice replied : " The outcasts' Saviour — for these, too, I died." 69

LOVE

Love is tlie sunlight of the soul, That, shining on the silken-tressed head Of her we love, around it seems to shed

A golden angel-aureole.

And all her ways seem sweeter ways Than those of other women in that light : She has no portion with the pallid night,

But 18 a part of all fair days.

Joy goes where she goes, and good dreams — Her smile is tender as an old romance Of Love that dies not, and her soft eye's glance

Like sunshine set to music seems. 70

LOVE

Queen of our fate is she, but crowned VV^ith purple hearts-ease for her womanhood. There is no place so poor where she has stood

But evermore is holy ground.

An angel from the heaven above Would not be fair to us as she is fair : She holds us in a mesh of silken hair.

This one sweet woman whom we love.

We pray thee^ Love, our souls to steep In dreams wherein thy myrtle flowereth; So when the rose leaves shiver, feeling Death

Pass by, we may remain asleep :

Asleep, with poppies in our hands. From all the world and all its cares apart — (yheek close to cheek, heart beating against heart,

Wliile through Life's sandglass run the sands.

71

PASSION FLOWER

Choose who aviII the wiser part — I have hehl hei* licart to heart;

And have felt lier heart-strino-s stirred, And her soul's still singing heard

For one golden-haloed hour

Of Love's life the passion-fh)wer.

So the world ma}' roll or rest — I have tasted of its best ;

And shall laugh while I have breath At thy dart and thee, 0 Death !

72

TO MY LADY

When the tender hand of Kight

Like a rose-Jeaf falls Softly on your starry eyes,

When the Sleep-God calls. And the gate of dreams is wide,

Wide the painted halls, Dream the dream I send to you

Through your spirit's walls !

Dream a lowly lover came.

Lady fair to woo ; Dream that I the lover was.

And the lady — you; Dream your answer was a kiss,

Warm as summer dew — Waking, in the rosy dawn,

Let the dream be true ! 73

THE HAWTHORN

By the road^ near lier f;itlicr's dwelling, Tliere growetli a hawthorn tree :

Its blossoms are fair and fragrant As tho love that I cast from me.

It is all a-bloom this morniixg

In the sunny silentness, And grows by the roadside, radiant

As a bride in her bridal dress.

But ah me ! at sight of its blossoms No pleasant memones start; :

I see but the thorns beneath them — And the thorns they pierce my heart.

74

SPUma DIRGE

A CHILD came singing tlirougli tlie dusty town A song so sweet tliat all men stayed to hear, Forgetting for a space their ancient fear

Of evil days and death and fortune's frown.

She sang of Winter dead and Spring new-born In the green fields beyond the far hills' bound ; And how this fair Spring, coming blossom- crowned,

Would cross the city's threshold on the morn.

And each caged bird in every house anigh, Even as she sang, caught up the glad refrain Of Love and Hope and fair days come again,

Till all who heard forgot they had to die.

SPRING DIRGE

And all the ghosts of buried woes wore laid That heard the song of this sweet sorceress ; The Past grew to a dream of old distress^

And merry were the hearts of man and maid.

So, at the first faint hlush of tender dawn,

Spring stole with noiseless steps through tlie

gray gloom. And men knew only by a strange perfuuie

That she had softly entered and withdrawn.

But ah ! the lustre of her violet eyes

Was dimmed with tears for her sweet sinL-'in*"-

maid. Whose voice would sound no more in shine or shade To charm men's souls at set of sun or rise.

For there, Avitli doAvs of dawn upon her lialr, Like a fair flower plucked and flung away, Dead in the street the little maiden lay

Who gave new life to hearts nigh dead of care. 76

SPRING DIRGE

Alas ! must tliis be still the bitter doom Awaiting those, the finer-souled of earth, Who make for men a morning' song of mirth

While yet the birds are dumb amid the gloom ?

They walk on thorny ways with feet unshod. Sing one last song, and die as that song dies. There is no human hand to close their eyes.

And very heavy is the hand of God.

77

FEAGMENTS

Tlioise hrolitiii lines for "pardon crave ;

I cannot end the song with art : My grief is gray and old — her grave

Is dug so deep within my heart.

I. — HER LAST DAY

It was a day of sombre heat : The still, dense air was void of sound And life; no wing of bird did beat A little breeze through it — the ground Was like live ashes to the feet. Prom the black hills that loomed around The valley many a sudden spire Of flame shot up, and writhed, and curled. And sank again for heaviness : 78

PKAGMENTS

And heavy seemed to men that day

The burden of the weary world.

For evermore the sky did press

Closer upon the earth that lay

Fainting beneath, as one in dire

Dreams of the night, upon whose breast

Sits a black phantom of unrest

That holds him down. The earth and sky

Appeared unto the troubled eye

A roof of smoke, a floor of fire.

There was no water in the land. Deep in the night of each ravine Men, vainly searching for it, found Dry hollows in the gaping ground. Like sockets where clear eyes had been. Now burnt out with a burning brand. There was no water in the laud But the salt sea tide, that did roll Far past the places where, till then, The sweet streams met and flung it back ; The beds of little brooks, that stole 79

FRAGMENTS

In spring-time down eacli ferny glen. And rippled over rock and sand. Were drier tlian a cattle-track. A dull, strange languor of disease, TJiat ever with the heat increased. Fell upon man, and bird, and beast ; The tliin-flanked cattle gasped for breath ; The birds dropped dead from drooping trees ; And men, who drank the muddy lees From each near-dry though deep-dug well, Grew faint ; and over all things fell A heavy stupor, dank as Death.

Fierce Nature, glaring with a face Of savage scorn at my despair, Withered my heart. From cone to base The hills were full of hollow eyes That rayed out darkness, dead and dull ; Gray rocks grinned under ridges bare, Like dry teeth in a mouldered skull; And ghastly gum-tree trunks did loom 80

FRAGMENTS

Out of black clefts and rifts of gloom,

As sheeted spectres tliat arise

From yawning graves at dead of night

To fill the living with affright ;

And, like to witches foul that bare

Their withered arms^ and bend, and cast

Dread curses on the sleeping lands

In awful legends of the past,

Red gums, with outstretched bloody hands.

Shook maledictions in tlie air.

Fear was around me everywhere : The wrinkled forelieads of the rocks Frowned on me, and methought I saw — ■ Deep down in dismal gulfs of awe, Where gi'ay death-adders have their

lair. With the fiend-bat, the flying-fox, And dim sun-rays, down-groping far. Pale as a dead man's fingers are — The grisly image of Decay, That at the root of Life doth gnaw, 8i

FRAGMENTS

Sitting alone upon a tlirone

Of rotting skull and bleacliing bone.

" Til ere is an end to all our griefs : Little tlie red worm of the grave Will vex us when our days are done." So changed my thought : up-gazing then On gray-piled stones that seemed the cairns Of dead and long-forgotten chiefs — The men of old, the poor wild men Who, under dim lights, fought a brave. Sad fight of Life, where hope was none. In the vague, voiceless, far-oif years — It changed again to present pain, And I saw Sorrow everywhere : In blackened trees and rust-red ferns, Blasted by bush-fires and the sun ; And by the salt-flood — salt as tears — Where the wild apple-trees hung low, And evermore stooped down to stare At their drowned shadows in the wave,

83

FRAGMENTS

Wringing their knotted hands of woe ; And the dark swamp-oaks, row on row, Lined either bank — a sombre train Of mourners with down-streaming hair.

II. — SUNSET

The day and its delights are done j So all delights and days expire :

Down in the dim, sad West the sun Is dying like a dying fire.

The fiercest lances of his light

Are spent ; I watch him droop and die Like a great king who falls in fight ;

None dared the duel of his eye Living, but, now his eye is dim, The eyes of all may stare at him.

How lovely in his strength at morn He orbed along the burning blue ! The blown gold of his flying hair Was tangled in green-tressed trees, 83

FRAGMENTS

And netted in the rivei- sand

In gleaming links of amber clear;

But all his shining locks are sliorn,

His brow of its bright crown is bare^

The golden sceptre leaves his hand,

And deeper, darker, grows the hue

Of the dim purple draperies

And cloudy banners round his bier.

0 beautiful, rose-hearted dawn ! — 0 splendid noon of gold and blue ! — Is this wan glimmer all of you ? Where are the blush and bloom ye gave To laughing land and smiling sea? — The swift lights that did flash and «hi\er In diamond rain upon the river, And set a star in each blue wave ? Where are the merry lights and shadows That danced through wood and over lawn, And flew across the dewy meadows Like white nymphs chased by satyr lovers ? Faded and perished utterly. 84

FRAGMENTS

All delicate and all rich colour In flower and cloud, on lawn and lea, On butterfly, and bird, and bee, A little space and all are gone — And darkness, like a raven, hovers Above the death-bed of the day.

So, when the long, last night draws on, And all the world grows ghastly gray. We see our beautiful and brave Wither, and watch with heavy sighs The life-light dying in their eyes, The love-light slowly fading out, Leaving no faint hope in their place. But only on each dear wan face The shadow of a weary doubt, The ashen pallor of the grave.

0 gracious morn and golden noon ! With what fair dreams did ye depart — Beloved so well and lost so soon 1 8S

FEAGMENT8

I could uot fold you to my breast :

I could uot bide you in my lie art ;

1 saw the watchers in the West —

Sad, shrouded shapes, with hands that wring

And phantom fingers beckoning !

III. YEARS AFTER

Fade off the ridges, rosy light. Fade slowly from the last gray height. And leave no gloomy cloud to grieve The heart of this enchanted eve !

All things beneath the still sky seem Bound by the spell of a sweet dream ; In the dusk forest, di'eamingly. Droops slowly down each plumed head; The river flowing softly by Dreams of the sea; the quiet sea Dreams of the unseen stars ; and I Am dreaming of the dreamless dead.

The river has a silken sheen. But red rays of the sunset stain 86

PEAGMENTS

Its pictures^ from the steep shore c;iu<,''hfc,

Till shades of rock, and fern, and tree

Glow like the figures on a pane

Of some old church by twilight seen,

Or like the rich devices wrought

In mediaeval tapestry.

All lonely in a drifting boat Through shine and shade I float and float, Di'saraing and dreaming, till I seem Part of the picture and the dream.

There is no sound to break the spell. No voice of bird or stir of bough ; Only the lisp of waters wreathing In little ripples round the prow. And a low air, like Silence breathing, That hardly dusks the sleepy swell Wlioreon I float to that strange deep That sighs upon the shores of Sleep.

87

FRAGMENTS

But in the silent heaven blooming Behold the wondrous sunset flower That blooms and fades within the hour —

The flower of fantasy, perfuming With subtle melody of scent The blue aisles of the firmament !

For colour, music, scent, are one;

From deeps of air to airless heights, Lo ! how he sweeps, the splendid sun.

His burning lyre of many lights !

See the clear golden lily blowing ! It shines as shone thy gentle soul, O my most sweet, when from the goal Of life, far-gazing, thou didst see — While Death still feared to touch thine eyes,

Where such immortal light was glowing — The vision of eternity. The pearly gates of Paradise !

Now richer hues the skies illume : The pale gold blushes into bloom, 88

FRAGMENTS

Delicate as the flowering

Of first love in the tender spring

Of Life, when love is wizardry

That over narrow days can throw

A glamour and a glory ! so Did thine, my Beautiful, for me

So long ago ; so long ago.

So long ago ! so long ago !

Ah, who can Love and Grief estrange ? Or Memory and Sorrow part ?

Lo, in the West another change —

A deeper glow : a rose of fire :

A rose of passionate desire Lone burning in a lonely heart.

A lonely heart; a lonely flood. The wave that glassed her gleaming head And smiling passed, it does not know That gleaming head lies dark and lov/ ; The myrtle-tree that bends above, I pray that it may early bud. For under its green boughs sat we — • 89

FRAGMENTS

Wo twain, Ave only, hand in hand, When Love was lord of all the land — It does not know that she is dead And all is over now with Love, Is over now with Love and me.

Once more, once more, O shining years

Gone by ; once more, 0 vanished days

Whose hours flew by on iris-wings,

Come back and bring my love to me !

My voice faints down the wooded ways

And dies along the darkling flood.

The past is past ; I cry in vain.

For when did Death an answer deign

To Love's heart-broken questionings ?

The dead are deaf ; dust chokes their ears ;

Only the rolling river hears

Far off the calling of the sea —

A shiver strikes through all my blood,

Mine eyes are full of sudden tears.

90

PRAQMENTS

The shadows gather over all.

The yalley, and the mouutains ohl ;

Shadow on shadow fast they fall

On glooming' green and waning gold ;

And on my heart tlioy gather drear.

Damp as with grave-damps, dark with fear.

O Sorrow, Sorrow, couldst thou leave me Not one brief hour to dream alone ?

Hast thou not all my days to grieve me ? My nights, are they not all thine own ?

Thou hauntest me at morning light,

Thou blackenest the white moonbeams ;

A hollow voice at noon ; at night

A crowned ghost, sitting on a throne, Ruling the kingdom of my dreams.

Maker of men. Thou gavest breath, Thou gavest love to all that live. Thou rendest loves and lives apart; 91

FRAGMENTS

Allwise art Thou ; who qnestioneth Thy will, or who can read Thy heart ? But couldst Thou not in mercy give A sign to us — one little spark Of sure hope that the end of all Is not concealed beneath the pall, Or wound up with the winding-sheet ? Who heedeth aught the preacher saith When eyes wax dim, and limbs grow stark, And fear sits on the darkened bed ? The dying man turns to the wall. What hope have we above our dead ? — Tense fingers clutching at the dark, And hopeless hands that vainly beat Against the iron doors of Death 1

92

"UNTO THIS LAST"

They brought my fair love out upon a bier —

Out from tlie dwelling that her smile maJe

sweet, Out from the life that her life made complete,

Into the glitter of the garish street —

And no man wept, save I, for that dead dear.

And then the dark procession wound along, Like a black serpent with a snow-white bird Held in its fangs. I think God said a word To death, as He in His chill heaven heard

Her voice so sweeter than His seraph's song.

And so Death took away her flower-sweet breath One darkest day of days in a dark year, [dear And brought to that strong God who had no My own dear love. Ah, closed eyes without peer! Ah, red lips pressed on the blue lips of Death ! 93

THE NIGHTINGALE

When the moon a golJen-pale Lustre on my casement flings,

An enchanted nightingale In the haunted silence sings.

Strange the song — its wondrous words

Taken from the primal tongue, Known to men, and beasts, and birds,

When the care-worn woi-ld was young- Listening low, I hear the stars

Through her strains move solemnly, And on lonesome banks and bars

Hear the sobbing of the sea. 94

THE NIGHTINGALE

And my memory dimly gropes Hints to gather from her song

Of forgotten fears and hopes, Joys and griefs forgotten long.

And I feel once more the strife Of a passion, fierce and grand.

That, in some long-vanished life. Held my soul at its command.

Ah, my Love, in robes of white

Standing by a moonlit sea, Like a lily of the night,

Hast thou quite forgotten me ?

Dost thou never dream at whiles Of that silent, templed vale,

And the dim wood in whose aisles Sang a secret nightingale ?

Whither hast thou gone ? What star Holds thy spirit pure and fine ?

In this world below there are

None like thee : and thou wert mine ! 95

THE NWHTINGALE

For a season all thing-s last,

Love and Joy, and Life and Death ; Thou art portion of my past,

I of thine, whilst Time draws breath.

Fades the nioouliglit golden-pale, And the bird has ceased to siiifr —

Ah, it was no nightingale, But my heart — remembering.

06

THE TWO KEYS

There was a Boy^ long years ago, Who hour by hour awako would lie.

And watch the white moon gliding slow Along her pathway in the sky.

And every night as thus he lay Entranced in lonely fantasy,

Borne swiftly on a bright moon-ray There came to him a Golden Key.

And with that Golden Key the Boy Oped every night a magic door

That to a melody of Joy

Turned on its hinges evermore. 97

THE TWO KEYS

Then, trembling with delight ami awe, When he the charmed threshold crossed,

A radiant corridor he saw —

Its end in dazzling distance lost.

Great windows shining in a roAV Lit up the wondrous corridor,

And each its own rich light did throw In stream resplendent on the floor.

One window showed the Boy a scene

Within a forest old and dim, Where fairies danced upon the green

And kissed their little hands to him.

Sweet strains of elfin harp and horn lie heard so clearly sounding there,

Aud he to WonderLuid was borne And breathed its soft enchanted air.

Til on, passing onward with the years, He turned his back on Elf and Fay,

And sadly sweet, as if in tears. The fairy music died away. 98

THE TWO KEYS

The second window held him long:

It looked npon a field of fight Whereon the countless hordes of Wrong

Fought fiercely with the friends of Eight.

Audj lo ! upon that fateful field,

Where cannon thundered, banners streamed, And rushing squadrons rocked and reeled.

His sword a star of battle gleamed.

And when the hordes of Wrong lay still. And that great fight was fought and won.

He stood, bright-eyed, npon a hill, His white plume shining in the sun.

A glorious vision ! yet behind

He left it with its scarlet glow, And faint and far upon the wind

He heard the martial trumpets blow.

For to his listening ear was borne

A music more entrancing far Than strains of elfin harp or horn,

More thrilling than the trump of war. 99

THE TWO KEYS

No longer as a dreamy boy

He trod the radiant corridor : His young man's heart presaged a joy

More dear than all the joys of yore.

To that third window, half in awe,

He moved, and slowly raised his eyes —

And was it earth grown young he saw ? Or was it man's lost Paradise ?

For all the flowers that ever bloomed Upon the earth, and all the rare

Sweet Loveliness by Time entombed,

Seemed blushing, blooming, glowing thero.

And every mellow-throated bn-d

That ever sang the trees among Seemed singing there, with one sweet word — " Love ! Love !" on every little tongue.

Then he by turns grew rosy-red, And he by turns grew passion-pale. *' Sweet Love !" the lark sang overhead,

" Sweet Love!" sanar Love's own nio^htinorale.

THE TWO KEYS

In mid-heart of the hawthorn-tree

The thrush sang all its buds to bloom ; "Love! Love! Love! Love! Sweet Love," sann" he Amidst the soft green sun-flecked gloom.

She stood upon a lilied lawn.

With dreamful eyes that gazed afar :

A maiden tender as the Dawn And lovely as the Morning Star.

She stooped and kissed him on the brow, And in a low, sweet voice said she : " I am this country's queen — and thou ?" " I am thy vassal," murmured he.

She hid him with her hair gold-red. That flowed like sunshine to her knee ;

She kissed him on the lips, and said :

" Dear heart ! "I've waited long for thof."'

lOI

THE TWO KEYS

And, oh, she was so fair, so fair, So gracious was her beauty bright,

Around her the enamovired air Pulsed tremulously with delight.

In passionate melody did melt

Bird-voices, scent of flower and tree,

And he within his bosom felt The piercing thorn of ecstasy.

The years passed by in dark and light, In storm and shine; the man grew old.

Yet never more by day or night

There came to him the Key of Gold.

But ever, ere the great sun flowers In gold above the sky's blue rim,

All in the dark and lonely hours There comes an Iron Key to him.

And with that key he opes a wide

And gloomy door — the Door of Fato —

I02

THE TWO KEYS

That makes, whene'er it swings aside, A music sad and desolate,

A music sad from saddest source : He sees beside the doorway set

The chill, gray figure of Remorse, The pale, cold image of Regret.

For all the glory and the glow

Of Life are passed, and dead, and gone The Light and Life of Long Ago

Are memories only — moonlight wan.

There is no man of woman born So brave, so good, so wise but ho

Must sometimes in a night forlorn Take up and use the Iron Key.

103

LACHESIS

Over a slow-dying firOj

Dreaming old dreams, I am sitting ; The flames leap up and expire;

A woman sits opposite knitting.

I've taken a Fate to wife ;

Slie knits with a half-smile mocking Me, and m}^ dreams, and my life,

All into a worsted stockinGf.

104

SYMBOLS

'Tis said tliat tlie Passion Flower, With its fig'ares of spear and sword

And hammer and nails, is a symbol Of the Woe of our Blessed Lord.

So still in the Heart of Beantj

Has been hidden, since Life drew breath, The sword and the spear of Anguish,

And the hammer and nails of Death.

loS

AT THE OPERA

The cni'fcain rose — the play began — • The limelight on the gay garhs shone ; Yet carelessly I gazed upon

The painted players^ maid and man^ As one with idle eyes who sees The marble figures on a frieze.

Ijong lark-notes clear the first act close, So the soprano : then a hush — ■ The tonor^ tender as a thrush ;

Then loud and high the chorus rose, Till, with a sudden rush and strong, It ended in a storm of song.

The curtain fell — the music died —

The lights grew bright, revealing there The flash of jewelled fingers fair, io6

AT THE OPERA

And wreaths of pearls on brows of pride ; Then, with a quick-flushed cheek, I turned, And into mine her dark eyes burned.

Such eyes but once a man may see, And, seeing once, his fancy dies To thought of any other eyes :

So shadow-soft, thoy seemed to be

Twin haunted lakes, lit by the gleams Of a mysterious moon of dreams.

Silk lashes veiled their liquid light With such a shade as tall reeds fling From the lake-marge at sunsetting :

Their darkness might have hid the niglit — Yet whoso saw their glance would say Night dreamt therein, and saw the day.

Long looked I at them, wondering What tender memories were hid Beneath each blue-veined lily-lid ;

What hopes of joys the years would bring; What griefs ? In vain : I might not guess The secret of their silentness. 107

AT THE OPERA

What of her face ? Her face, meseems, Was such as painters see who muse By moonlii^ht in dim avenues,

Yet cannot paint ; or as in dreams. Young poets see, but, when they try To limn in verse are dumb — so I.

Yet well I know that I have seen That sweet face in the long ago In a rose-bower — well I know —

Laughing the singing leaves between, In that strange land of rose and rhyme- The land of Once upon a Time.

O unknown sweet, so sweetly known, I know not what your name may be — Madonna is your name for me —

Nor where your lines in life are thrown ; But soul sees soul — what is the rest ? A passing phantom at the best.

Did your young bosom never glow

To love ? or burns your heart beneath As burns the rosebud in its sheath ? 1 08

AT THE OPERA

I neither know nor wish to know : I smell the rose upon the tree ; Who will may pluck and wear, for me —

May wear the rose, and watch it die. And, leaf by red leaf, fade and fall. Till there be nothing left at all

Of its sweet loveliness ; but I Love it so well, I leave it free — The scent alone I take with me !

As one Avho visits sacred spots

Bj-ings tokens back, so I from you A glance, a smile, a rapture new !

And these are my forget-me-nots ! 1 take from you bat only these — Give all the rest to whom you please.

Sweet eyes, your glance a light shall cast On me, when dreaded ghosts arise Of dead regrets with shrouded eyes.

And phantoms of the perished past.

Old thoughts, old hopes, and old desire Gather around my lonely fire ! 109

AT THE OPERA

Farewell ! In rhyme, I kiss your hand — Kiss not unsweet, although unheard ! — This is our secret — say no word —

That I have been in Fairyland,

And seen for one brief raoinont's space The Queen Titania face to face.

xio

NE^RA'S WREATH

Ne.^s^ra crowns me with a purple wreatli

That she with her own dainty hands did twine ;

(lold-hearted blossoms and blue buds in sheath, Mingled with veined green leaves of the wild vine.

Tlien, bending down her bright head — ah, too nigh ! —

She asks me for a song : the daylight dies : The song is still unwritten : still I lie

Watching the purple twilight of her eyes.

I am her laureate ; therefore heart of grace I take to kiss her. Where was song like this ?

Love is best sung of in a loveless place,

For who would care to sing where he might kiss?

CAMILLA

Camilla calls mo heartless : hence you see

Logic in love has little part. How can I otherwise than heartless be

Seeing Camilla has my heart ?

SIXTY TO SIXTEEN

If I were young as you, Sixteen,

And you were old as I, I would not be as I have been.

You would not be so shy — We should not watch with careless mien

The golden days go by, If I were young as you, Sixteen,

And you were old as I.

The years of youth are yours, Sixteen ;

Such years of old had I, But time has set his seal between

Dark eyebrow and dark eye. Sere grow the leaves that once were green,

The song turns to a sigh : Ah ! very young are you, Sixteen,

And very old' am I. 113

SIXTY TO SIXTEEN

Red bloom-times como and go, Sixteen,

With snow-soft feet, but I Sliall be no more as I have been

In times of bloom gone by ; For dimmer grows the pleasant scene

Beneath the pleasant sky ; The world is growing old, Sixteen —

The weary world and I.

Ah, would that once again, Sixteen,

A kissing mouth had I; The days would gaily go, I ween,

Though death should stand anigh, If springtime's green were evergreen,

If Love would never die. And I were young as you, Sixteen,

And you were old as I.

114

BODQUET AND BRACELET

Bouquet said: "My floral ring

The homage of a heart encloses, Whose thoughts to you go worshipping

In perfume from my blushing roses."

Bracelet said : " My rubies red.

Though hard the gleam that each exposes, Will last when flowers of Spring are fled

And dead are all the Summer roses."

Beauty mused awhile, and said,

" Here's poesy !" and sighed, " Here prose is Bouquet ! I choose the rubies red ! —

In Winter they will buy me roses.**

"5

CUPID'S FUNERAL

By liis side, whose days are past,

Lay bow and quiver ! And his eyes that stare aghast

Close, with a shiver. God nor man from Death, at last,

Love may deliver.

Though — of old — we vowed, my dear, Death should not take him ;

Mourn not thou that we must here Coldly forsake him ;

Shed above his grave no tear — Tears will not wake him. Ii6

Cupid's funeral

Cupid lieth cold and dead —

Ended his flying, Pale his lips, once rosy-red,

Swift was his dying. Place a stone above his head,

Turn away, sighing.

117

THE FIRST OF MAY

A MEMORY

The waters make a music low :

The river reeds Are trembling to the tunes of long ago —

Dead days and deeds

Become alive again, as on

I floatj and float, Through shadows of the golden summers gone

And springs remote.

Above my head the trees bloom out

In white and red Great blossoms, that make glad the air about;

And old suns shed ii8

FIKST OF MAY

Their rays athwart tliem. Ah^ the light

Is brig'lit aud fair ! No suns that shine upon me now are bright

As those suns were.

And^ gazing down into tlie stream,

I see a face, As sweet as buds that blossom in a dream,

Ere sorrows chase

Fair dreams from men, and send in lieu

Sad thoughts. A wreath Of blue-bells binds the head — a bluer blue

The eyes beneath.

This is my little Annie's face ;

My child-sweetheart Whom long ago I lost in that dark place

Where all lives part.

Beside me still I see her stand. Who is no more. 119

FIRST OF MAY

She walked with me through chiklhood, hand in hand. But at the door

Of youth departed from me. Fain

Was I that day To go with her. Ah, sweetheart, come again

This First of May !

A GHOST

GrHOSTS walk the Earth, that rise not from the

grave. The Dead Past hath its living- dead. We see All suddenly, at times, — and shudder then — • Their faces pale, and sad accusing- eyes.

Last night, within the crowded street, I saw A Phantom from the Past, with pallid face And hollow eyes, and pale, cold lips, and hair Faded from that impei-ial hue of gold Which was my pride in days that are no more.

That pallid face I knew in its young bloom — A radiant lily Avith a rose-flushed heart. Most heautiful, a vision of delight ; And seeing it again, so clianged, so changed,

121

A GHOST

I felt as if the icy liand of Death Had touched my forehead and his voice said "Come!"

Ah, pale, cold lips that once were rosy-red ! Lips I have kissed on golden afternoons — Past, past, and gone, and gone beyond recall— Breathinor low vows beside the summer sea (Vows broken like the breaking of a wave) ; Ah, faded hair, whose curls I have caressed. And sworn the least of them was dearer far Than all the wealth of all the world to me ! Ah, hollow, haunting eyes, within whose

depths. Flower-like, and star-liko, once my Fate T saw, Or thought I saw ! — is there not any way To call back from its grave the Buried Past ?

Dear ! Though my vows to thee were all for- sworn, Too well, too late, I know I loved theo more Than mine own life — a life-iu-denth since tlicm. Yet shall I nevermore in all the days

122

A GHOST

ziuJ all the lives to come, if lives there be Beyond this life, beyond the weary earth, Kiss thee again upon the lips and hair, And call thee by the old caressing names, And feel thy true heart beating against mine. That was so false and would, too late, be true ; For neither passionate prayer, nor burning tears, Nor incantations that might rend the rocks. Nor all the powers of hell, nor God Himself, May raise the Buried Past to life again.

For thou that wert art not ; dead evei"mc>re — ■ Dead evermore, too, that which once was l.

What exorcism will lay these haunting ghosts ? None but a draught of the Lethean stream. W^lio drinks therefrom shall all things soon

forget. Himself forgetting, too — the greatest good.

121

EVEN SO

The days go by — the days go by, Sadly and wearily to die :

Each with its burden of small cares,.

Each with its sad gift of gray hairs For those who sit, like me, and sigh, " The days go by ! The days go by !"

Ah, nevermore on shining plumes. Shedding a rain of rare perfumes

That men call memories, they are borne As in life's many-visioned morn, When Love sang in the myrtle-blooms — Ah, nevermore on shining plumes ! 124

EVEN SO

Where is my life ? Where is ray life ? The morning of my youth was rife

With promise of a golden day.

Where have my hopes gone ? Where are they — riie passion and the splendid strife? Where is my life ? Whei*e is my life ?

My thoughts take hue from this wild day.

And, like the skies, are ashen gray ; The sharp rain, falling constantly. Lashes with whips of steel the sea :

What words ai'e left for Hope to say ?

My thoughts take hue from this wild day.

I dreamt — my life is all a di-eam! — ■

That I should sing a song supi-eme To gladden all sad eyes that weep. And take the Harp of Time, and sweep

Its chords to some eternal theme.

I dreamt — my life is all a dream. 12";

EVEN SO

The woi'ld is very old and wau — Tlie sun that once so brightly shone

Is now as pale as the pale moon.

I would that Death came swift and soon; For all my dreams are dead and gone. The world is very old and wan.

The world is young, the world is strong, But I in dreams have wandered long. God lives. What can Death do to me The sun is shining on the sea. Yet shall I sing my splendid song — The world is young, the world is strong.

126

SONG

What shall a man remember

In days when he is old, And Life is a dying ember,

And Fame a story told ?

Power — that came to leave him ?

Wealth — to the wild waves blown ? Fame — that came to deceive him ?

All, no ! Sweet Love alone !

Honour, and Wealth, and Power May all like dreams depart —

But Love is a fadeless flower Whose roots are in the heart.

127

A SUNSET FANTASY

Spellbound by a sweet fantasy

At evens^low I stand Beside an opaline strange sea

That rings a sunset land.

The rich lights fade out one by one.

And, like a peony Drowning in wine, the crimson sun

Sinks down in that strange sea.

His wake across the ocean-floor

In a long glory lies, Like a gold wave-way to the shore

Of some sea paradise. 128

A SUNSET FANTASY

My dream iiies after him^ and I

Am in another land ; The sua sets in another sky,

And we sit hand in hand.

Gray eyes look into mine ; such eyes

I til ink the angels' are — Soft as the soft light in the skies

AVluui shines the morning star.

And tremulous as morn, when thin Gold lights begin to glow.

Revealing the bright soul within As dawn the sun below.

So, hand in hand, we watch the sun Burn down the Western deeps.

Dreaming a charmed dream, as one Who in enchantment sleeps;

A dream of how we twain some day.

Careless of map or chart, Will both take ship and sail away

Into the sunset's heart.

129

A SUNSET FANTASY

Our ship sliiiU be of sandal built. Like ships in old-world tales^

Carven with cunning art, and gilt, And winged with scented sails

Of silver silk, whereon the red

Great gladioli burn, A rainbow-flag at her masthead,

A. rose-flag at her stern ;

And, perching on the point above Wherefrom the pennon blows,

The figure of a flying dove. And in her beak a rose.

And from the fading land the breeze Sliall bring us, blowing low.

Old odours and old memories, And airs of long ago —

A melody that has no words

Of mortal speech a part, Yet touching all the deepest chorda

That tremble in the heart : 130

A SUNSKl' FANTASY

A scented song- blown oversea. As though from bowers of bloom

A wind-harp in a lilac-tree Breathed music and perfume.

And we, no more with longings pale, Will smile to hear it blow ;

I in the shadow of the sail. You in the sunset-glow.

For, with the fading land, our fond Old fears shall all fade out,

Paled by the light from shores beyond The dread of Death or Doubt.

And from a gloomy cloud above When Death his shadow flings,

The Spirit of Immortal Love Will shield us with his wings.

He is the lord of dreams divine. And lures us with his smiles

Along the splendour opaline Unto the Blessed Isles. 131

POPPIES

These are the flowers of sleep That nod in the heavy noon, Ere the brown shades eastward creep To a drowsy and dreamful tune — These are the flowers of sleep.

Liovr's lilies are passion-pale, B'At those on the sun-kissed flood Of the corn, that rolls breast deep, Burn redder than drops of blood On a dead king's golden mail.

Heart's dearest, I would that we These blooms of forgetfulness Might bind on our brows, and steep Our love in Lethe ere less Grow its flame with thee or me. 133

POPPIES

Wlien Time with his evil eye The beautiful Love has slain. There is nought to gain or keep Thereafter, and all is vain. Should we wait to see Love die ?

Sweetheart, of the joys men reap We have I'caped ; 'tis time to rest. W hv should we wake but to weep f Fleep and forgetting is best — These are the flowers of sleep.

133

AMARANTH

Once a poet — long ago —

Wrote a song as void of art As the songs that children know.

And as pure as a child's heart.

With a sigh he threw it down, Saying, " This will never shed

Any glory or renown

On my name when I am dead.

" I will sing a lordly song

Men shall hear, when I am gone, Tlirough the years sound clear and strong As a golden clarion." *34

AMARANTH

So tliis lordly song lie sang

TJiiifc would gain him deathless fume — When the death-knell o'er him rang

No man even knew its name.

Ay, and when his way he found To the place of singing souls,

And beheld their bi'ight heads crowned With song-woven aureoles,

He stood shame-faced in the throng, For his brow of wreath was bare.

And, alas ! his lordly song

Sore had grown in that sweet air;

Then, all sudden, a divine

Light fell on him from afar. And he felt the child-song shine

On his forehead like a star.

So for ever. Each and all

Songs of passion or of mirth That are not heart-pure shall fall

As a sky -lark's — ^to the earth ; 135

AMARANTH

But the soul's song has no bounds —

Like the voice of Israfel, From the heaven of heavens it sounJs

To the very hell of hell.

136

THE LITTLE PEOPLE

Who are these strange small folk,

These that come to our homes as kings, Asking nor leave nor grace. Bonding onr necks to their yoke, Taking the highest place. And mastery of all things ?

Whence they come uone may know, But a wondrous land it must be ; Angels in exile they ! Here in this dull world below Creatures of sinful clay We feel near their purity. 137

TBE LITTLE I'KOPLE

Clearer tlieir young eyes are

Tlian the dew in the cups of flowers Gleaming, when shines at dawn, Faintly, the morning's one star — Eyes whose still gaze, indrawn, Sees things unseen by ours.

Deep in those orbs serene —

Little planets be-ringed and bright — Mysteries marvellous lie : Known unto us they might moan Faith, without fear, to die. All sure of the waiting light.

Dimpled their hands and small —

Would ye, therefore, their might contemn ? Seem they for play designed ? Fate, and the Future withal.

Weal, yea and Woe, of mankind. Lie hid in the palms of them. 138

THE LITTLE PEG PL E

Tyrants^ whose terrible names

Make men pale with affright intense, Worshipping, kiss their feet : Touch of their little hands tames Fiercest of hearts that beat — • So mighty is Innocence.

These are the children dear,

From a country unknown of charts : (Dim Land of Souls Unborn), Rosy as morn they come here, Filling with joy forlorn Waste places in our hearts.

'39

A KING IN EXILE

0 THE Queen may keep lier golden Crown and sceptre of command !

1 would give them both twice over

To be King of Babyland.

Sure, it is a wondrous country

Where the beanstalks grow apace,

And so very near the moon is

You could almost stroke her face.

And the dwellers in that country Hold in such esteem their King,

They believe that if he chooses He can do — just anything ! 140

A KING IN EXILE

And, altliougli his regal stature May be only four-fcct-ten,

Think him tallest, strongest, bravest, Noblest, wisest, best of men.

Ah, how fondly I remember The good time serene and fair.

In the bygone years when I, too. Was a reigning monarch there !

But my subjects they discrowned me When they'd older, colder, grown ;

And they took away my sceptre. And upset my royal throne.

Yet, although a King in Exile, Without subjects to command,

[ am glad at heart to think I Once was King of Babyland,

t4l

TAMERLANE

LtO, upon tlie carpet, where Throned upon a heap of slain

Blue-eyed dolls of beauty rare (Ah, they pleaded all in vain !) Sits the Infant Tamerlane !

Broken toys upon the floor Scattered lie — a ruined rout.

Thus from all things evermore Are — the fact is past a doubt — Hidden virtues hammered out.

Poet's page, or statesman's bust, Nothing comes to him amiss ;

Everything he clutches must — ^Tis his simple dream of bliss ! — Suffer his analysis. 142

TAMERLANE

0 my little Tamerlane, Infantile Iconoclast,

Is your small barbaric brain Not overawed by the amassed Wit and Wisdom of the Past ?

Typo are you of that which springs Ever forth when comes the need.

Overthrowing thrones and kings, Faithless altar, sapless creed ; Sowing fresh and living seed.

On the worn-out Roman realm.

In whose purple gnawed the moth.

Thus its pride to overwhelm.

And its state to carve like cloth. Swept the fierce, long-sworded Goth.

Age preserves with doting care

Things from which life long has fled.

Shrieks to see Youth touch a hair On the mouldiest mummy-head — So Egyptians kept their dead. 143

TAMERLANE

Youtli coines by with head higli-reared, Stares in scorn at these august

Effigies by age revered —

Gilded shapes of Greed and Lust — Shakes them into rags aud dust.

Little Vandal, smash away !

Riot while your blood is hot ! — If into the world each day

Such as you are entered not.

It would perish of dry-rot.

144

THE DEAD CHILD

All silent is the room,

There is no stir of breath,

Save mine, as in the gloom I sit alone with Death.

Short life it hud, the sweet, Small babe here lying dead,

With tapers at its feet And tapers at its head.

Dear little hands, too frail Tlieir grasp on life to hold ;

Dear little month so pale, So solemn, and so cold ;

145

THE DEAD CHILD

Small feet that nevermore About the house shall run;

Thy little life is o'er ! Thy little journey done !

Sweet infant, dead too soon, Thou shalt no more behold

The face of sun or moon. Or starlight clear and cold ;

Nor know, where thou art gone. The mournfulnoss and mirth

We know who dwell upon

This sad, glad, mad, old earth.

The foolish hopes and fond

That cheat us to the last Thou shalt not feel ; beyond

All these things thou hast passed.

The struggles that upraise The soul by slow degrees

To God, through weary days — Thou hast no part in these. 146

THE DEAD CHILD

And at thy cliildisli play

Shall we, 0 little one. No more behold thee ? Nay,

No more beneath the sun.

Death's sword may well be bared 'Gainst those grown old in strife,

But, ah ! it might have spared Thy little unlived life.

Why talk as in despair ?

Just God, whose rod I kiss. Did not make thee so fair

To end thy life at this.

There is some pleasant shore — Far from His Heaven of Pride,

Where those strong souls who bore His Cross in bliss abide —

Some place where feeble things. For Life's long war too weak.

Young birds with unfledged wings. Duds nipped by storm-winds bleak, 147

THE DEAD CHILD

Young lambs left all forlorn

Beneath a bitter sky, Meek souls to sorrow born,

Find refuge when they die.

There day is one long dawn. And from the cups of flowers

Light dew-filled clouds updrawn Rain soft and perfumed shower;

Child Jesus walketh there Amidst child-angel bands.

With smiling lips, and fair White roses in His hands.

I kiss thee on the brow, I kiss thee on the eyes —

Farewell ! Thy home is now The Children's Paradise.

148

IN MEMORY OF AN ACTRESS

Say little : where she lies, so let her rest :

What cares she now for Fame, and what for

Art? What for applause ? She has played out her part. Her hands are folded calmly on her breast — God knows the best !

She has gone down, as all must go, to where The players of the past are lying low — Players who played their parts out long ao-o — •

With the life-hue still bright on lips and hair And forehead fair.

Cheek's colour, poise of head, and flash of eye Who will remember them when we are dead ? Whom that is dead have we remembered ? 149

iN MKMORY OF AN ACTRESS

The eud is one altliougli we smile or sigh — We live ; we die.

Bitter to some is Death, to some is sweet — Sweetest to youth and bitterest to age; But simple is the costume for the stage^

The darkened stage of death, and very meet — A winding-sheet.

So we may fill our days with grief or mirth, Each as he pleases : but what boots it all. When on the coffin-lid the cold clods fall,

Though we had been most eloquent on earth Or dumb from birth ?

So, let her rest who perished in her prime : Surely through, darkness she shall find the

light And, though obscured to us in outer night, Shall play her part yet in a play sublime In God's good time.

ISO

THE RIVBK MAIDEN

Her gowu was simple woven wool.

But, in repayment. Her body sweet made beautiful

The simplest raiment :

For all its fine, melodious curves

With life a-quiver Were graceful as the bends and swerves

Of her own river.

Her round arms, from the shoulders down

To sweet hands slender. The sun had kissed them amber-brown

With kisses tender. 151

THE MVEK MAIDEN

For tliouii'h slie loved the secret shades

Where ferus grow stilly, And wild vines droop their glossy braids,

And gleams the lily.

And Nature, with soft eyes that glow

In gloom that glistens. Unto her own heart, beating slow,

In silence listens :

She loved no less the meadows fair.

And green, and spacious ; The river, and the azure air,

And sunlight gracious.

I saw her first when tender, wan.

Green light enframed her ; And, in my heart, the Flower of Dowv

I softly named her.

The bright sun, like a king in state,

With banners streaming. Rode through the fair auroral gate

In mail gold-glearaing.

IS2

THE RIVEE MAIDEN

The witcli-eyed stars before him paled —

So higli liis scorning ! — And round tlie liills the rose-clouds sailed,

And it was morning.

The light mimosas bended low

To do her honour, As in that rosy morning glow

I gazed upon her.

My boat swung bowward to the stream

Where tall reeds shiver ; We floated onward, in a droani,

Far down the River.

The Eiver that full oft has told

To Ocean hoary A many-coloured, sweet, and old

Unending story :

Tlie story of the tall, young trees,

For ever sighing To sail some day the rolling seas

'Neath banners flying. 153

THE RIVER MAIDEN

The Ocean hears, and through liis caves

Roars gvisty hxugliter ; And takes the River, witli his waves

To roll thereafter.

But Love deep waters cannot drown ;

To its old fountains The stream returns in clouds that crown

Its parent mountains.

The River was to her so dear

She seemed its daughter ; Iler deep translucent eyes were clear

As sunlit water;

And in her bright veins seemed to run,

Pulsating, glowing, The music of the wind and sun,

And waters flowing.

The secrets of the trees she knew: Their growth, their gladness,

And, when their time of death was due, Their stately sadness. 154

THE RIVER MAIDEN

Gray gums, like old men warped by time,

She knew tlieir story ; And tlieirs tliat laughed in pride of prime

And leafy glory ;

And theirs that, Avhere clear waters run, Drooped dreaming, dreaming;

And theirs that shook against the sun Their green plumes gleaming.

All things of gladness that exist

Did seem to woo her, And well that woodland satirist,

The lyre-bird, knew her.

And there were hidden mossy dells

That she knew only, Where Beauty born of silence dwells

Mysterious, lonely.

No sounds of toil their stillness taunt,

No hearth-smoke sullies The air: the Mountain INIuses hnunt

Those lone, green gullies.

THE RIVER MAIDEN

And there they weave a song of Fate

That never slumbers : A song some bard shall yet translate

In golden numbers.

A blue haze veiled the hills' huge shapes,

A misty lustre — Like rime upon the purple grapes,

When ripe they cluster :

'Twas noon, and all the Vale was gold —

An El Dorado : The damask river seaward rolled,

Through shine and shadow.

And, gazing on its changing glow,

I saw, half-sighing, The wondrous Fairyland below

Its surface lying.

There all things shone with paler sheen •

More softly shimmered The fern-fronds, and with softer green

The myrtles glimmered : 156

THE RIVER MAIDEN

And — like that Fisher gazing in

The sea-depths, pining For days gone by, who saw Julin

Beneath him shining.

With many a wave-waslied corridor.

And sea-filled portal, And plunged below, and nevermore

Was seen of mortal —

So I, long gazing at the gleam

Of fern and flower. Felt drawn down to that World of Dream

By magic power :

For there, I knew, in silence sat,

With breasts slow-heaving, Illusion's Queen Rabesqnerat,

Her web a- weaving.

But when the moon shone, large and low.

Against Orion, Then, as from some p;ile portico

Might issue Dian, IS7

THE RIVER MAIDEN

Slie came through tall tree-pillars pale,

A silver vision, A nymph strayed out of Ida's vale

Or fields Elysian.

White stars shone out with mystic gleams

The woods illuming : It seemed as if the trees in dreams

Once more were blooming.

And all beneath those starry blooms,

By bends and beaches, We floated on through glassy glooms,

Down moonlit reaches.

Ah, that was in the glad years when

Joys ne'er were sifted, But I on wilder floods since then

Have darkly di'ifted.

Yet, River of lioiuance, for me

With pictures glowing, Through dim, green fields of Memory

Thou still art flowing. 158

THE RrVEE MAIDEN

And still I hear, thy shores along.

All faintly ringingj The notes of g'hosts of birds that long

Have ceased their singing.

Was she, who then my hoai-t did use

To touch so purely, A mortal maiden — or a Muse ?

I know not, surely.

But still in dreams I see her stand,

A fairer Flora, Serene, immortal, by the strand

Of clear Narora.

IS9

A PICTURE

The sun burns fiercely down the skies ;

The sea is full of flashing eyes ;

The waves glide shoreward serpentwise

Aiid fawn with foamy tongues on stark Gray rocks, each sharp-toothed as a shark, And hiss in clefts and channels dark.

Blood-purple soon the waters grow,

As though drowned sea-kings fought below

Forgotten fights of long ago.

The gray owl Dusk its wings has spread; The sun sinks in a blossom-bed Of poppy-clouds; the day is dead.

i6o

SEA-GIFTS

Give thou a gift to me

From thy treanure-hun^-e, 0 sea !

Said a red-lipped laughing girl While the summer yet was young ;

And the sea laughed back and flung At her feet a priceless pearl.

Give thou a gift to me

From thy treasure-ho^ise, 0 sea !

Said the maiden once again On a night of wind and rain.

Like a ghost the moon above her Stared through wiuding-sheots of cloud. i6i

SEA GIFTS

On tlie sand in sea-weed shroud, Lay the pale corpse of her lover.

Which is better, gain or loss ? A\ Inch is nobler, crown or cross ?

Wc shall know these things, maybe, When the dead rise from the sea.

162

DAY AND NIGHT

Day goetli bold in cloth of gold,

A royal bridegroom lie ; But Night in jewelled purplu walks —

A Queen of Mystery.

Day filleth up his loving-cup

With vintage golden-clear; But Night her ebon chalice crowns

With wine as pale as Fear.

Day drinks to Life, to ruddj' Life,

And holds a kingly feast. Night drinks to Death ; and while she drinks — Day rises in the East ! 163

DAT AND NIGHT

TIk'3' may not uioet ; they may not greet :

Each keeps a separate way : Day knoweth not the stars of Night,

Nor Night the Star of Day.

So runs the reign of Other Twain.

Behold ! the Preacher saith Death knoweth not the Light of Life,

Nor Life the Light of Death !

164

THE POET CAEE

Care is a Poet fiue : He works in shade or shine, And leaves— you know liis sig-u !- No day without its line.

He writes with iron pen Upon the brows of men ; Faint lines at first, and then He scores them in again.

His touch at first is liglit On Beauty's brow of white ; The old churl loves to write On foreheads broad and bright. 165

THE POET CARE

A line for young love crossed, A line for fair hopes lost In an untimely frost — A line that means Thou Wast.

Then deeper script appears : The furrows of dim fears, The traces of old tears, The tide-marks of the years.

To him with sight made strong By suffering and wrong, The brows of all the throng Are eloquent with song.

t66

VOICES

There are three mighty Voices tliat alway Cry out to God to speed His Judgment Day.

The Voice of Devils, weary long ago Of dragging souls to Everlasting Woe.

The Voice of Saints who hear, while anthems

swell In Heaven, the wail of sinners doomed to IIcll.

The Voice of Man, sick of his desperate Long throwing 'gainst the leaded dice of Fate.

All things are weary of the strife and stress — In God alone is there no Aveariness ?

167

THE ASCETIC

The narrow, thorny path he trod.

" Enter into My joy," said God. The sad ascetic shook his head ;

" I've lost all taste for joy," he said.

1 68

THE SERPENT'S LEGACY

An apple caused man's fall, as some believe ^ But that old Snake, malevoleutly wise,

A deadlier snare set when he left to Eve His tongue of honey and mesmeric eyes.

169

HIS ROUL

Once from the world of living inea I passed, by a strange fancy led. To a still City of the Dead,

To call upon a citizen.

He had been famous in his day;

Much talked of, written of, and praised For virtues my small soul amazed —

And yet I thought his heart was clay.

He was too full of grace for me : His friends said, on a marble stone, His soul sat somewhere near the Throne

I did not know ; I called to see. 170

HIS SOtJL

His name and fame were on the door — A most superior tomb indeed, Much railed, and gilt, and filigreed ;

Ho occupied the lower floor.

I knocked — a worm craided from its hole I looked — and knew it for his soul.

171

THE DREAM OF MAllGAUl^T

It fell u])on a summer uiglit

The village folk were soundly sleeping, Unconscious of the glamour white

In which the moon all things was steeping; One window only showed a light;

Behind it_, silent vigil keeping. Sat Margaret, as one in trance — The dark-eyed daughter of the Manse,

A flood of strange, sweet thoughts Avns surging Her passionate heart and brain within.

At last, some secret impulse urging. She laid aside her garment thin,

And from its snowy folds emerging, Like Lamia from the serpent-skin,

She stood before lier mirror bi-i^'ht

O

Naked, and lovely as the nigiit. 172

THE DliEAM OF MARGARET

Her dark liair o'er her shoulders flowing Might well have been a silken pall

O'er Galatea's image glowing

To life and love : she was witlial —

The lamplight o'er her radiance throwing — With her high bosom virginal^

A wf)mau made to madden men,

A Cleopatra born again.

Hers was the beauty dark and splendid. Whose spell upon the heart of man

Falls swiftly as, when day is ended, Night falls in lands Australian.

Her rich, ripe, scarlet lips, bow-bended. Smiled as such ripe lips only can ;

Her eyes, wherein strange lightnings shone.

Were deepoi- than Oblivion.

With round, white arms, whose warm caress No lover knew, raised towai-ds the ceiling.

She looked like some young Pythoness The secrets dark of Fato revealing, 173

THE DREAM OF MARGARET

Or godJess in divino distress

To higher powers for lu^lp appealing. This invocation, standing so, She sang in clear, sweet tones, but low

Suul, from this narrow, Mean life we know,

Speed as an arrow From bended how I

Seeh, and discover,

On land or sea, My destined lover,

Where'er he he.

How shall tliou Icnow him, My heart's desire ? —

His mien will show him, His glance of fire.

High is his hearing,

His pride is high. His spirit daring

Burns in his eye. 174

THE DRKAM OF MARGARET

Birds have done viating j

The Sprinci is past ; My arms are waiting,

My heart beats fast.

" Oh, why," she sig'lied, " has Fate awarded This lot to me whose heart is bold ?

My days by trifles are recorded. My suitors men whose God is gold.

Oh for the Heroes helmed and sworded. The lovers of the days of old.

Who broke for ladies many a lance

In gallant days of old Romance !

" Would I had lived in that great time when A lady's love was knight's best boon ; When sword with sword made ringing rhyme, when Mailed soa-kings fought from noon to moon. And thought the slaughter grim no crime, when

The prize was golden-haired Gudrun. Then /might find swords, broad and bright And keen as theirs, for me to fight. 175

TUE BKKAM OF MARGAEET

'^But narrow bounds my life environ,

And hold my eager spirit in. TJie men I see no heart of fire in

Their bodies bear. My love to win A man must have a will of iron,

A soul of flaine. Then sweet were sin Or Death for him ! " With ardent glance Thus spake the daughter of the Manse.

TheUj with a smile, she fell asleep in Her white and dainty maiden bed.

The chaste, cold moon alone could peep in, And view her tresses dark outspread

Ujion an arm whose clasp might keep in The life of one given up for dead:

And, as she drifted down the stream

Of Slumber deep, she dreamt a dream.

It was a banquet rich and rare,

The wine of France was foaming madly; The proud and great of earth were there, Au'l all were slaves to serve her gladly, 176

THE DREAM OP MARGARET

And yet on them with haughty air

She gazed, half-scornfully, lialf-sadly ; The Lady of the Feast was she — So ran her strange dream-fantasy.

A Prince was at hor fair right hand,

And at lier left a famous leader Of hosts, with look of high command,

And — blacker than the tents of Kedar — An Eastern King, barbaric, grand,

Sat near — tlieir Queen they had decreed her. Below the proud, the brave, the wise.

Sat charmed by her mesmeric eyes.

Then thus she spake : " 0 Lords of Earth !

Than you I know none nobler, braver; And yet your fame, and rank, and birth.

And wealth in my sight find small favour, For all too well I know their worth —

Long since for me they lost their savour. The Spirit, fit to mate with miue. Must be demoniac — or divine. 177

THE DREAM OF MARGARET

'A toast !" she cried. The gallant throng

Sprang up^ their foaming glasses clinking. " Saian ! The Spirit proud and strong I The bravest lover to mij thinking ! The Wine of Life I've drunk too long :

The Wine of death I now am drinking ! " . . " Our Queen she was a moment since — Bear forth the body !" said the Prince.

A ghostly wind arose, all wet

With tears^ and full of cries and wailing. And wringing hands, and faces set

In bitter anguisli unavailing; It bore the soul of Margaret

To where a voice, in tones of railing, Cried, " Spirit proud, thou hast done well 1 Thou art within the Gates of Hell ! "

The soul of Margaret passed slowly,

Yet bravely, through tlie Hall of Dread^

Tlie roof whereof was hidden wholly By black clouds hmiging overhead.

J 7^

THE DREAM OP MARGARET

No sound disturbed the melancholy

Deep silence — which itself seemed dead. No wailing of the damned was heard, No voice the fearful stillness stirred.

But that deep silence held in keeping

'J'he secret of Eternal Woe — That yet seemed like a serpent creeping

Around the walls. It was as though The cries of pain and hopeless weeping

Had died out ages long ago. No face was seen^ no figure dread. . . . Were all the damned and devils dead ?

No lustre known on earth was gleaming In that dread Hall, but some weird light

Around the pillars vast was streaming, And down the vistas infinite;

A light like that men see in dreaming, And, waking, shudder with affright.

Its glare a baleful splendour shed

For ever through the Hall of Dread. 179

THE DREAM OF MARGARET

Then suddenly she was awai'e

That from the walls, and all around lier. In motionless and burning stare.

Millions of eyes glowed, that spellbound her The everlasting dumb despair

That spoke from thorn made Pity founder; And, as she passed along the floor, She trod on burning millions more.

For floor and pillar, roof and all,

Wore full of eyes, for over burning —

'Twas these that lit tlie Dreadful Hall, . These were the damned beyond returning,

Sealed up in pillar, floor, and wall.

Without a tongue to voice their yearning,

Or grief, or hate, so God might know :

Their eyes alone could speak their woe.

Her way lit by the weird light flowing From those sad, awful eyes, she passed

To where — her terror ever growing — Upon a Throne, in fire set fast, 1 80

THK DKKAM OP MARGARET

And like a Rose of fire far-glowing^

She saw a Figure, Veiled aud Vast. She trembled, for she knew full well She stood before the Lord of Hell.

And then, an instant courage taking, She knelt before the burning throne,

And, all her hopes of heaven forsaking, She cried, " O Lord, make me thine own !

For men, though they be of God's making, I love not. Thee I love alone."

The figure veiled spake thus : " Arise,

0 Spirit proud — and most unwise!"

And as It spake, unveiling slowly,

A brow of awful beauty shone On Margaret's soul — yet Melancholy

And Woe Eternal sat thereon. But, lo ! the form was woman Avholly.

A faint smile played her lips upon. As in a voice low, sweet, and level She said : " My dear, I am the Devil ! " i8i

THE DUEAM OE MARGARET

With one wild wail of bitter scorn iug Tlie stricken soul of Margaret fled,

Sore harrowed by that dreadful warning; And, shrieking, through the Hall of Dread

She passed . . . and woke . . . and it was morning. And she was in her own white bed.

Soon afterwards, the tale runs, she Took veil within a nunnery.

THE MARTYR

Not only on cross and gibbet, By sword, and fire, and flood,

Have perished the world's sad martyrs Whose names are writ in blood.

A woman lay in a hovel^

Moan, dismal, gasping for breath ; One friend alone was beside her —

The name of him was — Death.

For the sake of her orphan children. For money to buy them food.

She hail slaved in the dismal hovel And wasted her womanhood. 183

THE MARTYR

Winter and Spi-ing and Summer Came each with a load of cares;

And Autumn to her brought only A harvest of gray hairs.

Far out in the blessed country.

Beyond the smoky town, The winds of God were blowing

Evermore up and down ;

The trees were waving signals Of joy from the bush beyond;

The gum its blue-green banner, The fern its dark green frond ;

Flower called to flower in whispers

By sweet caressing names. And young gum shoots sprang upward

Like woodland altar-flames;

And, deep in the distant ranges,

The magpie's fluting song Roused musical, mocking echoes

In the woods of Dandenong ; 184

THE MAKTYR

And riders were galloping gaily

With loose-held flowing reins, Through dim and shadowy gullies,

Across broad, treeless plains ;

And winds through the Heads came wafting

A breath of life from the sea. And over the blue horizon

The ships sailed silently;

And out of the sea at morning

The sun rose, golden bright. And in crimson, and gold, and purple

Sank in the sea at night ;

But in dreams alone she saw them,

Her hours of toil between ; For life to her was only

A heartless dead machine.

Her heart was in the graveyard

Where lay her children three, Nor work nor prayer could save thcMU,

Nor tears of agony. 185

THE MARTVR

On the lips of her last and dearest

Pressing a farewell kiss, She cried aloud in her anguish — " Can Grod make amends for this?"

Dull, desperate, ceaseless slaving Bereft her of power to pray,

And Man was careless and ci'uel, And God was far away.

But who shall measure His mercieti I His ways are in the deep ;

And, after a life of sorrow, He gave her His gift of sk-ep.

Rest comes at last to the weary, And freedom to the slave ;

Her tired and worn-out body Sleeps well in its pauper grave.

But His angel bore her soul up To that Bright Land and Fair,

Where Sorrow enters never, Nor any cloud of Care. 1 86

THE MARTYR

They came to a lovely valley,

A gleam with asphodel, And the soul of the woman speaking

Said—" Here I fain would dwell ! ''

The Ang-el answered gently : " O Soul most pure and dear, 0 Soul most tried and truest. Thy dwelling is not here 1

" Behold thy place appointed — ■

Long kept, long waiting — come !— Where bloom on the hills of heav*?n The roses of M:n'tyrdom !'

I»7

HIS MATE

It may have been a fraginent of that higher

Truth dri avis, at times, disclose ; It may have been to Fond Illusion nigher^

But thus the story goes :

A fierce sun glared irpon a gaunt land, stricken

With barrenness and thirst, Where Nature's pulse with joy of Spring would quicken

No more ; a land accurst.

Gray salt-bush grimmer made the desolation —

Like mocking immortelles Strewn on the graveyard of a perished nation

Whose name no record tells. |8S

HIS MATE

No faintest sign of distant water glimmered

The aching eye to bless ; The far horizon like a sword^s edere shimmered,

Keen^ gleaming, pitiless.

And all the long day through the hot air quivered Beneath a burning sky. In dazzling dance of heat that flashed and shivered : It seemed as if hard by

The borders of this region, evil-favoured.

Life ended. Death began : But no; upon the plain a shadow wavered —

The shadow of a man.

What man was this by Fate or Folly driven

To cross the dreadful plain ? A pilgrim poor ? or Ishmael unforgiven ?

The man was Andy Blane,

A stark old sinner, and a stout, as ever Blue swag has carried through

HTS MATE

Tliat g-rim, wild land men name the Never-Never, Beyond tlie far Barcoo.

His strength was failing now, but his unfailing

Strong spirit still upbore And drove him on with courage yet unqu ailing,

In spite of weakness sore.

When, lo ! beside a clump of salt-bush lying,

All suddenly he found A stranger, who before his eyes seemed dying

Of thirst, without a sound.

Straightway beside that stranger on the sandy

Salt plain — a death-bed sad — Down kneeling, " Drink this water, mate ! " said Andy —

It was the last he had.

Behold a miracle ! for when that Other

Had drunk, he rose and cried, '' Let us pass on ! " As brother might with brother So went they, side by side ; igo

HIS MATE

Until tlie fierce sniij like an eyeball bloody

Eclipsed in death, was seen No more, and in tlie spacious West, still ruddy,

A star shone out serene.

As one, then, whom some memory beguiling

May gladden, yea, and grieve, The stranger, pointing up, said, siuUy smiling,

'' The Star of Christmas Eve ! "

Andy replied not. Unto him the sky was

All reeling stars ; his breath Came thick and fast ; and life an empty lie was ;

True one tiling only — Death.

Beneath the moonlight, with the weird, wan glitter Of salt-bush all around, tie lay ; but l\y his side in that dark, ])itter, Last hour, a friend he found. 191

nrs MATE

" Tliank God ! " he said. " Hc'n acted more than square, mate, By me iu this — and I'm

A Rip lie must have known I was — well,

there, mate — A White Man all the time.

'^To-morrow's Christmas day : God knows where I'll be By then — I don't ; but you Away from this Death's hole should many a mile be, At Blake's, on the Barcoo.

"You take this cheque there — they will cash it, sonny

It meant my Clirlstmas spree .... And do just what you like best with the money,

In memory of me.'^

The stranger, smilint)-, witli a little leaven Of irony, said, " Yea,

192

UlS MATE

But tJicre it sliall not be. With me in Heaven You^ll spend your Cliristmas Day."

Then that gray hoathen_, that old back-block

stager, Half-jestiiigly replied, Audlauglied — and laughed again — "Mate, it's

a wager ! " And, grimly laughing, died.

St. Peter stood at the Celestial Portal,

Gazing down gulfs of air. When Andy l')lane, no longer now a mortal,

Appeared before him there.

" What scek'st thou here ?" the saint in tone ironic Said. " Surely the wrong gate This is for thee." Andy replied, laconic, " I want to find my mate." 193

Ills MATE

The g-ates flew wide. The ghory unbeholden

Of jnortal eyes was there. He gazed — this trenibhng sinner — at the golden

Thrones^ terrible and fair.

And shuddered. Then down through the living splendour Came One unto the gate Who said, with outspread hands, in accents tendcu- : "Andy ! / am your mate \"

194

THE OLD WIFE AND THE NEW

He sat beneath the curling vines

That round the gay verandah twined.

His forehead seamed with sorrow's lines, An old man with a weary mind.

His young wife, with a rosy face

And brown arms ambered by the sun,

Went flitting all about the place — Master and mistress both in one.

What caused that old man's look of care ?

Was she not blithe and fair to see ? What blacker than her raven hair.

What darker than her eyes might be ' 195

THE OLD WIffi AMD THE NEW

The old man bent his weary head ;

The sunlight on his gray hair shone ; His thoughts were with a woman dead

And buried, years and years agone :

The good old wife who took her stand

Beside him at the altar-side, And walked with him, hand clasped in hand,

Through joy and sorrow till she died.

Ah. she was tair as heart's desire,

And gay. and supple-limbed, in truth.

And in his veins there leapt like fire The hot red blood of lusty youth.

She stood by him in shine and shade, And, when hard-beaten at his best.

She took him like a child and laid His aching head upon her breast.

She helped him make a little home

Where once were gum-trees gaunt and stark,

And bloodwoods waved green-feathered foam — Working from dawn of day to dark, iq6

THE OLD WIFE AND THE NEW

Till that dark forest formed a frame

For vineyards that the gods might bless.

And what was savage once became An Eden in the wilderness.

And how at their first vintage-time

She laughed and sang — jou see such shapes

On vases of the Grecian prime — And danced a reel upon the grapes !

And ever, as the years went on,

All things she kept with thrifty hand.

Till never shone the sun upon A fairer homestead in the land.

Then children came — ah, me ! ah, me !

Sad blessings that a mother craves ! That old man from his seat could see

The shadows playing o'er their graves.

And then she closed her eyes at last, Her gentle, useful, peaceful life 197

THE OLD WIFE AND THE NEW

Was over — garnered with the past ; God rest thee gently, Good Old Wife 1

His young wife has a rosy face,

And laughs, with reddest lips apart,

But cannot fill the empty place

Within that old man's lonely heart.

His young wife has a rosy face,

And brown arms ambered by the sun,

Goes flitting all about the place. Master and mistress botli in one ;

But though she sings, or though she sighs, He sees her not — he sees instead

A gray-haired Shade with gentle eyes — The good old wife, long dead, loug dead.

He sits beneath the curling vines.

Through which the merry sunrays dart,

His forehead seamed with sorrow's lines — An old man with a broken heart. 198

A CHRISTMAS EVE

Good fellows are laughing and drinkinj

(To-night no heart should grieve), But I am of old days thinking,

Alone, on Christmas Eve. Old memories fast are springing

To life again ; old rhymes Once moYG in my brain are ringing—

Ah, God be with old times !

There never was man so lonely But ghosts walked him beside.

For Death our spirits can only By veils of sense divide.

Numberless as the blades of Grass in the fields that grow, 199

A CHRISTMAS EVE

Around us hover the shades of The dead of long ago.

Friends living a word estranges ;

We smile, and we say " Adieu ! " But, whatsoever else changes,

Dead friends are faithful and true. An old-time tune, or a flower,

The simplest thing held dear In bygone days has the power

Once more to bring them near.

And whether it be through thinking

Of memories sad and sweet. Or hearing the cheery clinking

Of glasses across the street, I know not ; but this is certain

That, here in the dusk, I view Like shadows seen through a curtain,

The shades of the friends I knew.

Methinks that I hear their laughter — An echo of ghostly mirth.

A CHRISTMAS EVE

As if in the dim Hereafter

They jest as they did on earth.

The fancy possibly droll is. And yet it relieves my mind

To think the enfranchised soul is So humorously inclined.

But liark ! whose steps in tho glancing

Moonbeams are these I hear, That sound as if timed to dancing

Music of gallant cheer ! Half Galahad, half Don Juan,

His head full of wild romance ; 'Twas thus that of old would Spruhan

Come lilting, " We met by chance."

Sure never a spirit lighter

At heart quaffed mountain dew ;

Never was goblin brighter That Oberon's kingdom knew.

And though at this season yearly I miss the grasp of his hand,

A CHRISTMAS EVE

I know til at Spruhan has merely Gone back to Fairyland.

Tlie sliades grow dimmer and dimmer,

And now they fade from view, I see in the East the glimmer

Of dawn. Old friends, adieu ! Sitting here, lonely hearted,

Writing these random rhymes. I drink to the days departed. —

Ah, God be with old times !

202

NIGHT

The Night is young yet; an enchanted night In early summer : calm and darkly bright.

I love the Night, and every little breeze She brings, to soothe the sleep of dreaming trees.

Hearst thou the Voices ? Sough ! Suaurrua ! —

Hark! 'Tis Mother Nature whispering in the dark !

Burden of cities, mad turmoil of men,

That vex the daylight — she forgets them then.

Her breasts are bare ; Grief gains from them

surcease : She gives her restless sons the milk of Peace. 203

NIGHT

To sleep slie lulls them — drawn from tli oughts

of pelf — By telling sweet old stories of herself.

All secrets deep — yea, all I hear and see Of things mysterious — Night reveals to me.

I know what every flower, with drowsy head Down-drooping, dreams of — and the seeming dead.

I know how they, escaped from care and strife. Ironically moralise on Life.

And know what — when the moon walks on the

waves — They whisper to each other in their graves.

I know that white clouds di if ting from stark

coasts Across the sky at midnight are the ghosts

Of sailors drowned at sea, who yearn to win A quiet grave beside their kith and kin 204

NIGHT

In still green graveyards, where they lie at ease Far from the sound of surge and roar of seas.

I know the message of the mournful rain That beats upon the widow's window-pane.

I know the meaning of the roar of seas ;

I know the glad Spring sap-song of the trees ;

And that great chant to which in tuneful grooves The green round earth upon its axis moves;

And that still greater chant the Bright Sun

sings — Fire-crowned Apollo — the great chant that brings

All things to life, and draws through spaces dim, And star-sown realms, his planets after him.

I know the tune that led, since Life began. The upward, downward, onward March of Man.

I hear the whis])ers that the Angels twain Of Death and Life exchange in meeting — fain 205

NIGHT

Are tliey to pause and greet, yet may not stay. "Never!" "^Forever." This is all they say.

I hear the twitterings inarticulate

Of souls unborn that press around the Gate

Of Birth, each striving which shall first escape From formless vapour into human shape.

I know the tale the bird of passionate heart. The nightingale, tries ever to impart

To men, though vainly — for I well believe That in her brown breast beats the heart of Eve,

Who with her sweet, sad, wistful music tries To tell her sons of their lost Paradise,

And solemn seci*ets Man had grace to know, When God walked in the Garden long ago.

Yea, I have seen, methought, on nights of awe. The vision terrible Lucretius saw : 206

NIGHT

The trembling Universe — suns^ starr,^ grief,

bliss — Plunging for ever down a black abyss.

But more I love good Bisliop Jeremy,

Who likens all tlie star-worlds that we see —

Which seem to run an everlasting race — Unto a snowstorm sweeping on through space.

Suns, planets, stars, in glorious array

They march, melodious, on their unknown way.

Thought, seraph-winged and swifter than the

light, Unto the dim verge of the Infinite,

Pursues them, through that strange ethereal

flood In which they swim (mayhap it is the blood

Of Universal God wherein they are

But corpuscles — sun, satellite, and star —

207

NIGHT

And tlieir great stream of glory but a dim. Small pulse in the remotest vein of Him)

Pursues in vain, and from lone, awful glooms Turns back to earth again with weary plumes.

Through glacial gulfs of Space the soul must roam

To feel the comfort of its earthly home.

Ah, Mother dear ! broad-bosomed Mother Earth ! Mother of all our Joy, Grief, Madness, Mirth! —

Mother of flower and fruit, of stream and sea! — We are thy children and must cling to thee.

I lay my head upon thy breast and hear — Small, small and faint, yet strangely sweet and clear —

The hum and clash of little worlds below. Each on its own path moving, swift or slow. 208

NIGHT

And listening, ever with intentcr ear, Tlirouffli din of wars invisible I hoar

'£>"

A Homer — genius is not gauged by mass — Singing his Iliad on a blade of grass.

And nations hearken : his great song resounds Unto the tussock's very utmost bounds.

States rise and fall, each blade of grass upon, But still his song from blade to blade rolls on

Through all the tussock-world, and Helen still Is Fairest Fair, and Ajax wild of will —

An Ajax whose huge size, when measured o'er. Is full ten-thousandth of an inch or more — -

Still hurls defiance at the gods whose home Is in the distant, awful, dew-drop dome

That trembling hangs, suspended from a spray An inch above him — worlds of space away. ao9

NIGHT

Old prophecies foretell — but Time proves all — The day will come when it^ like Troy, shall fall.

Lo ! through this small great wondrous song there

runs The marching melody of stars and suns.

I know these things, yet cannot speak and tell Their meanings. Over all is cast a spell.

Secrets they are, sealed with a sevenfold seal ; My soul knows what my tongue may not reveal.

I love the Night ! Bright Day the soul shuts in ; Night sends it soaring to its starry kin.

If I must leave at last my place of birth — This homely, gracious, green, familiar Earth,

With all it holds of sorrow and delight — I pray my parting-hour may be at night,

8IO

WIGHT

And that her curtain dark may softly fall On Bcenes I love, ere I depart from all.

Then shall I haply, journeying through the Vast Mysterious Silences, take one long, last

Fond look at Earth, and watch from depths afav The dear old planet dwindling to a star;

And sigh farewell unto the friends of yore, Whose kindly faces I shall see no more.

Bloxham & Chambers, Printers, Wentworth Place, Sydney.

Catalogue of books

PUBLISHED BY

ANGUS & ROBERTSON

LIMITED

PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY 89 CASTLEREAGH STREET, SYDNEY

«£^

The books in this Catalogue may be obtained through any Bookseller in Australia, New Zealand and all other English-speaking Countries.

Intending purchasers are requested to write direct to the publishers if they have any difficulty in obtaining the books required.

English and Foreign trade orders should be sent to the publishers whose names appear in the body of the Catalogue ; where no other name appears, they should be serxt to the Oxford University Prey's, Amen Corner, London, E.C.

The costs of postage stnted herein apply only to the Commonwealth of Australia.

Jnhj, 1914.

NEW AND FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS.

The following new books and new editions are described on the pages indicated: —

The Three Kings (Verses). By Will Lawson .. .. 3

Ah Soon (Verse and Prose). By Henry Lawson .. 3

Book of Australian Verse for Boys and Girls . . 3

New Volumes in Commonwealth Series . . . . . . 10

Scribbling Sue ( Stories for Children ) . By A. E. Mack 1 1

Gem of the Flat (for Children). By C. Mackness .. 11

The Charm of Sydney . . . . . . . . . . 12

Early Records of the Macarthurs of Camden . . . . 13

Life of Mattheav Flinders. By Professor Ernest Scott 13

History of the Aust. Bushrangers. By G. E. Boxall 15

PoptfLAB Guide to N.S.W. Wild Flowers. By F. Salman 16

Familiar Aust. Wild Flowers. By A. E. Suhnan 16

Butterflies of Australia. By Waterhouse and Lyell . . 17

Geology of IS'*ew South Wales. By C. A. Siissniilch . . 17

Australian House Drainage Practice. By H. G. Wills 17 Australian Military Handbooks . . . . 19, 20

The PlxVce of the Social Sciences in a Modern LTni-

versity. By Professor R. F. Irvine . . . . . . 21

Common Sense Household Cookery Book . . . . 23

"SNOWY RIVER" SERIES.

THE THREE KINGS, AND OTHER VERSES.

By Will Lawson. With portrait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. (jd. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage 2d.)

[Shortly. Will Lawson is a New Zealander who, through the Bulletin, has made an Australasian reputation. His verses are bright and lively, in the Kipling manner, and full of human interest.

AH SOON, AND OTHER STORIES AND VERSES.

By Henry Lawson. Cloth gilt, giit top, 3s. 6d.; full morocco, gilt edges, (Js. (posiage 2d.)

[Shorlly. This volume contains the best of Air. Lawson's more recent work, and some older pieces which have not previously ap- peared in book form. It is sure of a hearty welcome from his large circle of readers.

A BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN VERSE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Bertram Stevens and George Mackaness, M.A. With numerous portraits. Cloth gilt, gdt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.)

[Shortly. This book is thoroughly representative of the best Aus- tralian verse, and, although intended mainly as a selection suitable for young folks, it contains many pieces favoured by older readers. A number of the poems are not obtainable in any other book.

THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF AUSTRALIAN VERSE.

Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Bertram Stevens. New (fourth) edition, revised and en- larged. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d.; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage 2d.) Athexaeuai : "May be regarded as representative of the best short pieces written by Australians or inspired by life in Australia or New Zealand."

London: Macmillan <& Co., Limited.

" SNOWY RIVER " SERIES.

WHERE THE DEAD MEN LIE AND OTHER POEMS.

By Barcroft Henry Boake. Second edition, revised and enlarged^ with memoir, portraits, and 32 illus- trations. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. Gd. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage 2d.) J. Brunton Stephens, in The Bulletin: "Boake's work is often praised for its local colour; but it has sometliing better than that. It has atmosphere — Australian atmosphere, that makes you feel the air of the place — breathe the breath of the life?'

AT DAWN AND DUSK: Poems.

By Victor J. Daley. Fourth edition. With photo- gTavure portrait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d.; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage 2d.) Bookman: "These verses are full of poetic fancy musically expressed."

Sydney Morning Herald: "The indefinable charm is here, and the spell, and the music. ... A distinct advance for Australian verse in ideality, in grace and polish, in the study of the rarer forms of verse, and in the true faculty of poetic feeling and expression."

WINE AND ROSES: A New Volume of Poems.

By Victor J. Daley. With portrait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage

2d.) Daily Telegraph: "Most of his verse is tinged with sad- ness— as in most Irish poetry — but there is a fine imaginative quality that lifts it to a far higher plane than that of the conventional melanchoh' rhymer. There are poems in this book that recall the magic of Rossetti .... Victor Daley has left his mark in the beginnings of an Australian literature."

HOW HE DIED, AND OTHER POEMS.

By John Farrell. Fourth edition. With memoir, appreciations, and photogravure portrait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s.

{postage 2d.)

Melbourne Age: "Farrell's contrilnitions to the literature

of tlds country were always distini:;uished by a fine, stirring

optimism, a genuine sympathy, and an idealistic sentiment,

which in the book under notice find their fullest expression."

"SNOWY RIVER" SERIES.

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, AND OTHER VERSES.

By A. B. Paterson. Fifty-seventh thousand. With photogravure portrait and vignette title. Clotb gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 0 i. {postage 2d.) Athenaeum: "Swinging, rattling ballads of ready humour, ready pathos, and crowding adventure . . . Stirring and en- tertaining ballads about great rides, in which the lines gallop like the very hoofs of the horses."

London: Macmillan S Co., Limited.

RIO GRANDE'S LAST RACE, AND OTHER VERSES.

By A. B. Paterson. Seventeenth thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full moroeeo, gilt edges, 6s (postage 2d.) Spectator: "There is no mistaking the vigour of Mr. Pater- son's verse; there is no difficulty in feeling the strong human interest which moves in it."

London: Macmillan S Co., Limited.

THE POETICAL WORKS OF BRUNT ON STEPHENS.

As finally revised by the author, re-arranged and printed from new type, with ]")hotogravure por- trait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d:) The Times: "This collection of the works of the Queensland poet, who lias for a generation deservedly held a high place in Australian literature, well deserves study."

Daily News: "In turning over the pages of this volume, one is struck by his breadth, his versatility, his compass, as evidenced in theme, sentiment, and style."

THE SECRET KEY, AND OTHER VERSES.

By George Essex Evans. Second edition, with por- trait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.) Glasgow Herald: "Tliere is . . . the breath of that apparently immortal spirit which has inspired . ." . almost all that is best in English higher sonsj."

The Bookman: "Mr. Evans has written many charming and musical poems . . . manv pretty and haunting lines."

5

SNOWY RIVER " SERIES.

7A^ THE DAYS WHEN THE WORLD WAS WIDE, AND OTHER VERSES.

By Henry Lawson. Twentieth thousanrl. With photogravure portrait. Cloth gilt, g-ilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.) For cheaper edition see Commonwealth Series. The Academy: "These ballads (for such they mostly are) abound in spirit and manhood, in the colour and smell of Aus- tralian soil. They deserve the popularity which they have won in Australia, and which, we trust, this edition will now give them in England."

VERSES, POPULAR AND HUMOROUS.

By Henry Lawson. Eighteenth thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postag-e 2d.) For cheaper edition see Commonioealth Series. New York Journal: "Such pride as a man feels when he has true greatness as his guest, this newspaper feels in introducing to a million readers a man of ability hitherto unknown to them. Henrv Lawson is his name."

WHEN I WAS KING, AND OTHER VERSES.

By Henry Lawson. Tenth thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, Gs. (postage 2d.) Also in two parts, entitled "When I Was King" and "The

Elder Son" (see Commoniccalth Series). The Spectator: "A good deal of humour, a great deal of spirit, and a robust philosophy are the main characteristics of these Australian poets. Because they write of a world they know, and of feelings they have themselves shared in, they are far nearer the heart of poetry than the most accom- plished devotees of a literary tradition."

ON THE TRACK AND OVER THE SLIPRAILS.

By Henry Lawson. Twentieth thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.) For cheaper edition see Commonrcealth Series. Daily Chronicle: "Will well sustain the reputation its author has already won as the best writer of Australian short stories and sketches."

6

SNOWY RIVER " SERIES.

WHILE THE BILLY BOILS.

By Henry Lawson. Wth eiffht illustrations by F. P. Mahony. Thirty-second thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.) For cheaper edition see Commoniccalth Series.

The Academy: "A book of honest, direct, sympathetic, humorous writing about Australia from within is worth a library of travellers' tales . . . The result is a real book — a book in a hundred. His language is terse, supple, and richly idiomatic. He can tell a yarn with the best."

CHILDREN OF THE BUSH.

By Henry Lawson. Eleventh thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.)

Also in two parts, entitled "Send Round the Eat" and "The Romance of the Swag" (see Commonicealth Scries).

The Bulletin: "These stories are the real Australia, written by the foremost living Australian author . . . Lawson's genius remains as vivid and human as when he first boiled his literary billy."

JOE WILSON AND HIS MATES.

By Henry Lawson. Eleventh thousand. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d.; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. (postage 2d.) For cheaper edition see Commonwealth Series.

The Athenaeum: "This is a long way the best work Mr. Lawson has yet given us. These stories are so good that (from the literary point of view of course) one hopes they are not autobiographical. As autobiography they would be good, as jnire fiction thej^ are more of an attainment."

London : Wm. Blackwood if- Sons.

SNOWY RIVER" SERIES, ETC.

FAIR GIRLS AND GRAY HORSES, WITH OTHER VERSES.

By Will H. Ogilvie. Revised edition, completing tAventietli thousand. With portrait. Cloth gilt, gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s. {postage 2d.) Scotsman : "Its verses draw their natural inspiration from the camp, the cattle trail, and the bush ; and their most charac- teristic and compelling rhythms from the clatter of horses' hoofs."

HEARTS OF GOLD, AND OTHER VERSES.

By Will H. Ogilvie. rourtb thousand. Cloth gilt,

gilt top, 3s. 6d. ; full morocco, gilt edges, 6s.

{postage 2d.)

Daily Telegraph: "Will be welcomed by all who love the

stirring music and strong masculine feeling of this poet's

verse."

LAURENCE HOPE'S LOVE LYRICS.

Uniformly bound in fancy boards with cloth back. 5s. {postage 3d.) per volume. THE GARDEN OF KAMA.

Daily Chronicle: "No one has so truly interpreted the Indian mind — no one, transcribing Indian thought into our literature, has retained so high and serious a level, and quite apart from the rarity of themes and setting— the verses remain —true poems."

STAR^ OF THE DESERT.

Outlook: "It is not merely that these verses describe Oriental scenes and descril-ye them with vividness, there is a feeling in the rhythm — a timbre of the words that seems akin to the sand and palm-trees and the changeless East."

INDIAN LOVE.

Spectator : "The poetry of Laurence Hope must hold a unique place in modern letters. No woman has written lines so full of a strange primeval savagery — a havmting music — the livin? force of poetry."

London : William Heinemann. 8

MISCELLANEOUS.

TO-MORBOW : A Dramatic Sketch of the Character and Environment of Ttohert Greene.

By J. Le Gay Brereton. Paper cover, Is. 6d. {postage Id.) Sydney Morning Herald: "The first Australian play of literary worth."

SONGS OF A SUNLIT LAND.

By Colonel J. A. Kenneth MxVckay. Cloth gil-t, 3s. 6d. (postage 2d.)

THE RISING OF THE COURT. AND OTHER SKETCHES IN PROSE AND VERSE.

By Henry Lawson. With picture cover (Common- wealth Series), Is. (postage Id.) Queensland Times: "These stories show Lawson at his best, and Lawson at his best is not to be beaten by short story writers in current literature."

^A'' OUTBACK MARRIAGE: A Story of Australian Life. By A. B. Paterson. Ninth thousand, with picture cover (Commonwealth S-eries) , Is. (postage Id.) Scotsman: "The chief virtue of the book lies in its fresh and vivid presentment of the wild life and the picturesque man- ners of the Australian bush, while in form and style it claims recognition as a work of considerable literary distinction."

THE OLD BUSH SONGS.

Collected and edited by A. B. Paterson. Thirteenth

thousand, with picture cover (Commonivealth

Series), ]s. (vostnge Id.)

Daily Telegraph: "Tviide and ruefred these old bush songs

are, but they carry in their vicrorous lines the very impress of

their origin and of their genuineness . . . Mr. Paterson has

done his work like an artist."

COOS AND WOOD THINGS.

By L. H. Allen. Paper boards, Is. (postage "[d.) Sydney Morning Herald: "Mr. AlTen is one of the select band who are saturated with classic lore and who seek to translate the beings of nacan mythology to the Australian bush. 'Hods and Wood Thincrs' contains both r<Tose and verse — the latter rhap.sodii^al. the former mystical."

CHEAP REPRINTS.

THE COMMONWEALTH SERIES.

Picture covers, Is. per volume {postage Id.)

BY HENRY LAWSON.

Prose. Ah Soon

While the Billy Boils (First and Second Series) On the Track Over the Sliprails Joe Wilson Joe Wilson's Mates Send Round the Hat The Romance of the Swag

Verse.

When the World was Wide (First and Second Series)

Popular Verses

FUaioRous Verses

When I Was King

The Elder Son

The Rising of the Court (Contains Prose also)

BY A. B. PATERSON.

Rio Orande's Last Race (First and Second Series)

An Outback Marriage (full-length novel)

The Old Bush Songs (edited only by Mr. Paterson)

BY WILL OGILVIE.

Fair Oirls "^ A reprint in two parts of the favourite volume. Gray Horses ) "Fair Girls and Gray Horses."

BY BRUNTON STEPHENS. My Chinee Cook, and Other Humorous Verses

BY CHARLES WHITE.

History of Australian Bushranging (in 4 parts, each com- plete in itself, and well illustrated) — The Early Davs: 1850 to 1862; 1863 to 1869; 1869 to 1878

BY GEORGE E. BOXALL.

History of the Australian Bushrangers — Part I.: To the Time of Frank Gardiner Part II.: To the End of the Kelly Gang

in

BOOKS FOR CHILDEEN.

BUSHLAND STORIES.

By Amy Eleanor Mack. Seconrl edition, with

coloured illustrations and decorated cloth cover,

3s. 6d. (postage 2d.) [Shortly.

Academy: "It is not often that we have the pleasure to

welcome from Australia a hook of so many charming short

stories as are contained in the volume hefore us."

Scotsman: "Charming and simple nursery tales, appetisingly touched with local colour of the Bush."

BiRMiNGHAsr Daily Post: "There is a daintiness and dis- tinct charm in these fairy tales."

SCRIBBLING SUE, AND OTHER STORIES.

By Amy Eleanor Mack. With coloured and other illustrations and decorated cloth cover, 3s. 6d. (postage 2d.) [Shortly.

These stories are written in the same happy vein as "Bush- land Stories." Miss Mack's intense love of nature is reflected in all her books, and her readers, both young and old, are at once attracted by the natural ring of her work.

GEM OF THE FLAT: A Story of Young Australians.

By Constance Mackness. With coloured and other

illustrations and decorated cloth cover, 3s. 6d.

(postage 2d.) [Shortly.

"Gem of the Flat" is a story of Australian bush children.

The local colouring is distinctly good ; the children are alive.

and talk like real children: the incidents are natural and well

described. The style is fresh, the dialogue well managed, and

the story as a wdiole is interesting and pleasant, with a good

tone about it.

DOT AND THE KANGAROO.

By Ethel C. Pedley. Illustrated hy F. P. Mahony. Third edition, with decorated cloth cover, 2s. 6d. (postage 2d.) For school edition see page 30. Sydney Morning Herald: " 'Dot and the Kangaroo' is with- out doubt one of the most charming books that could be put into the hands of a child. It is admirably illustrated by Frank P. Mahony, who seems to have entered thoroughly into the animal world of Australia. The story is altogether Australian. ... It is told so simply, and yet so artistically, that even the 'grown-ups' amongst us must enjoy it."

11

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE CHARM OF SYDNEY.

A collection of prose and verse quotations referring to Sydney and surroundings, chosen from the works of famous authors and travellers, including Robert Louis Stevenson, etc., etc., with three- colour frontispiece and 40 drawings by Sydney Ure Smith. Uniform with "A Bush Calendar," cloth, 3s. 6d. {postage Id.) [Shortly.

STORIES OF OLD SYDNEY.

By Charles H. Bertie. With 53 pen and pencil drawings by Sydney Ure Smith. Cloth cover, printed in colours, 3s. 6d. {postage Id.) Sydney Morning Herald: "A charming and interesting little book . . . they live and breathe, and he has contrived to make actual to us those remote and almost incredible days . . . Mr. Smith's admirable illustrations are an equally im- portant feature of the book, which, in addition to its interest, presents a great antiquarian value."

CHRISTOHER COCKLE'S

A US TRA T.IAN EXPERIENCES.

By "Old Boomerang" ( J. R. Houlding). Revised

edition, with 2 portraits. Cloth gilt, 5s. (postage

2d.) Originally published under the title "Australian Capers," this volume has been out of print for many years, and copies which have come into the market secondhand have been pur- chased at enhanced prices. The author has at last consented to its republication and has thoroughly revised it. As a picture of Australian life thirty or forty years ago the book is worthy of a permanent place in our literatiire. and it con- tains plenty of fun and humour for both old and young.

THE MOTHER STATE: The Physical Features, Natural Resources, Geology, Scenery, Climate, Industries and C omnferce of New South Wales.

By J. M. Taylor, M.A., LL.B. With S5 illustrations and maps. Cloth gilt. 3s. 6d. (postage 2d.) This is the only up-to-date cfeneral description of New South Wales available for sending to friends abroad. All the in- formation is drawn from the latest authentic sources and the illustrations and maps add largely to the book's interest and value.

12

BIOGRAPHY.

SOME EARLY RECORDS OF THE MAC ARTHURS OF CAMDEN, 1789-1834.

Edited by Sibella Macarthur Onslow. With coloured ijlates an. 4 numerous facsimile reproduc- tions of original documents. Cloth g-ilt, 15s. {postage 6d.) [Just out.

This volume will be recognised as a classic, g,'iving at first liund an insight into the times and the mode and manner ot living of a pioneer familj- during the first forty years of civilised story in Australia, and above all tlie trials of the pioneer of the wool trade.

Uniform loith the above. LIFE OF CAPTAIN MATTHEW FLINDERS, R.N.

By Ernest Scott, Professor of History in the Uni- versitj' of Melbourne, author of "Terre Napoleon" and "Life of Laperouse." With numerous por- traits, maps, manuscripts iu facsimile, etc. Clotli g-dt, 21s. {postage 6rf.) [Just out.

Thi-^ is a handsome volume of over 500 pages, octavo, and the only adequate biography of Flinders. Access has been iiad to all known sources of information, including the Flinders family papers, the Decaen papers at Caen, the Bibliotlu'que Nationale (Paris), the Mitchell Library (Sj'dney), and the Melbourne Public Library. Much entirely new matter is now- published for the first time.

LIFE OF LAPEROUSE.

By Professor Ernest Scott. With Chart of Voyages

in the Pacific, and 13 illustrations. Cloth, 3s. 6d.

{postage Id.) For school edition see page 31.

This story of Laperouse's work as an explorer and his close

association with Australia is a most important contribution

to our history. The illustrations are from authentic sources

and very interesting.

LIFE OF CAPTAIN CHARLES STURT.

By Mrs. Napier G. Sturt. With portraits and other illustrations. Cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. {postage Gd.) This is a cheap re-issue of the expensive London edition, and makes a fine presentation volume.

13

HISTOHY, ETC.

THE ANNOTATED CONSTITUTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

By Sir John Quick, LL.D., and R. R. Garran, C.M.G. Royal 8vo., cloth gilt, 21s. The Times: "A monument of industry."

THE STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS

OF AUSTRALIA.

By K. R. Cramp, M.A., Examiner, N.S.W. Depari- ment of Public Instruction. With portraits and illustrations. Cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. {postage 2d.) N.S.W. Public Insteuction Gazette: "Not only sound and

scholarly, but is written by a teacher of long experience.

.... Has the additional advantage of being absolutely up

to date .... Altogether an admirable piece of work ....

An interesting, very helpful, and very necessary handbook."

HISTORY OF AUSTRALASIA:

From the Earliest Times to the Present Day.

By Arthur W. Jose, author of "The Growth of the

Empire." Fifth edition, thoroughly revised, with

many new maps and illustrations from rai'e

originals in the Mitchell Library. Cloth gilt,

3s. 6d. {postage 2d.)

The Bulletin : "It is the most complete handbook on the

subject available ; the tone is judicial and the workmanship

thorough . . . The new^ chapter on Australian Literature is

the best view yet presented."

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY.

By H. E. Barff, M.A., Registrar. With numeroas illustrations. Cloth gilt, 7s. 6d. {postage 2d.) Published some years ago in connection with the Jubilee Celebrations of the University, this volume contains the oflicial record of its foundation and growth.

HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, 1824-1875.

By Jesse Gregson, Ex-Superintendent. With por- traits, cloth gilt, 6s. {postage 2d.)

IN MEMORY OF ALBERT BYTHESEA WEIGALL,

Late Headmaster of Sydney Grammar School.

By Professor M. W. MacCallum. With portraits and illustrations, cloth gilt, 2s. 6d. {postage Id.) 14

MISCELLANEOUS.

lllE JUSTICES' MANUAL AND POLICE GUIDE. A Synopsis of offences punishable by indictment and on summary conviction, definitions of crimes, meanings of legal phrases, hints on evidence, procedure, police duties, etc., in New South Wales.

Compiled by Daniel Stephen^ Sub-Inspector of

Police. Third edition, thoroughly revised, witli a

chapter on Finger Prints by Inspector Childs.

Demy 8vo., cloth, 7s. 6d. {postage 3d.)

The Magistrate: "The three editions alTord an illustration

of the rapid increase of size in successive editions of law books.

The first was a little book, the second was a great advauee on

it, and the third, which contains about half as much again as

the second, is a well-got-up work of nearly 500 pages. Its

principal claim is in being accurate, handy, thorough and

copiously indexed. The index references number over 2,800!"

HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN BUSRRANGING.

By Charles White. In 4 parts, each well illustrated and complete in itself. See Commonwealth Series, page 10.

HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGERS. By George E. Boxall. New edition, cloth gilt, 3s. (id. {postage 3d.) Also published in two parts, see Commonwealth Series.

THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF

BOILER CONSTRUCTION.

By W. D. Cruickshank, M. I. Mech. E., late Chief Engineering Surveyor, New South Wales Govern- ment. Second edition, revised and enlarged, with 70 illustrations. Cloth gilt, 15s. {postage 3d.) Journal of the Marine Engineers' Association: "A

practical treatise on the constrr.r'tion and management of steam

boilers . . . will be found of great value to practical

engineers."

NATURE STUDY.

.1 i'OrULAli LUWE 10 IRE WILD FLOWERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

By Florence Sulman. With 51 full-page illustra- tions. Cloth, 3s. 6d. {postage 2d.)

Sydney Morning Herald: "This book can be taken into the bush, and by its aid practically any dower identified without previous knowledge of botany. It is a book that has been badly needed."

A second volume is in the printer's hands and will be pub- lished shortly.

SOME FAMILIAR AUSTRALIAN WILD FLOWERS.

Photographed by A. E. Sulman. Paper cover, 2s. {postage Id.) This is the best representation by photography of Australian wild flowers in book form, and it is particularly suitable for sending to friends abroad. A second series is in preparation, the publication of which will be notified to all who send in their names beforehand.

THE PLANTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES:

An Analytical Key to the Flowering Plants {'except Grasses and Rushes) and Ferns of the State, with a list of native plants discovered since 1893.

By W. A. Dixon, F.I.C, F.C.S. With Glossary and 49 diagrams. Cloth gilt, 3s. Gd. {postage 2d.)

A BUSH CALENDAR.

By Amy Eleanor Mack. Third edition, revised, with

42 photographs of birds, llowers, bush scenes, etc.

Cloth, 3s. 6d. {postage Id.)

Literary World: "A pleasant little book . . . There is

much to interest those who have no personal knowledge of the

antipodes . . . and to tliose who know the country, the vivid

descriptions will bring back many happy recollections."

BUSH DAYS.

By Amy Eleanor Mack. With 39 photographs. Cloth (uniform with "A Bush Calendar"), 3s. 6d. {postage Id.) T. P.'s Weekly (London) : "A delightful book of descrip- tive studies in nature."

Book Lover: "A succession of memories of happy times with nature."

J6

MISCELLANEOUS

THE ANNOTATED CONSTITUTION OP THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

By Sir John Quick, LL.D., and R. R. Garran, C.M.G. Royal 8vo., cloth gilt, 21s.

TuE Times : " A monument of industry."

THE LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT IN" NEW SOUTH WALES.

By J. H. Hammond, B.A., LL.B., and C. G. W. David- son, B.A., LL.B., Barristei's-at-Law. Demy 8vo., cloth, 7s. 6d. (postage 3d.)

Sydney Morning Hkrald: "A valuable contribution to legal literature."

THE JUSTICES' MANUAL AND POLICE GUIDE.

A Synopsis of offTences punishable by indlctmcint and on summapy conviction, definitions of crimes, mean- ings of leg-al phrases, tiints on evidence, procedure, police duties, &c., in New South 'Wales.

Compiled by Daniel Stephen, Snb-Inspector of Police. Third edition, thoroughly revised to the be?2:inning of 1913, ineludino: all new and consoli- dated Acts, and with a chapter on Fin.e:er Prints by Inspector Childs. Demy 8vo., cloth, 7s. 6d. [postage 3d.) [Just published.

Sydney Morning Herald, reviewinjr the second edition (1906): "Justices of the Peace and others concerned in the administration of the law will find the value of this admirably- arranged work . . . We had nothing but praise for the first edition, and the second edition is better than the first."

RACIAL DECAY:

A Compilation of Evidence from World Sources.

By OcTAVius C. Beai-k, A Com?aissioneT of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1907, and of the State of New South Wales, 1903. With numerous dia- grams. Crown 4to., paper cover, 2s. 6d. {post. 3d.)

17

MISCELLANEOUS

DAIRYING IN AUSTRALASIA: Farm and Factory.

By M. A. O'Callaghan, Chief of Dairy Branch, Department of Agriculture. Contains oyer 700 pages and more than 200 plates. Royal 8vo., cloth, 10s. {postage 5d.)

Contents: I. How to Select and Equip a Dairy Farm — II. The Dairy Herd— III. The Various Breeds of Cattle— IV. The Jersey — V. The Guernsey — VI. South Hams or South Devons — VII. The Dairy Shorthorn — VIII. Illawarra Dairy Cattle — IX. The Ayrsliire — X. Holstein, Dutch, or Friesian Cattle— XI. Kerry Cattle— XII. The Dexter— XIII. Other Breeds of Dairy Cattle— XIV. Cattle Breeding— XV. How to Judge Dairy Cattle — XVI. Guenon's Escutcheon Theory — XVII. Management of the Dairy Herd — XVIII. The Feeding of Dairy Cattle — XIX. Herd Testing Associations — XX. The Microbe and the Dairy Farmer — XXI. Dairy Inspection and Cleanli- ness— XXII. Water for Dairy Purposes, from a Bacteriological Point of View— XXIII. Cattle Diseases— XXIV. Milking by Machinery— XXV. Cow's Milk— XXVI. Milk Standards— XXVII. The Testing of Milk and its Products— XXVIII. Separating — XXIX. Butter Manufacture — XXX. The Cause of Decomposition and the Means of Preserving Dairy Products — XXXI. Cream Grading — XXXII. Bacterial Butter Taints — XXXIII. Condensed Milk — XXXIV. Cheese Manufacture — XXXV. Margarine in Relation to Butter — XXXVI. Dairying in the Argentine — XXXVII. Siberia from a Dairying Point of View — XXXVIII. The Pig on the Dairy Farm — Appendices.

The Daisy (London): "A compendium of exact and scientific experimental knowledge which will be found of the utmost value to anyone engaged in the pursuit of dairy farm- ing and its cognate trades ... It gives in clear and unmis- takeable language the whole of the dairy manipulation from beginning to end . . . The author has dealt with the points at issue in so general a manner that his book is of world-wide application and usefulness . . . An illuminating series of chapters on all phases of milk questions and problems."

The Field (London) : "He knows his subject well and has rendered a service to the dairying industry by placing at its disposal a book of high instructive value and practical character."

Australasian Medical Gazette : " If medical men were to suggest that this book on dairying would be very useful to those engaged in the milk trade, in a short time much of the deplorable ignorance that now exists on the prevention of the infection of milk with all kinds of bacteria would be dispelled."

18

MISCELLANEOUS

SIMPLE TESTS FOR MINERALS.

By Joseph Campbell, M.A., F.G.S,, M.I.M.E. Fourth

edition, revised and enlarged (completing the twelfth thousand). With illustrations. Cloth, round corners, 3s. Cd. (postage Id.)

Ballabat Star: " This is an excellent little work, and should be in the hands of every scientific and practical miner."

Bendioo Evening Mail: " Should be in every prospector's kit. It enables any intelligent man to ascertain for himself whether any mineral he may discover has a commercial value."

Newcastle Morning Herald : " The book is a thoroughly practical one."

VVyalong Stab : " Now it will be possible for miners and prospectors to test any mineral which has a commercial value."

THE PLANTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES:

An Analytical Key to the FloAvering' Plants (except Orasses and Rushes) and Ferns of the State, with a list of native plants discovered since 189S.

By W. A. Dixon, F.I.C, F.C.S. With Glossary and 49 diagrams. Foolscap 8vo., cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. [postage 2d.)

Nature : " A handy little book providing a compact guide for naming flowers in the field."

Sydney Morning Herald : " A valuable contribution to the botanic literature of Australia."

IRRIGATION WITH SURFACE AND SUBTER- RANEAN WATERS, AND LAND DRAINAGE.

By W. Gibbons Cox, C.E. With 81 illustrations and a coloured map of Australia. Crown Svo., cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. {postage 2d.)

The Australasian : " The most valuable contribution to the literature on the subjects dealt with that bas yet appeared in Australia."

19

AIISGELLANEOUS

THE HOME DOCTORING OF ANIMALS.

By Harold Leenbt, M.R.C.V.S. Fourth edition, thoroughly revised and greatly enlarged, with nearly 100 illlustrations. 8vo., cloth, 12s. 6d. (postage 8d.)

Contents. — I. Diseases of the Blood — II. Diseases of the Heart — III. Diseases of the Digestive System — IV. Tumours — V. Diseases of the Respiratory Orgaus — VI. Diseases of the Eye — VII. Diseases of tlie Brain and Nervous System — VI FI. Diseases of the Generative Organs — IX. Diseases connected with Parturition — X. Troubles of the New Born — XI, Skin Diseases — XII. Parasites and Parasitic Diseases — XIII. Diseases of the Foot — XIV. Lameness and Bone Diseases — XV. Wounds and their Treatment — XVI. Bleeding: How to arrest Bleeding and how to Classify — XVII. Operations: Such as Ci'strating and Docking — XVIII. Blisters, Blistering, Firing, Setons, Seton- ing — XIX. Poisons and Antidotes — XX. Antiseptics and Disin- fectants— XXI. Anaisthesia, Insen.^ibility to Pain — XXII. Physicking, Purging Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Dogs, and Cats — XXIII. Diseases of Poultry — XXIV. Administration of Medicines — XXV. Medicines: A Comprehensive Series of Pre- scriptions— XXVI. Nursing and Foods for the Sick — XXVII. Methods of Control or Trammelling Animals — XXVIII. Vices, Tricks, and Bad Habits of the Horse.

THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OP BOILER

CONSTRUCTION:

A Manual of Instruction and Useful Infopniation for Ppactlcal Men.

By W. D. Cruickshank, M. I. Mech. E., late Chief Engineering Surveyor, New South Wales Govern- ment. Second edition, revised and enlarged, with 70 illustrations. 8vo., cloth gilt, 15s. (postage 3d.)

The Times (Engineering Supplement): "Mr. Cruickshank has given a useful work to boiler designers and superintendents. . . . There is a ' handiness ' in the arrangerripnt of the subjects which enables the reader to locate any subject quickly."

JOUBNAT. OF THE MaBINE ENGINEERS* ASSOCTATION : " A

practical treatise on the construction and management of steam boilers, and will he found of great value to practical sngineers."

20

MISCELLANEOUS

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL AND MILITARY ANNUAL.

Published for the Australian National Defence League. Royal 8vo., boards, 5s. {postage 2d.)

Contents: Military Defence Acts and Statistics, Regulations and Syllabus of Military College, Commonwealth Militia, Rifle Clubs, etc., Naval Defence Acts, Naval Forces, and much official and other useful information.

LIGHT HORSE POCKET BOOK.

Compiled by Lieut. D. C. Howell Price, A. and I. Staff. A concise guide to Regulations, Field Training, Camp Duties, Equitation, etc. With Nominal and other Rolls. Pocket size, limp cloth, Is. Gd. (postage Mj^^O

INFANTRY POCKET BOOK.

Compiled by Lieut. R. Stupart. A concise guide to Regulations, Field Training, Musketiy, Camp Duties, etc. With prefatory note by Colonel W. Holmes, D.S.O., V.D., Nominal, Section and Attendance Rolls, and Duty Roster. Pocket size, limp cloth. Is. 6d. {postage Yzd.)

THE CADET HAND BOOK.

Compiled by Lieut. R. Stupart. A concise guide to Regulations, Duties of Non-Com's., Guards and Sentries, etc., with Attendance Roll for Section Commanders. Pocket size, limp cloth, 9d. {postage y2d.)

RIFLE EXERCISES AND MUSKETRY INSTRUCTION FOR CADETS.

Comiiiled by Lieut. R. Stupart. Paper cover, 6d. {postage Vzd.)

21

S^CnOOL ^WPPLEMENTART READING BOOKS

THE CHILDREN'S TREASURY OF AUSTRALIAN VERSE.

Edited by Bertram! Stevens and George Mackaness, M.A. (Syd.) With notes. Crown 8vo., cloth, Is. 3d. (postage Id.) This volume contains all the best verse written in Aus- tralia and New Zealand, suitable for junior classes. It has been adopted l)y the N.S.W. Department of Public Instruction for supplementary reading in primary schools.

SELECTIONS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN POETS.

Edited by Bertram Stevens and George Mackaness, M.A. (Syd.) With notes. CroAvn 8vo., cloth, Is. 6d. {postage Id.)

The contents have been selected from the published work of Gordon, Kendall. Paterson, Lawson, Ogilvie, Daley, Essex Evans, Brunton Stephens, Mrs. Foott, Dorothea Mackellar, and many other well-known writers. In addition, the book con- tains a number of fine poems not obtainable in any other volume, and it is easily the best, if not the only, collection of Australian verse entirely suitable for younji; readers. It is prescribed for use in the High and Secondary Schools of New South Wales.

TEENS: a Story of Australian Schoolgirls.

By Louise Mack. Illustrated by Frank P. Mahony.

Crown 8vo., cloth, Is. 6d. (postage 2d.)

Sydney Morning Herald : " Ought to be welcome to all who

feel the responsibility of choosing the reading books of the

young ... its gaiety, impulsiveness and youthfulness will

charm them."

GIRLS TOGETHER: a Story of Australian Schoolgirls.

By Louise Mack. Illustrated by George W. Lambert, Ci'own Svo., cloth, Is. 3d. (postage 2d.) Queenslandeb: "A story told in a dainty style that makes it attractive to all. It is fresh, bright, and cheery, and well worth a place on any Australian bookshelf."

22 .; .

SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTART READING BOOKS

LIFE OF LAPEROUSE.

By Ernest Scott. With illustrations. Crown 8vo., clodi, Is. 3d. (postage Id.) This charming and instructive story of the life and work of France's sailor hero, who was so closely associated with Aus- tralia and the Pacific Ocean, is the first ever published in English, and will give Lap6rouse the place he deserves in our history.

LIFE OF ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, BOTANIST.

By Mrs. F. Danvers Power. With portrait. Crown Svo., cloth, Is. 3cl. {postage Id.)

WATERSIDE STORIES, BIRDLAND STORIES, AND BUSHLAND STORIES.

By Amy E. Mack, author of " A Bush Calendar," etc. Crown Svo., cloth, 9d. each {postage Vo^.) These stories have been adopted for supplementary reading in primary scliools, and are the best of their kind yet pro- duced in Australia. They are also publislied in one volume under the title " Bushland Stories" (see page 14).

DOT AND THE KANGAROO.

By Ethel C. Pedley. Illustrated by F. P. Mahony. Crown Svo., cloth, Is. 3d. {postage Id.)

THE STORY OF W. C. WENT WORTH: AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PATRIOT.

By Lewis Deer and John Barr. With portrait and illustrations. Crown 8vo., cloth, Is. {postage Id.)

Daily Telegraph : " An admirably-written biography, suitable for use as a reader in the higher classes of schools. They have jointly presented the main facts in the career of Wentworth with historical accuracy, as well as in capital literary style."

Bulletin : " Is intended for school children and will be of great value to them. It will also supply the general reader with a conci.se and impartial account of Wentworth's career which cannot be obtained elsewhei-e. The authors have done their work well."

23

E DUG AT TONAL

CALENDAR OF THE UNIVERSITY OP SYDNEY.

Demy 8vo., linen, 2s. 6d. ; paper cover, Is. (postage 3d.) [Published annually in June.

MANUAL OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS HELD BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY.

Demy 8vo., paper cover, Is. (postage Id.)

iPublished annually in September, and dated the year following that in which it is issued.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INFINITESIMAL CALCULUS.

By H. S. Carslaw, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S.E., Professor of Mai hematics in the University of Sydney. Second edition, revised. Demy Svo., cloth, 5s.

(postage 2d.)

London: Longmans, Green tf- Co.

PRACTICAL PHYSICS.

By J. A. Pollock, Professor of Physics, and 0. U. VoNwiLLER, Demonstrator in Physics, in the Uni- versity of Sydney. Part I. With 30 diagrams. Svo., paper cover, 3s. 9d. (postage 2d.)

ABRIDGED MATHEMATICAL TABLES.

By S. H. Barraclough, B.E., M.M.E., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. Demy 8vo., cloth, Is. (postage Id.)

Logarithms, &c., puhlished separately, price 6d. (postage Id.)

24

EDUCATIONAL

HISTORY OF AUSTRALASIA:

Ppom the Eapliest Times to the Present Day, with Chapters on Australian Litepature, Industpies, and Land Settlement.

By Abthuk W. Jose, author of " The Growth of the

Empire." Fifth edition, thoroughly revised, with

many new maps and illustrations from rare

originals in the Alitchell Lihrary. Crown Svo.,

cloth gilt, 3s. 6d. {postage 2d.)

The Buixetin : " It is the most complete handbook on the

subject available; tlie tone is judicial and the workmanship

thorough . . . The new chapter on Australian Literature is the

best view yet presented."

United Empire ( London ) : " The l;est short account of Aus- tralasian history."

Glasgow Hebalr: "Admirably written and well illustrated." Spectator (London) : "His book is both clear and interest- ing, and this edition contains two new and very valuable chapters."

GEOGRAPHY OF NEV/ SOUTH WALES.

By J. M. Taylor, M.A., LL.B. Fourth edition, revised and enlarged, with 13 folding maps and 67 illus- trations. Crown 8vo., cloth gilt, 3s. Gd. {postage 2d.) This is the standard text-book on the subject, and it has been thoroughly revised and largely re-written. It has also been issned for general readers under the title " The Mother State " { see page 3 ) .

LAW AND LIBERTY.

A Manual of the Elements of Political Economy for the Use of Statesmen, Teachers, and Students. By Alexander W. Johnston, M.A. Crown 8vo., cloth gilt, 2s, 6d. {postage 2d.)

The Age: "Worthy of commendation, for it introduces fresh- ness into a heavy but important subject ... As a series of concise piononnccMuenLs which convey ideas and induce thought it is well worth reading."

London: Walter Scott Publishing Co. Ltd.

25

EDUCATIONAL

THE CUTTER'S GUIDE.

A Manual of Dresscutting and Ladies' Tailoring. By M. E. Roberts, Lecturer at Sydney Technical College. Third edition, revised and enlarged, with 150 diagrams. Crown 4to., cloth gilt, 7s. 6d. {postage 2d.)

Tailors' Abt Jodrnai.: "To all those inquirers from whom we have had continued correspondence asking for information as to the ways and means of perfecting their knowledge in the rudimotits of ladies' dressmaking and tailoring, we can safely say that no hook is better suited for their purpose than this."

Woman's Budget: "So simple are the directions given that the book has only to be known to find a place in all houses where the women-folk are anxious to understand the useful art of dresscuttinjr."

GARMENT CUTTING FOR GIRLS.

A Course of Scientific Garment Cutting for Schools. By M. E. Roberts. Prescribed for use in Girls' High Schools. With 50 diagrams. Crown 4to., boards, 2s. 6d. (postage Id.)

DRESS-CUTTING MEASURE BOOK.

Fur Students and Pupils using "The Cutters' Guide," and " Garment Cutting for Gii-Is." Gd. (postage Vzd.)

A JUNIOR COURSE OF FIRST AID:

Fop Boy Scouts, Girl Aids, and Primary Schools.

By Geor(5e Lane Mullins, M.D. With 30 illustra- tions, ()d. {post free 7d.)

FIRST AID IN NURSING:

Fop the Bush and Country, and fop use in Schools.

By Mrs. W. M. Thomas (Sister Dickson). Illustrated. Foolscap 8vo., cloth, Is. {postage Id.)

26

EDUCATIONAL

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, COMPOSITION, AND PRECIS WRITING.

By James Conway, Headmaster at Cleveland-st. Superior Public School, Sydney. Prescribed by N.S.W. Department of Public Instruction for Teachers' Examinations. New edition, revised and enlarged. Crown 8vo., cloth gilt, 3s Od. {postage 2d.)

A SMALLER ENGLISH GRAMMAR, COMPOSITION, AND PRECIS WRITING.

By James Conway. New edition, revised and en- larged. Crown 8vo., cloth Is. 6d. (postage Id.)

THE AUSTRALIAN OBJECT LESSON BOOK.

Part I. — For Infant and Junior Classes. Second edition, with 43 illustrations. Crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. 6d. (postage Id.)

Part II.— For advanced Classes. Second edition, with 113 illustrations. Crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. fid. (post- age 2d.)

NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS.

By Rev. John Burgess, D.D. Part I.— The Life of Christ. Foolscap 8vo., paper cover, Is. (post- age Id.)

NOTES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM.

By John Burgess, D.D. Part I. — Questions 1-38, 4d. (postage Id.) -

Part IL— Questions 39-81, 6d. (postage Id.) Part III.— Questions 82-107, fid. (postage Id.)

27

EDUCATIONAL

BRUSHWORK FROM NATURE, WITH DESIGN.

By J. E. Branch, Superintendent of Drawing, Depart- ment of Public Instruction. Prescribed by the DeiDartment of Public Instruction, N.S.W., for Teachers' Examinations. With 19 coloured and 5 other plates. Demy 4to., decorated cloth, 7s. 6d. {postage 3d.)

The ScnooLMASTEB (London): "The teaching ia very care- fully set out, and is quite up to the standard of English authors in the same subject. Tlie plates, too, are very carefully de- scribed and explained, and many useful hints are embodied in the notes. We have nothing but ])raise for the matter, style, and get-up of the book."

WIRE WORK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

By Charles E. Dawson. With 25 Diagrams. Crown 4to., paper cover, Is. Cd. {postacie Id.)

TliOM^ exercises fi.ye the oulcome of practical work in manual training carried out by the author.

TOY-MAKING FOR BOYS.

By Charles E. Dawson. With 23 diagrams. Crown 4to., paper cover, 2s. {postage Id.)

COMMONWEALTH MANUAL TRAINING SERIES.

Concrete Guide to Paper-Folding for Design.

Is. 6d. {postage Id.) Pupils' Paper-Folding Books for Classes I. and II.,

Class III., and Class TV. Id, each. Teachers' Manuaij of Cardboard Modelling for

Classes II. and III. (Lower). Is. {postage 2d.) Pupils' Cardboard Modelling and Drawing Book.

3d.

28

EDUCATIONAL

A NEW BOOK OP SONGS TOR SCHOOLS AND

SINGING CLASSES.

By Hugo Alpbn, ei-Superintendcnt of Music, Depart- ment of Public Instruction, New South Wales. 8vo., paper cover. Is. (postage Id.)

GEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Revised edition, with 8 maps and 19 illustrations. 64 pages. 6d. (post free 7d.)

GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, AND AMERICA.

Revised edition, with 18 relief and other maps, and 17 illustrations of transcontinental views, distribution of animals, &e. 88 pages. 6d. {post free 7d.)

GEOGRAPHY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

With 5 folding maps. 48 pages. 6d. [post free 7d.)

PRACTICAL GEOMETRY.

For Classes II. and III. With Diagrams. 2d. For Classes IV. and V. With Diagrams. 4d.

PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL GEOMETRY.

Book II. Price 6d.

BOYS' .^Ji'D GIRLS' AIDS TO ARITHMETIC: A Seplcs ot Diagrams fop the Guidance of Pupil: Demy 4to., paper cover, 6d. {post free 7d.)

29

EDUCATIONAL

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL SERIES.

Grammar and Derivation Book, 64 pages. 2d.

Test Exercises in Grammar for Third Class, First

Year, 64 pages. 2d. Second Year, 64 pages. 2d. Table Book and Mental Arithmetic. New edition,

greatly enlarged. 34 pages. Id. History of Australia, 80 pages. 4d. Illustrated. Geography. Part I. Australasia and Polynesia, 64 pages.

2d. Geography. Part II. Europe, Asia, America, and Africa,

66 pages. 2d. Euclid. Books I., II., and III. 2d. each. Arithmetic and Practical Geometry— Exercises for

Class II., 50 pages. 3d. Arithmetic— Exercises for Class III., 50 pages. 3d. Algebra. Part I., 64 pages. 4d. Answers, 4d. Algebra. Part II. To Quadratic Equations. Contains

over 1,200 Exercises, including the University Junior,

the Public Sei-vice, the Sydney Chamber of Commerce,

and the Bankers' Institute Examination Papers to

1900, &c., 112 pages. 4d. Answers, 4d. Bible History for Schools, with Scripture Class Helps.

1.1'istrated. 64 pages. 4d.

THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND DECIMAL COINAGE.

By J. M. Taylor, M.A., LL.B. Crown Svo., 6d. (post free 7d.)

THE AUSTRALIAN LETTERING BOOK.

Containing the Alphabets most useful in Mapping, Exercise Headings, &c., with practical applica- tions, Easj' Scrolls, Flourishes, Borders, Corners, Rulings, &c. New edition, revised and enlarged, cloth limp, 6d. [post free 7d.)

.?0

EDUCATIONAL

THE AUSTRALIAN COPY BOOK.

Approved by the Departments of Public Instructiou in New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, by the Public Service Board of New South Wales, and by the Chief Inspector of Catholic Schools. In 10 carefully-graded numbers, and a book of Plain and Ornamental Lettering, Mapping, &c. (No. 11). Price 2d. each. Numerals are given in each number. A.C.B. Blotter (fits .ill sizes), Id.

CHAMBERS'S GOVERNMENT HAND COPY BOOK.

Api)roved by the Departmeut of Public luslruetiuu. In 12 carefully-graded numbers and a book for Pupil Teachers (No. 13). 2d. each. T)ie letters nre continuously joined to each other, so tliat the pupil need nnt lift the pen from the liecrinning to flic en'l of each word. Tlie spaces between the letters are wide, eaeli letter tbus standing out boldly and distinctly hy itself. Tlie slope is jrentle, but Rufficient to prevent the pupil frnuj acquiring a back hand. The curves are well rounded, checking the ten- dency to too great angularity.

ANGUS AND ROBERTSON'S PENCIL COPY BOOK.

Approved by the N.S.W. Department of Public Instruction. In nine numbers. Id. each. No. 1, initiatory lines, curves, letters, figures; 2 and 3, short letters, easy combinations, figures; 4, long letters, short words, figures ; 5, long letters, words, figures; 6, 7, and 8, capitals, words, figures; 9, short sentences, figrnrea.

THE REFORM WRITING BOOKS.

With directions for teaching writing on the Reform system. Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Id. each ; Nos. 3a, 4, and 5, 2d. each. Pamphlet on The Teaching of Writing, 3s.

31.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

Los Angeles

This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.

orm L9-17m-8,'55(B3339s4)444

AA 000 369 048 4

PR D1^6a

,.%.^%,>

J^W:mr

w-_^^-.J*^

. :^%

sm:

.'■5- J*?' at

ii.:-^

^iL,».

il t/

*^^lt%

■; 1	■■;■#	IT'
	^;- M'

■■V*.^ ^A

ii^aji.—^

^•4>#^'*r<^j

'^#,i:.#|;T^f,.^>..#^.i€J

m.M.

^ ■■*?^ '^

m^.m

l>JCfCi.

.«jr ,ffi^ iisw

■^:aJJC

.f1^^#^^f^

^^^.^^^*i-

g^,^~i-^^:^- ^^■-M^%

■^M..^MMM:^%L:^ • ^d 'M if vf