04.06.2007, 09:18
George Meredith
Prest to thy service, lord of militant speech,
Comes trooping many a blithe and gallant phrase,
Rugged, perchance, nor wont to velvet ways,
Yet light of fence in Wit’s infested breach.
So featly fair the play thy foil doth teach,
That scarce devout delight’s intenser gaze
May know the temperate might that steels and stays
Thy sleight of parry, thy lunge’s lightning reach.
We love the inner strength thy braveries shroud
From common ken: that flaunts for garment gay
The winsome woof of Fancy’s fairy yarn;
As, high on moors, some mirrored grace of cloud
And shifting sky may deck with elfin play
The stern deep nature of some mountain tarn.
Prest to thy service, lord of militant speech,
Comes trooping many a blithe and gallant phrase,
Rugged, perchance, nor wont to velvet ways,
Yet light of fence in Wit’s infested breach.
So featly fair the play thy foil doth teach,
That scarce devout delight’s intenser gaze
May know the temperate might that steels and stays
Thy sleight of parry, thy lunge’s lightning reach.
We love the inner strength thy braveries shroud
From common ken: that flaunts for garment gay
The winsome woof of Fancy’s fairy yarn;
As, high on moors, some mirrored grace of cloud
And shifting sky may deck with elfin play
The stern deep nature of some mountain tarn.