T MERROW DOWN I HERE runs a road by Merrow Down- An hour out of Guildford town, Here, when they heard the horse-bells ring, To watch the dark Phoenicians bring Yes, here, or hereabouts, they met To hold their racial talks and suchTo barter beads for Whitby jet, And tin for gay shell torques and such. But long and long before that time (When bison used to roam on it) Did Taffy and her Daddy climb That Down, and had their home on it. Then beavers built in Broadstonebrook And made a swamp where Bramley stands; And bears from Shere would come and look For Taffimai where Shamley stands. MERROW DOWN The Wey, that Taffy called Wagai, They cut a noble figure then! II Of all the Tribe of Tegumai Who cut that figure, none remain,On Merrow Down the cuckoos cry— The silence and the sun remain. But as the faithful years return And hearts unwounded sing again, Comes Taffy dancing through the fern To lead the Surrey spring again. Her brows are bound with bracken-fronds, And golden elf-locks fly above; Her eyes are bright as diamonds And bluer than the sky above. In mocassins and deer-skin cloak, For far-oh, very far behind, So far she cannot call to him, Comes Tegumai alone to find The daughter that was all to him. THE LOOKING-GLASS (A Country Dance) UEEN Bess was Harry's daughter. Stand forward partners all! Qu In ruff and stomacher and gown She danced King Philip down-a down, And left her shoe to show 'twas true(The very tune I'm playing you) In Norgem at Brickwall! The Queen was in her chamber, and she was middling old, Her petticoat was satin, and her stomacher was gold. Backwards and forwards and sideways did she pass, Making up her mind to face the cruel looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass As comely or as kindly or as young as what she was! Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now hand your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair. There came Queen Mary's spirit and It stood behind her chair, Singing 'Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass, But I will stand behind you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was!' THE LOOKING-GLASS Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now turn your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, a-weeping very sore. There came Lord Leicester's spirit and It scratched upon the door, Singing Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass, But I will walk beside you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass, As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you was!' Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now kiss your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, her sins were on her head. She looked the spirits up and down and statelily she said: 'Backwards and forwards and sideways though I've been, Yet I am Harry's daughter and I am England's Queen!' And she faced the looking-glass (and whatever else there was), And she saw her day was over and she saw her beauty pass In the cruel looking-glass, that can always hurt a lass More hard than any ghost there is or any man there was! V THE QUEEN'S MEN ALOUR and Innocence Have latterly gone hence To certain death by certain shame attended. Envy-ah! even to tears! The fortune of their years Which, though so few, yet so divinely ended. Scarce had they lifted up Life's full and fiery cup, Than they had set it down untouched before them. Before their day arose They beckoned it to close Close in confusion and destruction o'er them. They did not stay to ask What prize should crown their task, Well sure that prize was such as no man strives for; But passed into eclipse, Her kiss upon their lips Even Belphoebe's, whom they gave their lives for! |