第3章

MELCHIOR

Iamthedarkman,Melchior,AndIshalllivebutlittlemoreSinceIamoldandfeeblymove。

MykingdomisaburntuplandHalfburiedbythedriftingsand,SohotApolloshinesabove。

WhatcouldIbringbutsimplemyrrhWhiteblossomofthecordialfire?

Hail,PrinceofSouls,andLordofLove!

CHORUSOFANGELS

OPrinceofsoulsandLordofLove,O\'ertheethepurplebreasteddoveShallwatchwithopensilverwings,ThouKingofKings。

SuavioleoflosVirginum,ApparuitRexGentium……

\"Whoartthou,littleKingofKings?\"

Hiswonderingmothersings。

THEBALLADOFHAMPSTEADHEATH

FromHeaven\'sGatetoHampsteadHeathYoungBacchusandhiscrewCametumblingdown,ando\'erthetownTheirburstingtrumpetsblew。

Thesilvernightwaswildlybright,AndmadlyshonetheMoonTohearasongsoclearandstrong,Withsuchalovelytune。

FromLondon\'shouses,hutsandflats,Camebusmen,snobs,andEarls,AnduglymeninbowlerhatsWithcharminglittlegirls。

SirMosescamewitheyesofflame,Judd,whoislikeabloater,ThebraveLordMayorincoachandpair,KingEdward,inhismotor。

FarinarosymistwithdrawnTheGodandallhiscrew,Silenuspulledbynymphs,afaun,Asatyrdrenchedindew,SmiledastheyweptthoseshiningtearsOnlyImmortalsknow,Whosefeetaresetamongthestars,Abovetheshiftingsnow。

Andonespakeoutintothenight,Beforetheyleftforever,\"Rejoice,rejoice!\"andhisgreatvoiceRolledlikeasplendidriver。

HespakeinGreek,whichBritonsspeakSeldom,andcircumspectly;

ButMr。Judd,thatmanofmud,Translateditcorrectly。

Andwhentheyheardthathappyword,Policemenleaptandambled:

Thebusmenpranced,themaidensdanced,Themeninbowlersgambolled。

AwistfulEchostayedbehindTojointhemortaldances,ButMrJudd,withwordsunkind,Rejectedheradvances。

AndpassingdownthroughLondonTownShestopped,forallwaslonely,AttractedbyabigbrassplateInscribed,FORMEMBERSONLY。

AndsoshewenttoParliament,ButthoseungainlymenWokeupfromsleep,andturnedabout,Andfellasleepagain。

LITANYTOSATAN(fromBaudelaire。)

OgrandestoftheAngels,andmostwise,OfallenGod,fatedrivenfromtheskies,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

Ofirstofexileswhoendurestwrong,Yetgrowest,inthyhatred,stillmorestrong,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain!

OsubterraneanKing,omniscient,Healerofman\'simmortaldiscontent,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

TolepersandtooutcaststhoudostshowThatPassionistheParadisebelow。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThoubythymistressDeathhastgiventomanHope,theimperishablecourtesan。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThougivesttotheGuiltytheircalmmienWhichdamnsthecrowdaroundtheguillotine。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThouknowestthecornersofthejealousEarthWhereGodhashiddenjewelsofgreatworth。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThoudostdiscoverbymysterioussignsWheresleeptheburiedpeopleofthemines。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThoustretchestforthasavinghandtokeepSuchmenasroamupontheroofsinsleep。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThypowercanmakethehaltingDrunkard\'sfeetAvoidtheperilofthesurgingstreet。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

Thou,toconsoleourhelplessness,didstplotThecunninguseofpowderandofshot。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

ThyawfulnameiswrittenaswithpitchOntheunrelentingforeheadsoftherich。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

InstrangeandhiddenplacesthoudostmoveWherewomencryfortortureintheirlove。

Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

FatherofthosewhomGod\'stempestuousireHasflungfromParadisewithswordandfire,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。

PRAYER

Satan,totheebepraiseupontheHeightWherethouwastkingofold,andinthenightOfHell,wherethoudostdreamonsilently。

GrantthatonedaybeneaththeKnowledgetree,Whenitshootsforthtogracethyroyalbrow,Mysoulmaysit,thatcriesupontheenow。

THETRANSLATORANDTHECHILDREN

WhileItranslatedBaudelaire,Childrenwereplayingoutintheair。

Turningtowatch,IsawthelightThatmadetheirclothesandfacesbright。

IheardthetunetheymeanttosingAstheykeptdancinginaring;

ButIcouldnotforgetmybook,AndthoughtofmenwhosefacesshookWhenbabiespassedthemwithalook。

Theyareasterribleasdeath,Thosechildrenintheroadbeneath。

TheirwitlesschatterismoredreadThanvoicesinamadman\'shead:

Theirdancemoreawfulandinspired,Becausetheirfeetarenevertired,ThansilentrevelwithsoftsoundOfpipes,onconsecratedground,Whenalltheghostsgoroundandround。

OPPORTUNITY(fromMachiavelli。)

\"Butwhoartthou,withcuriousbeautygraced,Owoman,stampedwithsomebrightheavenlysealWhygothyfeetonwings,andinsuchhaste?\"

\"Iamthatmaidwhosesecretfewmaysteal,CalledOpportunity。IhastenbyBecausemyfeetaretreadingonawheel,Beingmoreswifttorunthanbirdstofly。

AndrightlyonmyfeetmywingsIwear,Toblindthesightofthosewhotrackandspy;

RightlyinfrontIholdmyscatteredhairToveilmyface,anddownmybreasttofall,LestmenshouldknowmynamewhenIamthere;

AndleavebehindmybacknowispatallForeagerfolktoclutch,whattimeIglideSonear,andturn,andpassbeyondrecall。\"