Sir Ronald Ross

“ Rakes up the crystals of dry Snow,
And mourns for ever her work undone;
And there for ever, like Titans blind
Their countenance lifting to Heaven’s glow,
The sightless Mountains yearn for the Sun. ”

“ D’you think we’ve nothing else to do
But to distinguish false from true?—
We’re lawyers, doctors, parsons too.
But for our little fond delusions
We’d never come to our conclusions,
And then—just think of the confusions!
You pain us when you contradict.
Your presence would the less afflict
If you were not so very strict.
Dear Lady, take this sober view,
It matters little what is true—
The world is not the place for you.
I rede you therefore, go away;
Or, if you really mean to stay,
Let’s hear your views another day.
[10]
Ariel and the Hippopotamus Dedicated to Rural Magnates ”

“ Said the Mountain, ‘I think you had best run away.’
The Troll said, ‘You suffer, old boss, from the blues.’
The Mountain retorted, ‘I may if I choose.’
‘Ah, that,’ cried the Troll, ‘is effect of the liver.’
‘Take care,’ quoth the Hill, ‘or I’ll give you the shiver.’
‘By my cap and its feather,’ the Spirit replies,
‘You’ll be getting too portly without exercise.’
‘You pert little fly,’ said the Rock in a rage,
‘I will teach you to chaff at a hill of my age.’
So he jump’d up to punish the impudent Fay,
Who wisely retorted by running away ”

“ An Expostulation with Truth Uttered by the Well Meaning Poet
Altho’ you live aloft so far,
Transcendent Goddess, in your star,
Pray, try to see us as we are.
Consider—and be more forgiving—
Life is not reasoning but believing,
And we must work to get our living. ”

“ The world is evil—pray beware—
How fat you are, I do declare!
God grant us all some day remission—
I vow you’re in a fine condition.
I think that all—I must say that
For a fairy you are very fat.
What unctuous food—excuse me, friend—
[18] You fays must find in fairy land.
As I was saying, all is not—
Fie, what a toothache I have got!
See here, this molar. Pray look nearer,
And you shall see the bad place clearer.
Nay if you could but just creep in
And say which tooth the mischief’s in—’
‘No thank you, friend,’ our Puck replied ”

“ To cheer the coming better blood;
And shall be fire when thou art mud!’
‘Blind is the goose that play’d the geier
And tried to see the white sun nigher!—
He flapping lies; so shall you lie
And grovel as you think to fly!’
The other cries; whose Nag amazed,
Viewing the winged Stallion, gazed,
Shook out her tail and with a snort,
Approaching in plebeian sort,
[29] Paw’d archly at him. He with scorn
And having too long mildly borne,
Rear’d, spread his wings, and buck’d and neigh’d.
She with the monstrous tone affray’d
Shot forth her rider like a ball ”

“ To gulp it dutifully down
(But leave the bitter dregs alone) .
Desire not aught of any man
(But take your due) ; so that you can
(Quite safely unto others do
As you wish they should unto you) ;
And thus’—so summed the portly Priest—
‘Be chosen for the Wedding Feast
(As City Councillor at least) .’
[17]
Puck and the Crocodile Dedicated to the Godly
Puck, wandering on the banks of Nile,
Beheld one day a Crocodile,
That with heart-wringing sighs and sobs,
With groans and cries and throes and throbs,
Made moan, until his rushing tears
Ran down the wrinkles of the sand. ”

“ If we fight more we melt, I trow.’
‘A little grace,’ the Man replied,
Wiping his brow, ‘is not denied;
You’ll have but little when you’ve died.’
[23]
So each beneath a tree disposed
Took ease. The languid Lion dozed.
The Man, who should have done likewise
(So says the Saga that is wise) ,
Was waked each time he sued repose
By a great Fly upon his nose. ”

“ To end the work the Fly began.’
And this (the Chronicler explains)
Is why the Lion still remains.
[24]
Orpheus and the Busy Ones Dedicated to the Public
Orpheus, the Stygian current cross’d,
When Hell stood still to hear him sing,
Torn from Eurydice twice lost
(Almost by music saved e’er lost)
Over the world went wandering.
One day, sate on a mountain slope,
Weary and sick for want of hope,
(Or rather, shall we term it, dead,
Since life is gone when hope is sped) ,
He twang’d his lyre ”

“ Which the poor Priest had got for dinner.
[22]
The Man, the Lion, and the Fly Dedicated to Reformers
There was a Man to wisdom dead
Who took a mad thought in his head—
‘A second Hercles I,’ he said. ”