(I es Œuvres de Monsieur Molière. A Paris, chez Louys Billaine, à la Palme. M. D. C. LXVI.) La Cour When these old plays were new, the King, Beside the Cardinal's chair, Applauded, 'mid the courtly ring, The verses of Molière. Point-lace was then the only wear, Old Corneille came to woo, And bright Du Parc was young and fair, When these old plays were new! La Comédie How shrill the butcher's cat-calls ring, How loud the lackeys swear! Black pipe-bowls on the stage they fling, At Brécourt, fuming there! The porter's stabbed! a Mousquetaire Breaks in with noisy crew- 'Twas all a commonplace affair When these old plays were new! La Ville When these old plays were new! They bring A host of phantoms rare: Old jests that float, old jibes that sting, Old faces peaked with care: Ménage's smirk, de Visé's stare, The thefts of Jean Ribou- Ah, publishers were hard to bear When these old plays were new. Envoy Ghosts, at your poet's word ye dare To break death's dungeons through; And frisk, as in that golden air, When these old plays were new! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COSMOPOLITE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE LISTENERS by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE CHURCH WINDOWS by GEORGE HERBERT A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE THE PALM-TREE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE INDIGNANT CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |