Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CHAPTER OF FROISSART, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: You don't know froissart now, young folks Last Line: Go ask her, alice. Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin Subject(s): Froissart, Jean (1333-1405) | ||||||||
(GRANDPAPA LOQUITUR) YOU don't know Froissart now, young folks, This age, I think, prefers recitals Of high-spiced crime, with 'slang' for jokes, And startling titles; But, in my time, when still some few Loved 'old Montaigne,' and praised Pope's Homer (Nay, thought to style him 'poet' too, Were scarce misnomer), Sir John was less ignored. Indeed, I can recall how Some-one present (Who spoils her grandson, Frank!) would read, And find him pleasant; For, -- by this copy, -- hangs a Tale. Long since, in an old house in Surrey, Where men knew more of 'morning ale' Than 'Lindley Murray,' In a dim-lighted, whip-hung hall, 'Neath Hogarth's 'Midnight Conversation,' It stood; and oft 'twixt spring and fall, With fond elation, I turned the brown old leaves. For there All through one hopeful happy summer, At such a page (I well knew where), Some secret comer, Whom I can picture, 'Trix, like you (Though scarcely such a colt unbroken), Would sometimes place for private view A certain token; -- A rose-leaf, meaning 'Garden Wall,' An ivy-leaf for 'Orchard corner,' A thorn to say 'Don't come at all,' -- Unwelcome warner! -- Not that, in truth, our friends gainsaid; But then Romance required dissembling, (Ann Radcliffe taught us that!) which bred Some genuine trembling; Though, as a rule, all used to end In such kind confidential parely As may to you kind Fortune send, You long-legged Charlie, When your time comes. How years slip on! We had our crosses like our betters; Fate sometimes looked askance upon Those floral letters; And once, for three long days disdained, The dust upon the folio settled; For some-one, in the right, was pained, And some one nettled, That sure was in the wrong, but spake Of fixed intent and purpose stony To serve King George, enlist and make Minced-meat of 'Boney,' Who yet survived -- ten years at least. And so, when she I mean came hither, One day that need for letters ceased, She brought this with her! Here is the leaf-stained Chapter: -- How The English King laid siege to Calais; I think Gran. knows it even now, -- Go ask her, Alice. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON WHEN THERE IS PEACE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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