Rhyme? and Reason?
RHYME?
AND REASON?
"UPON A BATTLEMENT"
RHYME?
AND REASON?
BY
WITH SIXTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
AND NINE
BY
I have had nor rhyme nor reason
PRICE SEVEN SHILLINGS
London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1883
[All Rights Reserved]
London:
R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor
BREAD STREET HILL, F.C.
Inscribed to a dear Child:
in memory of golden summer hours
and whispers of a summer sea.
Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task,
Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well
Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask
The tale one loves to tell.
Rude scoffer of the seething outer strife,
Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright.
Deem, if thou wilt, such hours a waste of life,
Empty of all delight!
Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy
Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled
Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy,
The heart-love of a child!
Away, fond thoughts, and vex my soul no more!
Work claims my wakeful nights, my busy days
Albeit bright memories of that sunlit shore
Yet haunt my dreaming gaze
[Of the following poems, Echoes, A Game of Fives, the last three of the Four Riddles, and Fame's Penny-Trumpet, are here published for the first time. The others have all appeared before, as have also the illustrations to The Hunting of the Snark.]
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This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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