The Sword of Song

THE SWORD OF SONG 8 He tells me when I cite the “Fall” “But those are legends after all.” He has a hundred hills45 to lie in, But finds no final ditch46 to die in. “Samuel was man ; the Holy Spook Did not dictate the Pentateuch.” With cunning feint he lures me on To loose my pompoms on Saint John ; And, that hill being shelled, doth swear His forces never had been there. I got disgusted, called a parley, (Here comes a white-flag treachery !) Asked : “Is there anything you value, Will hold to ?” He laughed, “Chase me, Charlie !” But seeing in his mind that I Would no be so converted, “Shall you,” He added, “grope in utter dark ? The Book of Acts and that of Mark Are now considered genuine.” I snatch a Testament, begin Reading at random the first page ;— He stops me with a gesture sage : “You must not think, because I say St. Mark is genuine, I would lay Such stress unjust upon its text, As base thereon opinion. Next ?” I gave it up. He escaped. Ah me ! But do did Christianity. As for a quiet talk on physics sane ac Lente, I hear the British Don Spout sentiments more bovine than a sane yak250 Ever would ruminate upon, Half Sabbatarian and half Khakimaniac, Built up from Paul and John, With not a little tincture of Leviticus Gabbled pro formâ, jaldi,† à la Psittacus To aid the appalling hotch-potch ; lyre and lute Replaced by liar and loot, the harp and flute * Proprietor of a circus and menagerie. † Hindustani : quickly. 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 Lord George Sanger* on the Unknowable. How the crea- tures talk.