A BALLADE OF XXXII BALLADES.
Reading edition
Friend, when you bear a care-dulled eye, And brow perplexed with things of weight, And fain would bid some charm untie The bonds that hold you all too strait, Behold a solace to your fate, Wrapped in this cover’s china blue; These ballades fresh and delicate, This dainty troop of Thirty-two!
The mind, unwearied, longs to fly And commune with the wise and great; But that same ether, rare and high, Which glorifies its worthy mate, To breath forspent is disparate: Laughing and light and airy-new These come to tickle the dull pate, This dainty troop of Thirty-two.
Most welcome then, when you and I, Forestalling days for mirth too late, To quips and cranks and fantasy Some choice half-hour dedicate, They weave their dance with measured rate Of rhymes enlinked in order due, Till frowns relax and cares abate, This dainty troop of Thirty-two.
Envoy.
Princes, of toys that please your state Quainter are surely none to view Than these which pass with tripping gait, This dainty troop of Thirty-two.
F. P.
XXXII BALLADES IN BLUE CHINA
A. LANG
XXXII Ballades in Blue China
Tout par Soullas
LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO MDCCCLXXXV
“Rondeaux, Ballades, Chansons dizains, propos menus, Compte moy qu’ilz sont devenuz: Se faict il plus rien de nouveau?”
Clement Marot, Dialogue de deux Amoureux.
“I love a ballad but even too well; if it be doleful matter, merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed, and sung lamentably.”
A Winter’s Tale, Act iv. sc. 3.
to AUSTIN DOBSON.