In this ballade Mr. Gosse finely reproduces the more serious tones of the old form, and imitates the ancient custom of addressing the envoy to royalty. This _motif_, of old things lost, is a favorite one for the serious ballade, being suggested by Villon's _Ballade of Dead Ladies_. Compare Mr. Lang's _Ballade of Dead Cities_, in _Ballades of Blue China_. On the other hand, the next specimen illustrates the use of the form for the light familiarity of _vers de société_ and parody. He lived in a cave by the seas, He lived upon oysters and foes, But his list of forbidden degrees An extensive morality shows; Geological evidence goes To prove he had never a pan, But he shaved with a shell when he chose, 'Twas the manner of Primitive Man! He worshipp'd the rain and the breeze, He worshipp'd the river that flows, And the Dawn, and the Moon, and the trees, And bogies, and serpents, and crows; He buried his dead with their toes Tucked up, an original plan, Till their knees came right under their nose, 'Twas the manner of Primitive Man! His communal wives, at his ease, He would curb with occasional blows; Or his state had a queen, like the bees (As another philosopher trows): When he spoke it was never in prose, But he sang in a strain that would scan, For (to doubt it, perchance, were morose) 'Twas the manner of Primitive Man! _Envoy_ Max, proudly your Aryans pose, But their rigs they undoubtedly ran, For, as every Darwinian knows, 'Twas the manner of Primitive Man! (ANDREW LANG: _Ballade of Primitive Man._) In Mr. Lang's _Ballades of Blue China_ this appears as a _double ballade_, with three more stanzas. From the sunny climes of France, Flying to the west, Came a flock of birds by chance, There to sing and rest: Of some secrets deep in quest,-- Justice for their wrongs,-- Seeking one to shield their breast, One to write their songs. Melodies of old romance, Joy and gentle jest, Notes that made the dull heart dance With a merry zest;-- Maids in matchless beauty drest, Youths in happy throngs;-- These they sang to tempt and test One to write their songs. In old London's wide expanse Built each feathered guest,-- Man's small pleasure to entrance, Singing him to rest,-- Came, and tenderly confessed, Perched on leafy prongs, Life were sweet if they possessed One to write their songs. _Envoy_ Austin, it was you they blest: Fame to you belongs! Time has proven you're the best One to write their songs. (FRANK DEMPSTER SHERMAN: _To Austin Dobson._) Mr. Austin Dobson is said to have been the first to reintroduce the ballade into English poetry, and the present specimen is a tribute to his success by an American poet.