PERSONAE OF EZRA POUND LONDON ELKIN MATHEWS, VIGO STREET MCMIX "_Make-strong old dreams lest this our world lose heart._" THIS BOOK IS FOR MARY MOORE OF TRENTON, IF SHE WANTS IT CONTENTS GRACE BEFORE SONG LA FRAISNE CINO NA AUDIART VILLONAUD FOR THIS YULE A VILLONAUD: BALLAD OF THE GIBBET MESMERISM FIFINE ANSWERS IN TEMPORE SENECTUTIS FAMAM LIBROSQUE CANO SCRIPTOR IGNOTUS PRAISE OF YSOLT CAMARADERIE MASKS TALLY-O BALLAD FOR GLOOM FOR E. Mc C AT THE HEART O' ME XENIA OCCIDIT SEARCH AN IDYL FOR GLAUCUS IN DURANCE GUILLAUME DE LORRIS BELATED IN THE OLD AGE OF THE SOUL ALBA BELINGALIS FROM SYRIA FROM THE SADDLE MARVOIL REVOLT AND THUS IN NINEVEH THE WHITE STAG PICCADILLY NOTES PERSONAE Grace before Song Lord God of heaven that with mercy dight Th' alternate prayer-wheel of the night and light Eternal hath to thee, and in whose sight Our days as rain drops in the sea surge fall, As bright white drops upon a leaden sea Grant so my songs to this grey folk may be: As drops that dream and gleam and falling catch the sun, Evan'scent mirrors every opal one Of such his splendour as their compass is, So, bold My Songs, seek ye such death as this. La Fraisne[1] SCENE: _The Ash Wood of Malvern._ For I was a gaunt, grave councillor Being in all things wise, and very old, But I have put aside this folly and the cold That old age weareth for a cloak. I was quite strong--at least they said so-- The young men at the sword-play; But I have put aside this folly, being gay In another fashion that more suiteth me. I have curled mid the boles of the ash wood, I have hidden my face where the oak Spread his leaves over me, and the yoke Of the old ways of men have I cast aside. By the still pool of Mar-nan-otha Have I found me a bride That was a dog-wood tree some syne. She hath called me from mine old ways She hath hushed my rancour of council, Bidding me praise Naught but the wind that flutters in the leaves. She hath drawn me from mine old ways, Till men say that I am mad; But I have seen the sorrow of men, and am glad, For I know that the wailing and bitterness are a folly. And I? I have put aside all folly and all grief. I wrapped my tears in an ellum leaf And left them under a stone And now men call me mad because I have thrown All folly from me, putting it aside To leave the old barren ways of men, Because my bride Is a pool of the wood, and Though all men say that I am mad It is only that I am glad, Very glad, for my bride hath toward me a great love That is sweeter than the love of women That plague and burn and drive one away.