The story ended. Then the darkened air Flowered as he lit his pipe; an aureole glowed Enwreathed with smoke; the moment's match-light showed His rosy face, broad brow, and smooth grey hair, Backed by the crowded book-shelves. In his wake An archæologist began to make Assumptions about aqueducts; (he quoted Professor Sandstorm's book;) and soon they floated Through desiccated forests; mangled myths; And argued easily round megaliths. * * * * * * * Beyond the college garden something glinted: A copper moon climbed clear above the trees. Some Lydian coin? ... Professor Brown agrees That copper coins _were_ in that culture minted. But, as her whitening way aloft she took, I thought she had a pre-dynastic look. ELEGY (TO ROBERT ROSS) Your dextrous wit will haunt us long Wounding our grief with yesterday. Your laughter is a broken song; And death has found you, kind and gay. We may forget those transient things That made your charm and our delight: But loyal love has deathless wings That rise and triumph out of night. So, in the days to come, your name Shall be as music that ascends When honour turns a heart from shame... O heart of hearts! ... O friend of friends! MIRACLES I dreamt I saw a huge grey boat in silence steaming Down a canal; it drew the dizzy landscape after; The solemn world was sucked along with it--a streaming Land-slide of loveliness. O, but I rocked with laughter, Staring, and clinging to my tree-top. For a lake Of gleaming peace swept on behind. (I mustn't wake.) And then great clouds gathered and burst in spumes of green That plunged into the water; and the sun came out On glittering islands thronged with orchards scarlet-bloomed; And rosy-plumed flamingoes flashed across the scene... O, but the beauty of their freedom made me shout... And when I woke I wondered where on earth I'd been. THE GOLDSMITH '_This job's the best I've done._' He bent his head Over the golden vessel that he'd wrought. A bird was singing. But the craftsman's thought Is a forgotten language, lost and dead. He sigh'd and stretch'd brown arms. His friend came in And stood beside him in the morning sun. The goldwork glitter'd.... '_That's the best I've done._ '_And now I've got a necklace to begin._' This was at Gnossos, in the isle of Crete... A girl was selling flowers along the street. DEVOTION TO DUTY I was near the King that day. I saw him snatch And briskly scan the G.H.Q. dispatch. Thick-voiced, he read it out. (His face was grave.) 'This officer advanced with the first wave, 'And when our first objective had been gained, '(Though wounded twice), reorganized the line: 'The spirit of the troops was by his fine 'Example most effectively sustained.'