PAGE PREFACE v THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL (_Complete Version_) 1 THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL (_Shorter Version_) 61 AVE IMPERATRIX 89 TO MY WIFE (WITH A COPY OF MY POEMS) 100 MAGDALEN WALKS 102 THEOCRITUS—A VILLANELLE 106 SONNETS— GREECE 108 PORTIA (TO ELLEN TERRY) 110 FABIEN DEI FRANCHI (TO HENRY IRVING) 112 PHÈDRE (TO SARAH BERNHARDT) 114 ON HEARING THE DIES IRÆ SUNG IN THE 116 SISTINE CHAPEL AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA 118 LIBERTATIS SACRA FAMES 120 ROSES AND RUE 122 FROM ‘THE GARDEN OF EROS’ 128 THE HARLOT’S HOUSE 140 FROM ‘THE BURDEN OF ITYS’ 144 FLOWER OF LOVE 158 NOTE AT the end of the complete text will be found a shorter version based on the original draft of the poem. This is included for the benefit of reciters and their audiences who have found the entire poem too long for declamation. I have tried to obviate a difficulty, without officiously exercising the ungrateful prerogatives of a literary executor, by falling back on a text which represents the author’s first scheme for a poem—never intended of course for recitation. ROBERT ROSS * * * * * IN MEMORIAM C. T. W. Sometimes trooper of The Royal Horse Guards Obiit H.M. Prison Reading, Berkshire July 7th, 1896 THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL I HE did not wear his scarlet coat, For blood and wine are red, And blood and wine were on his hands When they found him with the dead, The poor dead woman whom he loved, And murdered in her bed. He walked amongst the Trial Men In a suit of shabby grey; A cricket cap was on his head, And his step seemed light and gay; But I never saw a man who looked So wistfully at the day.