 |
 |
 |
|
 |
The Geste of Duke Jocelyn by Farnol, Jeffery, 1878-1952
|
A word from our supporters: File extension APE | Lady fair--O lady! Fair thoughts within my heart may lie, As flowers that bloom unseen to die, Lady fair--O lady! Lady fair--O list! My folly mayhap shall delight thee, A song of fools I will recite thee, Lady fair--O list!" And fell anon to blither, louder note: And here's a song of Folly, All 'neath the sun, Will gladly run Away from Melancholy. Well learned in foolish lore: For I can sing ye, laugh or sigh: Can any man do more? Hey, Folly--Folly, ho! 'Gainst sadness bar the door. Poor Fools have hearts to feel. Poor Fools, like other fools, may grieve If they their woes conceal. Hither, Folly--Folly, ho! All Fools to Folly kneel. Sick, sick at heart--heigho! Pain must he hide 'neath laughing Folly, What Fool should heed his woe! Hither, Folly--Folly, ho! Fool must unpitied go. E'en though his love be high, Poor Folly's fool must wear the rue, Proud love doth pass him by. Heigho, Folly--Folly, ho! Poor Fool may love--and die. And fools the wise man ape; Who is there that shall Wisdom know Beneath a 'scalloped cape? Heigho, Folly--Folly, ho! Life is but sorry jape. And here's a song o' Folly, All 'neath the sun Do gladly run Away from Melancholy." Till eyes met eyes--when she did pout and frown, And chid him that his song was something sad, And vowed so strange a Fool was never seen. Then did she question him in idle wise As, who he was and whence he came and why? Whereto the Duke-- My daughter GILLIAN interposeth: GILL:I'd like a little rhyme again; For blank verse is so hard to read, And yours is very blank indeed! MYSELF:I write it blank as blank can be. Stay, I'll declare (no poet franker) No blank verse, Gill, was ever blanker. But: Since, with your sex's sweet inconstancy, Rhymes now you wish, rhymes now I'll rhyme for thee: As thus, my dear-- Give ear: Whereto the Duke did instant make reply: Full blithely I will answer thee; And, since you fain would merry be, I'll sing and rhyme it merrily: Methinks a fair name were Joconde; And for thy sake I travail make Through briar and brake, O'er fen and lake, The Southward March beyond. Now unto thee, Yolande the fair, Which embassy, Now unto thee, Right soothfully, And truthfully, Most full, most free, Explicit I 'll declare. Sith now thou art to wedlock fit-- Both day and night In dark, in light A worthy knight, A lord of might, In his own right, Duke Joc'lyn hight To thine his heart would knit. I, in his stead, will humbly sue thee; His love each day I will portray As best I may; I'll sue, I'll pray, I'll sing, I'll play, Now grave, now gay, And in this way, I for the Duke will woo thee." And checked sweet breath for wonder and surprise; Then laughed full blithe and yet, anon, did frown, And with slim fingers plucked at purfled gown: "Art sent to win this mighty Duke a bride?" |