Produced by David Widger SONGS OF THE ROAD By Arthur Conan Doyle Contents I. NARRATIVE VERSES AND SONGS SONGS OF THE ROAD A HYMN OF EMPIRE SIR NIGEL'S SONG THE ARAB STEED A POST-IMPRESSIONIST EMPIRE BUILDERS THE GROOM'S ENCORE THE BAY HORSE THE OUTCASTS THE END 1902-1909 THE WANDERER {1} BENDY'S SERMON II. PHILOSOPHIC VERSES COMPENSATION THE BANNER OF PROGRESS HOPE RELIGIO MEDICI MAN'S LIMITATION MIND AND MATTER DARKNESS III MISCELLANEOUS VERSES A WOMAN'S LOVE BY THE NORTH SEA DECEMBER'S SNOW SHAKESPEARE'S EXPOSTULATION THE EMPIRE A VOYAGE THE ORPHANAGE SEXAGENARIUS LOQUITUR NIGHT VOICES THE MESSAGE THE ECHO ADVICE TO A YOUNG AUTHOR A LILT OF THE ROAD SONGS OF THE ROAD By Arthur Conan Doyle Garden City New York DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1911 J. C. D. THIS-AND-ALL February, 1911 FOREWORD If it were not for the hillocks You'd think little of the hills; The rivers would seem tiny If it were not for the rills. If you never saw the brushwood You would under-rate the trees; And so you see the purpose Of such little rhymes as these. Crowborough 1911 I. NARRATIVE VERSES AND SONGS [1] SONGS OF THE ROAD A HYMN OF EMPIRE (Coronation Year, 1911) [3] God save England, blessed by Fate, So old, yet ever young: The acorn isle from which the great Imperial oak has sprung! And God guard Scotland's kindly soil, The land of stream and glen, The granite mother that has bred A breed of granite men! God save Wales, from Snowdon's vales To Severn's silver strand! [4] For all the grace of that old race Still haunts the Celtic land. And, dear old Ireland, God save you, And heal the wounds of old, For every grief you ever knew May joy come fifty-fold! Set Thy guard over us, May Thy shield cover us, Enfold and uphold us On land and on sea! From the palm to the pine, From the snow to the line, Brothers together And children of Thee. Thy blessing, Lord, on Canada, Young giant of the West, [5] Still upward lay her broadening way, And may her feet be blessed! And Africa, whose hero breeds Are blending into one, Grant that she tread the path which leads To holy unison. May God protect Australia, Set in her Southern Sea! Though far thou art, it cannot part Thy brother folks from thee. And you, the Land of Maori, The island-sisters fair, Ocean hemmed and lake be-gemmed, God hold you in His care! Set Thy guard over us, May Thy shield cover us, [6] Enfold and uphold us On land and on sea! From the palm to the pine, From the snow to the line, Brothers together And children of Thee. God guard our Indian brothers, The Children of the Sun, Guide us and walk beside us, Until Thy will be done. To all be equal measure, Whate'er his blood or birth, Till we shall build as Thou hast willed O'er all Thy fruitful Earth. May we maintain the story Of honest, fearless right! [7] Not ours, not ours the Glory! What are we in Thy sight? Thy servants, and no other, Thy servants may we be, To help our weaker brother, As we crave for help from Thee! Set Thy guard over us, May Thy shield cover us, Enfold and uphold us On land and on sea! From the palm to the pine, From the snow to the line, Brothers together And children of Thee. SIR NIGEL'S SONG [8] A sword! A sword! Ah, give me a sword! For the world is all to win. Though the way be hard and the door be barred, The strong man enters in. If Chance or Fate still hold the gate, Give me the iron key, And turret high, my plume shall fly, Or you may weep for me! A horse! A horse! Ah, give me a horse, To bear me out afar, Where blackest need and grimmest deed, And sweetest perils are. [9] Hold thou my ways from glutted days, Where poisoned leisure lies, And point the path of tears and wrath Which mounts to high emprise. A heart! A heart! Ah, give me a heart, To rise to circumstance! Serene and high, and bold to try The hazard of a chance. With strength to wait, but fixed as fate, To plan and dare and do; The peer of all and only thrall, Sweet lady mine, to you! THE ARAB STEED [10] I gave the 'orse 'is evenin' feed, And bedded of 'im down, And went to 'ear the sing-song In the bar-room of the Crown, And one young feller spoke a piece As told a kind of tale, About an Arab man wot 'ad A certain 'orse for sale. I 'ave no grudge against the man &mdash; I never 'eard 'is name, But if he was my closest pal I'd say the very same, For wot you do in other things Is neither 'ere nor there, [11] But w'en it comes to 'orses You must keep upon the square. Now I'm tellin' you the story Just as it was told last night, And if I wrong this Arab man Then 'e can set me right; But s'posin' all these fac's are fac's, Then I make bold to say That I think it was not sportsmanlike To act in sich a way. For, as I understand the thing, 'E went to sell this steed &mdash; Which is a name they give a 'orse Of some outlandish breed &mdash;, And soon 'e found a customer, A proper sportin' gent, Who planked 'is money down at once Without no argument. [12] Now when the deal was finished And the money paid, you'd think This Arab would 'ave asked the gent At once to name 'is drink, Or at least 'ave thanked 'im kindly, An' wished 'im a good day, And own as 'e'd been treated In a very 'andsome way. But instead o' this 'e started A-talkin' to the steed, And speakin' of its "braided mane" An' of its "winged speed," And other sich expressions With which I can't agree, For a 'orse with wings an' braids an' things Is not the 'orse for me. [13] The moment that 'e 'ad the cash &mdash; Or wot 'e called the gold, 'E turned as nasty as could be: Says 'e, "You're sold! You're sold!" Them was 'is words; it's not for me To settle wot he meant; It may 'ave been the 'orse was sold, It may 'ave been the gent. I've not a word to say agin His fondness for 'is 'orse, But why should 'e insinivate The gent would treat 'im worse? An' why should 'e go talkin' In that aggravatin' way, As if the gent would gallop 'im And wallop 'im all day? [14] It may 'ave been an' 'arness 'orse, It may 'ave been an 'ack, But a bargain is a bargain, An' there ain't no goin' back; For when you've picked the money up, That finishes the deal, And after that your mouth is shut, Wotever you may feel. Supposin' this 'ere Arab man 'Ad wanted to be free, 'E could 'ave done it businesslike, The same as you or me; A fiver might 'ave squared the gent, An' then 'e could 'ave claimed As 'e'd cleared 'imself quite 'andsome, And no call to be ashamed. [15] But instead 'o that this Arab man Went on from bad to worse, An' took an' chucked the money At the cove wot bought the 'orse; 'E'd 'ave learned 'im better manners, If 'e'd waited there a bit, But 'e scooted on 'is bloomin' steed As 'ard as 'e could split. Per'aps 'e sold 'im after, Or per'aps 'e 'ires 'im out, But I'd like to warm that Arab man Wen next 'e comes about; For wot 'e does in other things Is neither 'ere nor there, But w'en it comes to 'orses We must keep 'im on the square. A POST-IMPRESSIONIST [16] Peter Wilson, A.R.A., In his small atelier, Studied Continental Schools, Drew by Academic rules. So he made his bid for fame, But no golden answer came, For the fashion of his day Chanced to set the other way, And decadent forms of Art Drew the patrons of the mart. Now this poor reward of merit Rankled so in Peter's spirit, It was more than he could bear; [17] So one night in mad despair He took his canvas for the year ("Isle of Wight from Southsea Pier"), And he hurled it from his sight, Hurled it blindly to the night, Saw it fall diminuendo From the open lattice window, Till it landed with a flop On the dust-bin's ashen top, Where, 'mid damp and rain and grime, It remained till morning time. Then when morning brought reflection, He was shamed at his dejection, And he thought with consternation Of his poor, ill-used creation; Down he rushed, and found it there Lying all exposed and bare, [18] Mud-bespattered, spoiled, and botched, Water sodden, fungus-blotched, All the outlines blurred and wavy, All the colours turned to gravy, Fluids of a dappled hue, Blues on red and reds on blue, A pea-green mother with her daughter, Crazy boats on crazy water Steering out to who knows what, An island or a lobster-pot? Oh, the wretched man's despair! Was it lost beyond repair? Swift he bore it from below, Hastened to the studio, Where with anxious eyes he studied If the ruin, blotched and muddied, Could by any human skill Be made a normal picture still. [19] Thus in most repentant mood Unhappy Peter Wilson stood, When, with pompous face, self-centred, Willoughby the critic entered &mdash; He of whom it has been said He lives a century ahead &mdash; And sees with his prophetic eye The forms which Time will justify, A fact which surely must abate All longing to reincarnate. "Ah, Wilson," said the famous man, Turning himself the walls to scan, "The same old style of thing I trace, Workmanlike but commonplace. Believe me, sir, the work that lives Must furnish more than Nature gives. 'The light that never was,' you know, That is your mark but here, hullo! [20] What's this? What's this? Magnificent! I've wronged you, Wilson! I repent! A masterpiece! A perfect thing! What atmosphere! What colouring! Spanish Armada, is it not? A view of Ryde, no matter what, I pledge my critical renown That this will be the talk of Town. Where did you get those daring hues, Those blues on reds, those reds on blues? That pea-green face, that gamboge sky? You've far outcried the latest cry&mdash; Out Monet-ed Monet. I have said Our Art was sleeping, but not dead. Long have we waited for the Star, I watched the skies for it afar, The hour has come&mdash;and here you are." [21] And that is how our artist friend Found his struggles at an end, And from his little Chelsea flat Became the Park Lane plutocrat. 'Neath his sheltered garden wall When the rain begins to fall, And the stormy winds do blow, You may see them in a row, Red effects and lake and yellow Getting nicely blurred and mellow. With the subtle gauzy mist Of the great Impressionist. Ask him how he chanced to find How to leave the French behind, And he answers quick and smart, "English climate's best for Art." EMPIRE BUILDERS [22] Captain Temple, D.S.O., With his banjo and retriever. "Rough, I know, on poor old Flo, But, by Jove! I couldn't leave her." Niger ribbon on his breast, In his blood the Niger fever, Captain Temple, D.S.O., With his banjo and retriever. Cox of the Politicals, With his cigarette and glasses, Skilled in Pushtoo gutturals, Odd-job man among the Passes, [23] Keeper of the Zakka Khels, Tutor of the Khaiber Ghazis, Cox of the Politicals, With his cigarette and glasses. Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub., Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton, Thinks his battery the hub Of the whole wide orb of Britain. Half a hero, half a cub, Lithe and playful as a kitten, Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub., Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton. Eighty Tommies, big and small, Grumbling hard as is their habit. "Say, mate, what's a Bunerwal?" "Sometime like a bloomin' rabbit." [24] "Got to hoof it to Chitral!" "Blarst ye, did ye think to cab it!" Eighty Tommies, big and small, Grumbling hard as is their habit. Swarthy Goorkhas, short and stout, Merry children, laughing, crowing, Don't know what it's all about, Don't know any use in knowing; Only know they mean to go Where the Sirdar thinks of going. Little Goorkhas, brown and stout, Merry children, laughing, crowing. Funjaub Rifles, fit and trim, Curly whiskered sons of battle, Very dignified and prim Till they hear the Jezails rattle; [25] Cattle thieves of yesterday, Now the wardens of the cattle, Fighting Brahmins of Lahore, Curly whiskered sons of battle. Up the winding mountain path See the long-drawn column go; Himalayan aftermath Lying rosy on the snow. Motley ministers of wrath Building better than they know, In the rosy aftermath Trailing upward to the snow. THE GROOM'S ENCORE [26] (Being a Sequel to "The Groom's Story" in "Songs of Action") Not tired of 'earin' stories! You're a nailer, so you are! I thought I should 'ave choked you off with that 'ere motor-car. Well, mister, 'ere's another; and, mind you, it's a fact, Though you'll think perhaps I copped it out o' some blue ribbon tract. It was in the days when farmer men were jolly-faced and stout, For all the cash was comin' in and little goin' out, [27] But now, you see, the farmer men are 'ungry-faced and thin, For all the cash is goin' out and little comin' in. But in the days I'm speakin' of, before the drop in wheat, The life them farmers led was such as couldn't well be beat; They went the pace amazin', they 'unted and they shot, And this 'ere Jeremiah Brown the liveliest of the lot. 'E was a fine young fellar; the best roun' 'ere by far, But just a bit full-blooded, as fine young fellars are; [28] Which I know they didn't ought to, an' it's very wrong of course, But the colt wot never capers makes a mighty useless 'orse. The lad was never vicious, but 'e made the money go, For 'e was ready with 'is "yes," and back- ward with 'is "no." And so 'e turned to drink which is the avenoo to 'ell, An' 'ow 'e came to stop 'imself is wot' I 'ave to tell. Four days on end 'e never knew 'ow 'e 'ad got to bed, Until one mornin' fifty clocks was tickin' in 'is 'ead, [29] And on the same the doctor came, "You're very near D.T., If you don't stop yourself, young chap, you'll pay the price," said 'e. "It takes the form of visions, as I fear you'll quickly know; Perhaps a string o' monkeys, all a-sittin' in a row, Perhaps it's frogs or beetles, perhaps it's rats or mice, There are many sorts of visions and there's none of 'em is nice." But Brown 'e started laughin': "No doctor's muck," says 'e, "A take-'em-break-'em gallop is the only cure for me! [30] They 'unt to-day down 'Orsham way. Bring round the sorrel mare, If them monkeys come inquirin' you can send 'em on down there." Well, Jeremiah rode to 'ounds, exactly as 'e said. But all the time the doctor's words were ringin' in 'is 'ead &mdash; "If you don't stop yourself, young chap, you've got to pay the price, There are many sorts of visions, but none of 'em is nice." They found that day at Leonards Lee and ran to Shipley Wood, 'Ell-for-leather all the way, with scent and weather good. [31] Never a check to 'Orton Beck and on across the Weald, And all the way the Sussex clay was weed- in' out the field. There's not a man among them could remember such a run, Straight as a rule to Bramber Pool and on by Annington, They followed still past Breeding 'ill and on by Steyning Town, Until they'd cleared the 'edges and were out upon the Down. Full thirty mile from Plimmers Style, without a check or fault, Full thirty mile the 'ounds 'ad run and never called a 'alt. [32] One by one the Field was done until at Finden Down, There was no one with the 'untsman save young Jeremiah Brown. And then the 'untsman 'e was beat. 'Is 'orse 'ad tripped and fell. "By George," said Brown, "I'll go alone, and follow it to well, The place that it belongs to." And as 'e made the vow, There broke from right in front of 'im the queerest kind of row. There lay a copse of 'azels on the border of the track, And into this two 'ounds 'ad run them two was all the pack &mdash; [33] And now from these 'ere 'azels there came a fearsome 'owl, With a yappin' and a snappin' and a wicked snarlin' growl. Jeremiah's blood ran cold a frightened man was 'e, But he butted through the bushes just to see what 'e could see, And there beneath their shadow, blood drippin' from his jaws, Was an awful creature standin' with a 'ound beneath its paws. A fox? Five foxes rolled in one a pony's weight and size, A rampin', ragin' devil, all fangs and 'air and eyes; [34] Too scared to speak, with shriek on shriek, Brown galloped from the sight With just one thought within 'is mind &mdash; "The doctor told me right." That evenin' late the minister was seated in his study, When in there rushed a 'untin' man, all travel-stained and muddy, "Give me the Testament!" he cried, "And 'ear my sacred vow, That not one drop of drink shall ever pass my lips from now." 'E swore it and 'e kept it and 'e keeps it to this day, 'E 'as turned from gin to ginger and says 'e finds it pay, [35] You can search the whole o' Sussex from 'ere to Brighton Town, And you wouldn't find a better man than Jeremiah Brown. And the vision it was just a wolf, a big Siberian, A great, fierce, 'ungry devil from a show- man's caravan, But it saved 'im from perdition and I don't mind if I do, I 'aven't seen no wolf myself so 'ere's my best to you! THE BAY HORSE [36] Squire wants the bay horse, For it is the best. Squire holds the mortgage; Where's the interest? Haven't got the interest, Can't raise a sou; Shan't sell the bay horse, Whatever he may do. Did you see the bay horse? Such a one to go! He took a bit of ridin', When I showed him at the Show. [37] First prize the broad jump, First prize the high; Gold medal, Class A, You'll see it by-and-by. I bred the bay horse On the Withy Farm. I broke the bay horse, He broke my arm. Don't blame the bay horse, Blame the brittle bone, I bred him and I've fed him, And he's all my very own. Just watch the bay horse Chock full of sense! Ain't he just beautiful, Risin' to a fence! [38] Just hear the bay horse Whinin' in his stall, Purrin' like a pussy cat When he hears me call. But if Squire's lawyer Serves me with his writ, I'll take the bay horse To Marley gravel pit. Over the quarry edge, I'll sit him tight, If he wants the brown hide, He's welcome to the white! THE OUTCASTS [39] Three women stood by the river's flood In the gas-lamp's murky light, A devil watched them on the left, And an angel on the right. The clouds of lead flowed overhead; The leaden stream below; They marvelled much, that outcast three, Why Fate should use them so. Said one: "I have a mother dear, Who lieth ill abed, And by my sin the wage I win From which she hath her bread." [40] Said one: "I am an outcast's child, And such I came on earth. If me ye blame, for this my shame, Whom blame ye for my birth?" The third she sank a sin-blotched face, And prayed that she might rest, In the weary flow of the stream below, As on her mother's breast. Now past there came a godly man, Of goodly stock and blood, And as he passed one frown he cast At that sad sisterhood. Sorely it grieved that godly man, To see so foul a sight, He turned his face, and strode apace, And left them to the night. [41] But the angel drew her sisters three, Within her pinions' span, And the crouching devil slunk away To join the godly man. THE END [42] "Tell me what to get and I will get it." "Then get that picture that the girl in white." "Now tell me where you wish that I should set it." "Lean it where I can see it in the light." "If there is more, sir, you have but to say it." "Then bring those letters those which lie apart." [43] "Here is the packet! Tell me where to lay it." "Stoop over, nurse, and lay it on my heart." "Thanks for your silence, nurse! You understand me! And now I'll try to manage for myself. But, as you go, I'll trouble you to hand me The small blue bottle there upon the shelf. "And so farewell! I feel that I am keeping The sunlight from you; may your walk be bright! [44] When you return I may perchance be sleeping, So, ere you go, one hand-clasp and good night!" 1902-1909 [45] They recruited William Evans From the ploughtail and the spade; Ten years' service in the Devons Left him smart as they are made. Thirty or a trifle older, Rather over six foot high, Trim of waist and broad of shoulder, Yellow-haired and blue of eye; Short of speech and very solid, Fixed in purpose as a rock, Slow, deliberate, and stolid, Of the real West-country stock. [46] He had never been to college, Got his teaching in the corps, You can pick up useful knowledge 'Twixt Saltash and Singapore. Old Field-Cornet Piet van Celling Lived just northward of the Vaal, And he called his white-washed dwelling, Blesbock Farm, Rhenoster Kraal. In his politics unbending, Stern of speech and grim of face, He pursued the never-ending Quarrel with the English race. Grizzled hair and face of copper, Hard as nails from work and sport, [47] Just the model of a Dopper Of the fierce old fighting sort. With a shaggy bearded quota On commando at his order, He went off with Louis Botha Trekking for the British border. When Natal was first invaded He was fighting night and day, Then he scouted and he raided, With De Wet and Delaney. Till he had a brush with Plumer, Got a bullet in his arm, And returned in sullen humour To the shelter of his farm. [48] Now it happened that the Devons, Moving up in that direction, Sent their Colour-Sergeant Evans Foraging with half a section. By a friendly Dutchman guided, A Van Eloff or De Vilier, They were promptly trapped and hided, In a manner too familiar. When the sudden scrap was ended, And they sorted out the bag, Sergeant Evans lay extended Mauseritis in his leg. So the Kaffirs bore him, cursing, From the scene of his disaster, [49] And they left him to the nursing Of the daughters of their master. Now the second daughter, Sadie &mdash; But the subject why pursue? Wounded youth and tender lady, Ancient tale but ever new. On the stoep they spent the gloaming, Watched the shadows on the veldt, Or she led her cripple roaming To the eucalyptus belt. He would lie and play with Jacko, The baboon from Bushman's Kraal, Smoked Magaliesberg tobacco While she lisped to him in Taal. [50] Till he felt that he had rather He had died amid the slaughter, If the harshness of the father Were not softened in the daughter. So he asked an English question, And she answered him in Dutch, But her smile was a suggestion, And he treated it as such. Now among Rhenoster kopjes Somewhat northward of the Vaal, You may see four little chappies, Three can walk and one can crawl. And the blue of Transvaal heavens Is reflected in their eyes, [51] Each a little William Evans, Smaller model pocket size. Each a little Burgher Piet Of the hardy Boer race, Two great peoples seem to meet In the tiny sunburned face. And they often greatly wonder Why old granddad and Papa, Should have been so far asunder, Till united by mamma. And when asked, "Are you a Boer. Or a little Englishman?" Each will answer, short and sure, "I am a South African." [52] But the father answers, chaffing, "Africans but British too." And the children echo, laughing, "Half of mother half of you." It may seem a crude example, In an isolated case, But the story is a sample Of the welding of the race. So from bloodshed and from sorrow, From the pains of yesterday, Comes the nation of to-morrow Broadly based and built to stay. Loyal spirits strong in union, Joined by kindred faith and blood; Brothers in the wide communion Of our sea-girt brotherhood. THE WANDERER {1} [53] 1 With acknowledgment to my friend Sir A. Quiller-Couch. 'Twas in the shadowy gloaming Of a cold and wet March day, That a wanderer came roaming From countries far away. Scant raiment had he round him, Nor purse, nor worldly gear, Hungry and faint we found him, And bade him welcome here. His weary frame bent double, His eyes were old and dim, His face was writhed with trouble Which none might share with him. [54] His speech was strange and broken, And none could understand, Such words as might be spoken In some far distant land. We guessed not whence he hailed from, Nor knew what far-off quay His roving bark had sailed from Before he came to me. But there he was, so slender, So helpless and so pale, That my wife's heart grew tender For one who seemed so frail. She cried, "But you must bide here! You shall no further roam. Grow stronger by our side here, Within our moorland home!" [55] She laid her best before him, Homely and simple fare, And to his couch she bore him The raiment he should wear. To mine he had been welcome, My suit of russet brown, But she had dressed our weary guest In a loose and easy gown. And long in peace he lay there, Brooding and still and weak, Smiling from day to day there At thoughts he would not speak. The months flowed on, but ever Our guest would still remain, Nor made the least endeavour To leave our home again. [56] He heeded not for grammar, Nor did we care to teach, But soon he learned to stammer Some words of English speech. With these our guest would tell us The things that he liked best, And order and compel us To follow his behest. He ruled us without malice, But as if he owned us all, A sultan in his palace With his servants at his call. Those calls came fast and faster, Our service still we gave, Till I who had been master Had grown to be his slave. [57] He claimed with grasping gestures Each thing of price he saw, Watches and rings and vestures, His will the only law. In vain had I commanded, In vain I struggled still, Servants and wife were banded To do the stranger's will. And then in deep dejection It came to me one day, That my own wife's affection Had been beguiled away. Our love had known no danger, So certain had it been! And now to think a stranger Should dare to step between. [58] I saw him lie and harken To the little songs she sung, And when the shadows darken I could hear his lisping tongue. They would sit in chambers shady, When the light was growing dim, Ah, my fickle-hearted lady! With your arm embracing him. So, at last, lest he divide us, I would put them to the test. There was no one there beside us, Save this interloping guest. So I took my stand before them, Very silent and erect, My accusing glance passed o'er them, Though with no observed effect. [59] But the lamp light shone upon her, And I saw each tell-tale feature, As I cried, "Now, on your honour, Do or don't you love the creature?" But her answer seemed evasive, It was "Ducky-doodle-doo! If his mummy loves um babby, Doesn't daddums love um too?" BENDY'S SERMON [60] [Bendigo, the well-known Nottingham prize fighter, became converted to religion, and preached at revival meetings throughout the country.] You didn't know of Bendigo! Well, that knocks me out! Who's your board school teacher? What's he been about? Chock-a-block with fairy-tales full of useless cram, And never heard o' Bendigo, the pride of Nottingham! [61] Bendy's short for Bendigo. You should see him peel! Half of him was whalebone, half of him was steel, Fightin' weight eleven ten, five foot nine in height, Always ready to oblige if you want a fight. I could talk of Bendigo from here to king- dom come, I guess before I ended you would wish your dad was dumb. I'd tell you how he fought Ben Caunt, and how the deaf 'un fell, But the game is done, and the men are gone and maybe it's as well. [62] Bendy he turned Methodist&mdash;he said he felt a call, He stumped the country preachin' and you bet he filled the hall, If you seed him in the pulpit, a-bleatin' like a lamb, You'd never know bold Bendigo, the pride of Nottingham. His hat was like a funeral, he'd got a waiter's coat, With a hallelujah collar and a choker round his throat, His pals would laugh and say in chaff that Bendigo was right, In takin' on the devil, since he'd no one else to fight. [63] But he was very earnest, improvin' day by day, A-workin' and a-preachin' just as his duty lay, But the devil he was waitin', and in the final bout, He hit him hard below his guard and knocked poor Bendy out. Now I'll tell you how it happened. He was preachin' down at Brum, He was billed just like a circus, you should see the people come, The chapel it was crowded, and in the fore- most row, There was half a dozen bruisers who'd a grudge at Bendigo. [64] There was Tommy Piatt of Bradford, Solly Jones of Perry Bar, Long Connor from the Bull Ring, the same wot drew with Carr, Jack Ball the fightin gunsmith, Joe Mur- phy from the Mews, And Iky Moss, the bettin' boss, the Champion of the Jews. A very pretty handful a-sittin' in a string, Full of beer and impudence, ripe for any- thing, Sittin' in a string there, right under Bendy's nose, If his message was for sinners, he could make a start on those. [65] Soon he heard them chaflin'; "Hi, Bendy! Here's a go!" "How much are you coppin' by this Jump to Glory show?" "Stow it, Bendy! Left the ring! Mighty spry of you! Didn't everybody know the ring was leavin' you." Bendy fairly sweated as he stood above and prayed, "Look down, O Lord, and grip me with a strangle hold!" he said. "Fix me with a strangle hold! Put a stop on me! I'm slippin', Lord, I'm slippin' and I'm clingin' hard to Thee!" [66] But the roughs they kept on chaffin' and the uproar it was such That the preacher in the pulpit might be talkin' double Dutch, Till a workin' man he shouted out, a- jumpin' to his feet, "Give us a lead, your reverence, and heave 'em in the street." Then Bendy said, "Good Lord, since first I left my sinful ways, Thou knowest that to Thee alone I've given up my days, But now, dear Lord"&mdash;and here he laid his Bible on the shelf&mdash; "I'll take, with your permission, just five minutes for myself." [67] He vaulted from the pulpit like a tiger from a den, They say it was a lovely sight to see him floor his men; Right and left, and left and right, straight and true and hard, Till the Ebenezer Chapel looked more like a knacker's yard. Platt was standin' on his back and lookup at his toes, Solly Jones of Perry Bar was feelin' for his nose, Connor of the Bull Ring had all that he could do Rakin' for his ivories that lay about the pew. [68] Jack Ball the fightin' gunsmith was in a peaceful sleep, Joe Murphy lay across him, all tied up in a heap, Five of them was twisted in a tangle on the floor, And Iky Moss, the bettin' boss, had sprinted for the door. Five repentant fightin' men, sitting in a row, Listenin' to words of grace from Mister Bendigo, Listenin' to his reverence all as good as gold, Pretty little baa-lambs, gathered to the fold. [69] So that's the way that Bendy ran his mission in the slum, And preached the Holy Gospel to the fightin' men of Brum, "The Lord," said he, "has given me His message from on high, And if you interrupt Him, I will know the reason why." But to think of all your schooling clean wasted, thrown away, Darned if I can make out what you're learnin' all the day, Grubbin' up old fairy-tales, fillin' up with cram, And didn't know of Bendigo, the pride of Nottingham. [71] II. PHILOSOPHIC VERSES COMPENSATION [73] The grime is on the window pane, Pale the London sunbeams fall, And show the smudge of mildew stain, Which lies on the distempered wall. I am a cripple, as you see, And here I lie, a broken thing, But God has given flight to me, That mocks the swiftest eagle wing. For if I will to see or hear, Quick as the thought my spirit flies, And lo! the picture flashes clear, Through all the mist of centuries. [74] I can recall the Tigris' strand, Where once the Turk and Tartar met, When the great Lord of Samarcand Struck down the Sultan Bajazet. Under a ten-league swirl of dust The roaring battle swings and sways, Now reeling down, now upward thrust, The crescent sparkles through the haze. I see the Janissaries fly, I see the chain-mailed leader fall, I hear the Tekbar clear and high, The true believer's battle-call. And tossing o'er the press I mark The horse-tail banner over all, [75] Shaped like the smudge of mildew dark That lies on the distempered wall. And thus the meanest thing I see Will set a scene within my brain, And every sound that comes to me, Will bring strange echoes back again. Hark now! In rhythmic monotone, You hear the murmur of the mart, The low, deep, unremitting moan, That comes from weary London's heart. But I can change it to the hum Of multitudinous acclaim, When triple-walled Byzantium, Re-echoes the Imperial name. [76] I hear the beat of armed feet, The legions clanking on their way, The long shout rims from street to street, With rolling drum and trumpet bray. So I hear it rising, falling, Till it dies away once more, And I hear the costers calling Mid the weary London roar. Who shall pity then the lameness, Which still holds me from the ground? Who commiserate the sameness Of the scene that girds me round? Though I lie a broken wreck, Though I seem to want for all, Still the world is at my beck And the ages at my call. THE BANNER OF PROGRESS [77] There's a banner in our van, And we follow as we can, For at times we scarce can see it, And at times it flutters high. But however it be flown, Still we know it as our own, And we follow, ever follow, Where we see the banner fly. In the struggle and the strife, In the weariness of life, The banner-man may stumble, He may falter in the fight. [78] But if one should fail or slip, There are other hands to grip, And it's forward, ever forward, From the darkness to the light. HOPE [79] Faith may break on reason, Faith may prove a treason To that highest gift That is granted by Thy grace; But Hope! Ah, let us cherish Some spark that may not perish, Some tiny spark to cheer us, As we wander through the waste! A little lamp beside us, A little lamp to guide us, Where the path is rocky, Where the road is steep. [80] That when the light falls dimmer, Still some God-sent glimmer May hold us steadfast ever, To the track that we should keep. Hope for the trending of it, Hope for the ending of it, Hope for all around us, That it ripens in the sun. Hope for what is waning, Hope for what is gaining, Hope for what is waiting When the long day is done. Hope that He, the nameless, May still be best and blameless, Nor ever end His highest With the earthworm and the slime. [81] Hope that o'er the border, There lies a land of order, With higher law to reconcile The lower laws of Time. Hope that every vexed life, Finds within that next life, Something that may recompense, Something that may cheer. And that perchance the lowest one Is truly but the slowest one, Quickened by the sorrow Which is waiting for him here. RELIGIO MEDICI [82] 1 God's own best will bide the test, And God's own worst will fall; But, best or worst or last or first, He ordereth it all. 2 For all is good, if understood, (Ah, could we understand!) And right and ill are tools of skill Held in His either hand. [83] 3 The harlot and the anchorite, The martyr and the rake, Deftly He fashions each aright, Its vital part to take. 4 Wisdom He makes to form the fruit Where the high blossoms be; And Lust to kill the weaker shoot, And Drink to trim the tree. 5 And Holiness that so the bole Be solid at the core; And Plague and Fever, that the whole Be changing evermore. [84] 6 He strews the microbes in the lung, The blood-clot in the brain; With test and test He picks the best, Then tests them once again. 7 He tests the body and the mind, He rings them o'er and o'er; And if they crack, He throws them back, And fashions them once more. 8 He chokes the infant throat with slime, He sets the ferment free; He builds the tiny tube of lime That blocks the artery. [85] 9 He lets the youthful dreamer store Great projects in his brain, Until He drops the fungus spore That smears them out again. 10 He stores the milk that feeds the babe, He dulls the tortured nerve; He gives a hundred joys of sense Where few or none might serve. 11 And still He trains the branch of good Where the high blossoms be, And wieldeth still the shears of ill To prune and prime His tree. MAN'S LIMITATION [86] Man says that He is jealous, Man says that He is wise, Man says that He is watching From His throne beyond the skies. But perchance the arch above us Is one great mirror's span, And the Figure seen so dimly Is a vast reflected man. If it is love that gave us A thousand blossoms bright, Why should that love not save us From poisoned aconite? [87] If this man blesses sunshine Which sets his fields aglow, Shall that man curse the tempest That lays his harvest low? If you may sing His praises For health He gave to you, What of this spine-curved cripple, Shall he sing praises too? If you may justly thank Him For strength in mind and limb, Then what of yonder weakling &mdash; Must he give thanks to Him? Ah dark, too dark, the riddle! The tiny brain too small! We call, and fondly listen, For answer to that call. [88] There comes no word to tell us Why this and that should be, Why you should live with sorrow, And joy should live with me. MIND AND MATTER [89] Great was his soul and high his aim, He viewed the world, and he could trace A lofty plan to leave his name Immortal 'mid the human race. But as he planned, and as he worked, The fungus spore within him lurked. Though dark the present and the past, The future seemed a sunlit thing. Still ever deeper and more vast, The changes that he hoped to bring. His was the will to dare and do; But still the stealthy fungus grew. [90] Alas the plans that came to nought! Alas the soul that thrilled in vain! The sunlit future that he sought Was but a mirage of the brain. Where now the wit? Where now the will? The fungus is the master still. DARKNESS [91] A gentleman of wit and charm, A kindly heart, a cleanly mind, One who was quick with hand or purse, To lift the burden of his kind. A brain well balanced and mature, A soul that shrank from all things base, So rode he forth that winter day, Complete in every mortal grace. And then the blunder of a horse, The crash upon the frozen clods, And Death? Ah! no such dignity, But Life, all twisted and at odds! [92] At odds in body and in soul, Degraded to some brutish state, A being loathsome and malign, Debased, obscene, degenerate. Pathology? The case is clear, The diagnosis is exact; A bone depressed, a haemorrhage, The pressure on a nervous tract. Theology? Ah, there's the rub! Since brain and soul together fade, Then when the brain is dead enough! Lord help us, for we need Thine aid! III MISCELLANEOUS VERSES [93] A WOMAN'S LOVE [95] I am not blind I understand; I see him loyal, good, and wise, I feel decision in his hand, I read his honour in his eyes. Manliest among men is he With every gift and grace to clothe him; He never loved a girl but me &mdash; And I I loathe him! loathe him! The other! Ah! I value him Precisely at his proper rate, A creature of caprice and whim, Unstable, weak, importunate. [96] His thoughts are set on paltry gain &mdash; You only tell me what I see &mdash; I know him selfish, cold and vain; But, oh! he's all the world to me! BY THE NORTH SEA [97] Her cheek was wet with North Sea spray, We walked where tide and shingle meet; The long waves rolled from far away To purr in ripples at our feet. And as we walked it seemed to me That three old friends had met that day, The old, old sky, the old, old sea, And love, which is as old as they. Out seaward hung the brooding mist We saw it rolling, fold on fold, [98] And marked the great Sun alchemist Turn all its leaden edge to gold, Look well, look well, oh lady mine, The gray below, the gold above, For so the grayest life may shine All golden in the light of love. DECEMBER'S SNOW [99] The bloom is on the May once more, The chestnut buds have burst anew; But, darling, all our springs are o'er, 'Tis winter still for me and you. We plucked Life's blossoms long ago What's left is but December's snow. But winter has its joys as fair, The gentler joys, aloof, apart; The snow may lie upon our hair But never, darling, in our heart. Sweet were the springs of long ago But sweeter still December's snow. [100] Yes, long ago, and yet to me It seems a thing of yesterday; The shade beneath the willow tree, The word you looked but feared to say. Ah! when I learned to love you so What recked we of December's snow? But swift the ruthless seasons sped And swifter still they speed away. What though they bow the dainty head And fleck the raven hair with gray? The boy and girl of long ago Are laughing through the veil of snow. SHAKESPEARE'S EXPOSTULATION [101] Masters, I sleep not quiet in my grave, There where they laid me, by the Avon shore, In that some crazy wights have set it forth By arguments most false and fanciful, Analogy and far-drawn inference, That Francis Bacon, Earl of Verulam (A man whom I remember in old days, A learned judge with sly adhesive palms, To which the suitor's gold was wont to stick) &mdash; That this same Verulam had writ the plays Which were the fancies of my frolic brain. What can they urge to dispossess the crown [102] Which all my comrades and the whole loud world Did in my lifetime lay upon my brow? Look straitly at these arguments and see How witless and how fondly slight they be. Imprimis, they have urged that, being born In the mean compass of a paltry town, I could not in my youth have trimmed my mind To such an eagle pitch, but must be found, Like the hedge sparrow, somewhere near the ground. Bethink you, sirs, that though I was denied The learning which in colleges is found, Yet may a hungry brain still find its fo Wherever books may lie or men may be; [103] And though perchance by Isis or by Cam The meditative, philosophic plant May best luxuriate; yet some would say That in the task of limning mortal life A fitter preparation might be made Beside the banks of Thames. And then again, If I be suspect, in that I was not A fellow of a college, how, I pray, Will Jonson pass, or Marlowe, or the rest, Whose measured verse treads with as proud a gait As that which was my own? Whence did they suck This honey that they stored? Can you recite The vantages which each of these has had And I had not? Or is the argument [104] That my Lord Verulam hath written all, And covers in his wide-embracing self The stolen fame of twenty smaller men? You prate about my learning. I would urge My want of learning rather as a proof That I am still myself. Have I not traced A seaboard to Bohemia, and made The cannons roar a whole wide century Before the first was forged? Think you, then, That he, the ever-learned Verulam, Would have erred thus? So may my very faults In their gross falseness prove that I am true, And by that falseness gender truth in you. And what is left? They say that they have found [105] A script, wherein the writer tells my Lord He is a secret poet. True enough! But surely now that secret is o'er past. Have you not read his poems? Know you not That in our day a learned chancellor Might better far dispense unjustest law Than be suspect of such frivolity As lies in verse? Therefore his poetry Was secret. Now that he is gone 'Tis so no longer. You may read his verse, And judge if mine be better or be worse: Read and pronounce! The meed of praise is thine; But still let his be his and mine be mine. I say no more; but how can you for- swear Outspoken Jonson, he who knew me well; [106] So, too, the epitaph which still you read? Think you they faced my sepulchre with lies &mdash; Gross lies, so evident and palpable That every townsman must have wot of it, And not a worshipper within the church But must have smiled to see the marbled fraud? Surely this touches you? But if by chance My reasoning still leaves you obdurate, I'll lay one final plea. I pray you look On my presentment, as it reaches you. My features shall be sponsors for my fame; My brow shall speak when Shakespeare's voice is dumb, And be his warrant in an age to come. THE EMPIRE [107] 1902 They said that it had feet of clay, That its fall was sure and quick. In the flames of yesterday All the clay was burned to brick. When they carved our epitaph And marked us doomed beyond recall, "We are," we answered, with a laugh, "The Empire that declines to fall." A VOYAGE [108] 1909 Breathing the stale and stuffy air Of office or consulting room, Our thoughts will wander back to where We heard the
{'title': 'Songs Of The Road by Arthur Conan Doyle', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}