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