Black Beetles in Amber - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 10

A MAN

Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon,Casting to South his eye across the bourneOf his dominion (where the Palmiped,With leathers 'twixt his toes, paddles his marsh,Amphibious) saw a rising cloud of hats,And heard a faint, far sound of distant cheersBelow the swell of the horizon. "Lo,"Cried one, "the President! the President!"All footed webwise then took up the word—The hill tribes and the tribes lacustrine andThe folk riparian and littoral,Cried with one voice: "The President! He comes!"And some there were who flung their headgear upIn emulation of the Southern mob;While some, more soberly disposed, stood stillAnd silently had fits; and others madeSuch reverent genuflexions as they could,Having that climate in their bones. Then spakeThe Court Dunce, humbly, as became him: "Sire,If thou, as heretofore thou hast, wilt deignTo reap advantage of a fool's adviceBy action ordered after nature's way,As in thy people manifest (for stillStupidity's the only wisdom) thouWilt get thee straight unto to the border landTo mark the President's approach with suchDue, decent courtesy as it shall seemWe have in custom the best warrant for."Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon,Eyeing the storm of hats which darkened allThe Southern sky, and hearing far hurrahsOf an exulting people, answered not.Then some there were who fell upon their knees,And some upon their Governor, and soughtEach in his way, by blandishment or force,To gain his action to their end. "Behold,"They said, "thy brother Governor to SouthMet him even at the gateway of his realm,Crook-kneed, magnetic-handed and agrin,Backed like a rainbow—all things done in formOf due observance and respect. Shall weAlone of all his servitors refuseSwift welcome to our master and our lord?"Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon,Answered them not, but turned his back to themAnd as if speaking to himself, the whileHe started to retire, said: "He be damned!"To that High Place o'er Portland's central block,Where the Recording Angel stands to viewThe sinning world, nor thinks to move his feetAside and look below, came flocking upInferior angels, all aghast, and cried:"Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon,Has said, O what an awful word!—too badTo be by us repeated!" "Yes, I know,"Said the superior bird—"I heard it too,And have already booked it. Pray observe."Splitting the giant tome, whose covers fellApart, o'ershadowing to right and leftThe Eastern and the Western world, he showedThe newly written entry, black and big,Upon the credit side of thine account,Pennoyer, Governor of Oregon.