Black Beetles in Amber - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 61

A POLITICAL VIOLET

Come, Stanford, let us sit at ease And talk as old friends do.You talk of anything you please, And I will talk of you.You recently have said, I hear, That you would like to goTo serve as Senator. That's queer! Have you told William Stow?Once when the Legislature said: "Go, Stanford, and be great!"You lifted up your Jovian head And everlooked the State.As one made leisurely awake, You lightly rubbed your eyesAnd answered: "Thank you—please to make A note of my surprise."But who are they who skulk aside, As to get out of reach,And in their clothing strive to hide Three thousand dollars each?"Not members of your body, sure? No, that can hardly be:All statesmen, I suppose, are pure. What! there are rogues? Dear me!"You added, you'll recall, that though You were surprised and pained,You thought, upon the whole, you'd go, And in that mind remained.Now, what so great a change has wrought That you so frankly speakOf "seeking" honors once unsought Because you "scorned to seek"?Do you not fear the grave reproof In good Creed Haymond's eye?Will Stephen Gage not stand aloof And pass you coldly by?O, fear you not that Vrooman's lich Will rise from earth and pointAt you a scornful finger which May lack, perchance, a joint?Go, Stanford, where the violets grow, And join their modest train.Await the work of William Stow And be surprised again.