MeandoneweeBloodRedMouse——
ThoughIsaid：“TogivemyheadroomYouhadbestunroofthehouse。”
Butmywordswereallunheeded，ThoughItoldthegraveM。D。
ThatthetreatmentreallyneededWasadipinopenseaThatwaslappingjustbelowme，Smoothassilver，whiteassnow，AndittookthreementothrowmeWhenIfoundIcouldnotgo。
HalfthenightIwatchedtheHeavensFizzlike’81champagne——
Flytosixesandtosevens，Wheelandthunderbackagain；
AndwhenallwaspeaceandorderSaveoneplanetnailedaskew，MuchIweptbecausemywarderWouldnotletmesitittrue。
Afterfrenziedhoursofwating，WhentheEarthandSkiesweredumb，PealedanawfulvoicedictatingAninterminablesum，Changingtoatanglestory——
“WhatshesaidyousaidIsaid“——
TilltheMoonaroseinglory，AndIfoundherinmyhead；
ThenaFacecame，blindandweeping，AndItcouldn’twipeitseyes，AndItmutteredIwaskeepingBackthemoonlightfromtheskies；
SoIpatteditforpity，Butitwhistledshrillwithwrath，AndahugeblackDevilCityPoureditspeoplesonmypath。
SoIfledwithstepsuncertainOnathousand-yearlongrace，ButthebellyingofthecurtainKeptmealwaysinoneplace；
WhilethetumultroseandmaddenedTotheroarofEarthonfire，EreitebbedandsankandsaddenedToawhispertenseaswire。
IntolerablestillnessRoseonelittle，littlestar，Anditchuckledatmyillness，Anditmockedmefromafar；
Anditsbreathrencameandeyedme，CalledtheUniversetoaid，TillIlay，withnaughttohideme，’Neath’theScornofAllThingsMade。
Dunandsaffron，robedandsplendid，Brokethesolemn，pityingDay，AndIknewmypainswereended，AndIturnedandtriedtopray；
Butmyspeechwasshatteredwholly，AndIweptaschildrenweep。
Tillthedawn-wind，softly，slowly，Broughttoburningeyelidssleep。
MYRIVAL
Igotoconcert，party，ball——
Whatprofitisinthese？
IsitaloneagainstthewallAndstrivetolookatease。
TheincensethatisminebyrightTheyburnbeforehershrine；
Andthat’sbecauseI’mseventeenAndSheisforty-nine。
Icannotcheckmygirlishblush，Mycolorcomesandgoes；
Ireddentomyfinger-tips，Andsometimestomynose。
ButSheiswhitewherewhiteshouldbe，Andredwhereredshouldshine。
TheblushthatfliesatseventeenIsfixedatforty-nine。
IwishIhadHerconstantcheek；
IwishthatIcouldsingAllsortsoffunnylittlesongs，Notquitetheproperthing。
I’mverygaucheandveryshy，Herjokesaren’tinmyline；
And，worstofall，I’mseventeenWhileSheisforty-nine。
Theyoungmencome，theyoungmengoEachpinkandwhiteandneat，She’solderthantheirmothers，butTheygrovelatHerfeet。
TheywalkbesideHer’rickshawwheels——
Noneeverwalkbymine；
Andthat’sbecauseI’mseventeenAndSheisfoty-nine。
Sherideswithhalfadozenmen，Shecallsthem“boys“and“mashers“
ItrotalongtheMallalone；
MyprettiestfrocksandsashesDon’thelptofillmyprogramme-card，AndvainlyIrepineFromtentotwoA。MAhme！
WouldIwereforty-nine！
Shecallsme“darling。”“pet。”and“dear。”
And“sweetretiringmaid。”
I’malwaysattheback，Iknow，Sheputsmeintheshade。
Sheintroducesmetomen，“Cast“lovers，Iopine，Forsixtytakestoseventeen，Nineteentofoty-nine。
ButevenShemustoldergrowAndendHerdancingdays，Shecan’tgoonforeversoAtconcerts，ballsandplays。
OnerayofpricelesshopeIseeBeforemyfootstepsshine；
Justthink，thatShe’llbeeighty-oneWhenIamforty-nine。
THELOVERS’LITANY
Eyesofgrey——asoddenquay，Drivingrainandfallingtears，AsthesteamerwearstoseaInapartingstormofcheers。
Sing，forFaithandHopearehigh——
NonesotrueasyouandI——
SingtheLovers’Litany：
“Lovelikeourscanneverdie！”
Eyesofblack——athrobbingkeel，Milkyfoamtoleftandright；
WhisperedconversenearthewheelInthebrillianttropicnight。
CrossthatrulestheSouthernSky！
Starsthatsweepandwheelandfly，HeartheLovers’Litany：
Lovelikeourscanneverdie！”
Eyesofbrown——adusyplainSplitandparchedwithheatofJune，Flyinghoofandtightenedrein，Heartsthatbeattheold，oldtune。
Sidebysidethehorsesfly，FramewenowtheoldreplyOftheLovers’Litany：
“Lovelikeourscanneverdie！”
Eyesofblue——theSimlaHillsSilveredwiththemoonlighthoar；
Pleadingofthewaltzthatthrills，DiesandechoesroundBenmore。
“Mabel。”“Officers。”“Good-bye。”
Glamour，wine，andwitchery——
Onmysoul’ssincerity，“Lovelikeourscanneverdie！”
Maidensofyourcharity，Pitymymostlucklessstate。
FourtimesCipid’sdebtorI——
Bankruptinquadruplicate。
Yet，despitethisevilcase，Andamaidenshowedmegrace，Four-and-fortytimeswouldI
SingtheLovers’Litany：
“Lovelikeourscanneverdie！”
ABALLADOFBURIAL
“SaintProxed’severwastheChurchforpeace“
IfdownhereIchancetodie，SolemnlyIbegyoutakeAllthatisleftof“I“
TotheHillsforoldsake’ssake，PackmeverythoroughlyIntheicethatusedtoslakePegsIdrankwhenIwasdry——
Thisobserveforoldsake’ssake。
Totherailwaystationhie，ThereasingletickettakeForUmballa——goods-train——I
Shallnotminddelayorshake。
IshallrestcontentedlySpiteofclamorcooliesmake；
ThusinstateanddignitySendmeupforoldsake’ssake。
NextthesleepyBabuwake，BookaKalkavan“forfour。”
Few，Ithink，willcaretomakeJourneyswithmeanymoreAstheyusedtodoofyore。
Ishallneeda“special“break——
ThingInevertookbefore——
Getmeoneforoldsake’ssake。
Afterthat——arrangementsmake。
Nohotelwilltakemein，Andabullock’sbackwouldbreak’NeaththeteakandleadenskinTongaropesarefrailandthin，Or，didIaback-seattake，InatongaImightspin，——
Doyourbestforoldsake’ssake。
Afterthat——yourworkisdone。
RecollectaPadremustMournthedeardepartedone——
Throwtheashesandthedust。
Don’tgodownatonceItrustYouwillfindexcuseto“snakeThreedays’casualonthebust。”
Getyourfunforoldsake’ssake。
IcouldneverstandthePlains。
ThinkofblazingJuneandMayThinkofthoseSeptemberrainsYearlytilltheJudgmentDay！
Ishouldneverrestinpeace，Ishouldsweatandlieawake。
Railmethen，onmydecease，TotheHillsforoldsake’ssake。
DIVIDEDDESTINIES
ItwasanartlessBandar，andhedanceduponapine，AndmuchIwonderedhowhelived，andwherethebeastmightdine，Andmany，manyotherthings，till，o’ermymorningsmoke，IsleptthesleepofidlenessanddreamtthatBandarspoke。
Hesaid：“Omanofmanyclothes！SadcrawlerontheHills！
Observe，IknownotRanken’sshop，norRanken’smonthlybills；
Itakenoheedtotrousersorthecoatsthatyoucalldress；
NoramIplaguedwithlittlecardsforlittledrinksatMess。
“Istealthebunnia’sgrainatmorn，atnoonandeventide，ForheisfatandIamspare，Iroamthemountainside，Ifollownoman’scarriage，andno，neverinmylifeHaveIflirtedatPeliti’swithanotherBandar’swife。
“Omanoffutilefopperies——unnecessarywraps；
Iownnoponiesinthehills，Idrivenotall-wheeledtraps；
Ibuymenottwelve-buttongloves，’short-sixes’eke，orrings，NordoIwasteatHamilton’smywealthon’prettythings。’
“Iquarrelwithmywifeathome，weneverfightabroad；
ButMrsBhasgraspedthefactIamheronlylord。
Ineverheardoffever——dumpsnordebtsdepressmysoul；
AndIpityanddespiseyou！”Herehepouchedmybreakfast-roll。
Hishidewasverymangy，andhisfacewasveryred，Andeverandanonhescratchedwithenergyhishead。
Hismannerswerenotalwaysnice，buthowmyspiritcriedTobeanartlessBandarlooseuponthemountainside！
SoIanswered：“GentleBandar，andinscrutableDecreeMakestheeagleesomefleasomeThou，andmeawretchedMe。
Go！Departinpeace，mybrother，tothyhomeamidthepine；
Yetforgetnotonceamortalwishedtochangehislotforthine。”
THEMASQUEOFPLENTY
Argument——TheIndianGovernmentbeingmindedtodiscovertheeconomicconditionoftheirlands，sentaCommitteetoinquireintoit；andsawthatitwasgood。
Scene——ThewoodedheightsofSimlaTheIncarnationoftheGovernmentofIndiaintheraimentoftheAngelofPlentysigns，topianoforteaccompaniment：——
“Howsweetistheshepherd’ssweetlife！
Fromthedawntotheevenhestrays——
Andhistongueshallbefilledwithpraise。
adagiodim。Filledwithpraise！”
largendoconsp。Nowthisistheposition，GomakeaninquisitionIntotheirrealconditionAsswiftlyasyemay。
pAy，paintourswarthybillionsTherichestofvermillionsEretwowell-ledcotillionsHavedancedthemselvesaway。
TurkishPatrol，asableandintelligentInvestigatorswinddowntheHimalayas：——
WhatisthestateoftheNation？Whatisitsoccupation？
Hi！getalong，getalong，getalong——lendustheinformation！
dim。Censusthebyleandtheyabu——captureafirst-classBabu，SethimtofileGazetteers——Gazetteers。
ffWhatisthestateoftheNation，etc。，etc。
Interlude，fromNowhereinParticular，tostringedandOrientalinstruments。
Ourcattlereelbeneaththeyoketheybear——
Theearthisironandtheskiesarebrass——
AndfaintwithfervouroftheflamingairThelanguidhourspass。
Thewellisdrybeneaththevillagetree——
Theyoungwheatwithersereitreachaspan，AndbeltsofblindingsandshowcruellyWhereoncetheriverran。
Pray，brothers，pray，buttonoearthlyKing——
Liftupyourhandsabovetheblightedgrain，Lookwestward——iftheyplease，theGodsshallbringTheirmercywiththerain。
Lookwestward——bearsthebluenobrowncloud-bank？
Nay，itiswritten——whereforeshouldwefly？
Onourownfieldandbyourcattle’sflankLiedown，liedowntodie！
Semi-ChorusBytheplumedheadsofKingsWavinghigh，WherethetallcornspringsO’erthedead。