The Poetry Corner

Mr. MacCall at Cleveland Hall

By James Thomson - (Bysshe Vanolis)

Mr. MacCall at Cleveland Hall, Sunday evening-date to fix Fifteenth April, sixty-six, Speech reported and redacted By a fellow much distracted. I Who lectures? No mere scorner; Clear-brained, his heart is warm. She sits at the nearest comer Of I will not say what form. II The Conflict of Opinions In the Present Day, saith Chair. What muff in the British dominions Could dispute that she is fair? III Mammon-worship is horrid, Plutocracy is base. Dark hair from a fine small forehead; I catch but the still side face. The WeatherPixie IV We wallow in mere dimension, The Big to us is Great. If she stood at her utmost tension She might pass four feet eight. V We lay on colour in splashes, With a mop, or a broom for brush. How dark are her long eyelashes! How pure is her cheek's slight flush! VI But we have no perception For form-the divinest-now. Each curve there is perfection, In nostril, chin, and brow. VI Our women are good kind creatures, But they cannot dress at all. Does her bonnet grace her features? Clear blue with a black lace fall. VIII Low Church-very low-in the gutter; High Church-as ven'son high. O'er the flower of her face gleams the flutter Of a smile like a butterfly. IX Herder, Wieland, Lessing; Bossuet, Montalembert. Fine names, but the name worth guessing Is the name of the sweet girl there. The individual; true man; Individuality. A man's but one half, some woman The other half must be. XI Persistent valour the sternest, With love's most gentle grace. How grand is the eye fixed earnest In the half-seen up-turned face! XII 'How did you like the lecture? Was it not beautiful?' I should think she was! 'I conjecture That your brains have been gathering wool!' P. S. The Chairman was a rare man; At every telling point He smiled at his post like a jolly host Carving rich cuts from the joint; Which the name he bore was Richard Moore Whom Heaven with grace anoint! That conflict of opinion It had its counterpart In conflict for dominion Between my head and heart.