| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 997. Arcana Sylvarum |
| | | By Charles de Kay |
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| HARK!… | |
| What booming | |
| Faints on the high-strung ear? | |
| Through the damp woods (so dark | |
| No flowers are blooming) | 5 |
| I hear, I hear | |
| The twang of harps, the leap | |
| Of hairy feet, and know the revel’s ripe, | |
| While, like a coral stripe, | |
| The lizard cool doth creep, | 10 |
| Monster, but monarch there, up the pale Indian Pipe. | |
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| Hush!… | |
| Your panting | |
| Will scare them from their game. | |
| Let not a footfall crush | 15 |
| Their rites enchanting! | |
| The deadwood’s flame, | |
| Bellies of murdered fire-flies, | |
| And glimmering moonstones thick with treasured rays | |
| Shall help our round-eyed gaze | 20 |
| Antics unholy to surprise, | |
| Which the ungodly crew round the red lizard plays. | |
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| Now!… | |
| No breathing | |
| To spoil the heathenish dance! | 25 |
| Lest from each pendent bough | |
| Poison be seething,— | |
| A hair-fine lance | |
| Pierce to our brain, and slowly slay. | |
| But look your breathless fill, and mark them swing, | 30 |
| Man and maid a-capering, | |
| Ugly, fair, morosely gay, | |
| Round the red lizard smooth, crowned for their wicked king. | |
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| Back!… | |
| Inhuman | 35 |
| Are gestures, laughs, and jeers. | |
| Off, ere we lose the track! | |
| Nor man nor woman | |
| May stand your leers, | |
| Shameless and loose, uncovered creatures! | 40 |
| Quick, lest we join their orgies in the dark! | |
| Back! For the madness stark | |
| Is crawling through our natures | |
| To touch the red lizard vile, spread on the damp white bark. | |
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