And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with the rest, and lady friends From neighbour seats: and there was Ralph himself, A broken statue propt against the wall, As gay as any. Lilia, wild with sport, Half child half woman as she was, had wound A scarf of orange round the stony helm, And robed the shoulders in a rosy silk, That made the old warrior from his ivied nook Glow like a sunbeam: near his tomb a feast Shone, silver-set; about it lay the guests, And there we join'd them: then the maiden Aunt And all things great; but we, unworthier, told Of college he had climb'd across the spikes, But honeying at the whisper of a lord; And one the Master, as a rogue in grain Veneer'd with sanctimonious theory. 7 But while they talk'd, above their heads I saw Of old Sir Ralph a page or two that rang With tilt and tourney; then the tale of her That drove her foes with slaughter from her walls, And much I praised her nobleness, and Where,' Ask'd Walter, patting Lilia's head (she lay Beside him) lives there such a woman now?' Quick answer'd Lilia There are thousands now Such women, but convention beats them down : It is but bringing up; no more than that: you all! Ah, were I something great! I wish I were And I would teach them all that men are taught; If our old halls could change their sex, and flaunt With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans, If there were many Lilias in the brood, Some boy would spy it.' At this upon the sward She tapt her tiny silken-sandal'd foot: 'That's your light way; but I would make it death For any male thing but to peep at us.' Petulant she spoke, and at herself she laugh'd; A rosebud set with little wilful thorns, And sweet as English air could make her, she: They boated and they cricketed; they talk'd с 9 They lost their weeks; they vext the souls of deans; They rode; they betted; made a hundred friends, And caught the blossom of the flying terms, But miss'd the mignonette of Vivian-place, 'We doubt not that. O yes, you miss'd us much. I'll stake my ruby ring upon it you did.' She held it out; and as a parrot turns Up thro' gilt wires a crafty loving eye, And takes a lady's finger with all care, And bites it for true heart and not for harm, So he with Lilia's. Daintily she shriek'd And wrung it. Doubt my word again!' he said. Come, listen! here is proof that you were miss'd: We seven stay'd at Christmas up to read; And there we took one tutor as to read: The hard-grain'd Muses of the cube and square Were out of season: never man, I think, |