Bordeaux_

XXVII

And neither did Beatrice and Dante ...
But Beatrice they say
was a convention.

_November, 1916--February, 1917._

NIGHTS AT BASSANO

I
DIRGE OF THE EMPRESS TAITU OF ABYSSINIA

_And when the news of the Death of the Empress
of that Far Country did come to them, they
fashioned of her an Image in doleful wise and
poured out Rum and Marsala Sack and divers
Liquors such as were procurable in that place into
Cannikins to do her Honor and did wake and
keen and make moan most piteously to hear. And
that Night were there many Marvels and Prodigies
observed; the Welkin was near consumed
with fire and Spirits and Banashees grumbled and
wailed above the roof and many that were in that
place hid themselves in Dens and Burrows in the
ground. Of the swanlike and grievously melodious
Ditties the Minstrels fashioned in that fearsome
Night these only are preserved for the
Admiration of the Age._

[I]

Our lady lies on a brave high bed,
On pillows of gold with gold baboons
On red silk deftly embroidered--
O anger and eggs and candlelight--
Her gold-specked eyes have little sight.

Our lady cries on a brave high bed;
The golden light of the candles licks
The crown of gold on her frizzly head--
O candles and angry eggs so white--
Her gold-specked eyes are sharp with fright.

Our lady sighs till the high bed creaks;
The golden candles gutter and sway
In the swirling dark the dark priest speaks--
O his eyes are white as eggs with fright
--Our lady will die twixt night and night.

Our lady lies on a brave high bed;
The golden crown has slipped from her head
On the pillows crimson embroidered--
O baboons writhing in candlelight--
Her gold-specked soul has taken flight.

[II]
ZABAGLIONE

Champagne-colored
Deepening to tawniness
As the throats of nightingales
Strangled for Nero's supper.

Champagne-colored
Like the coverlet of Dudloysha
At the Hotel Continental.

Thick to the lips and velvety
Scented of rum and vanilla
Oversweet, oversoft, overstrong,
Full of froth of fascination,
Drink to be drunk of Isoldes
Sunk in champagne-colored couches
While Tristans with fair flowing hair
And round cheeks rosy as che