THE FATE OF ACTION. 83 



Actceon read it.* — 

 ***** 



Of all the many means and ways 



That lead a man to proper g'lory^ 

 How few so soon shall '* reach the case," 



Like that great art — to tell a story 5 

 The Attic salt, the fit expression, / 



The rhythm neat — if told in song — 

 And then that crowning nice discretion 



That makes the story not too long. 

 Discretion ! dear, sweet, brown-bread saint ! 



Thou guardian of our love and life ; 

 Who keeps the maiden *' fresh as paint" 



'Till fairly owned and known a wife ; 

 Who hedg'es off the leg's grand '^pot/' 



And makes his book to smell of mint ; 

 Who marks the actor, stays the sot. 



And bows the poet into print — 

 Discretion ! unknown wondrous maid ! 



Stretch forth a hand ere yet too late, 

 For one who now first asks your aid. 



And save him from his hero's fate ! 



That Fate, the text that brims our cup, 

 Is settled in a '^summing* up." 



With smallish means what great effrontery, 

 Notes him who dares to hunt a country — 

 Hounds, horses, servants, open house, 

 Earth-stoppers, keepers — '^ safe " to chouse — 



* We liave liis copy, a veiy curious black lettei* one, of the original 

 edition, wliicli a Great Great ancestor of our own bouglat at the sale iu 

 a lot with some couples and blacking bottles. 



