4-0 Hartley Burr Alexander 



The Calends of winter, the stags are lean, 



Yellow the tops of the birch, deserted the summer dwelling; 



Woe to him who for a trifle deserves disgrace. 



The Calends of winter, it is hard and dry; 



Very black is the raven, quick the arrow from the bow ; 



At the stumbling of the old the smile of youth is apt to break out. 



The Calends of winter, bare is where the heath is burnt, 

 The plough is in the furrow ; the ox at work ; 

 Amongst a hundred there is hardly a friend. 



These are but a few stanzas from the many in the poem, none of 

 which are closely interknit ; their order seems to be wholly fortui- 

 tous. The main characteristics are a sameness of mood from the 

 iterated dreariness of winter ; a vividness of vision that notes the 

 enhanced blackness of the raven against the snow ; but a very 

 gossamer thread of association joining the suggested ideas. Only 

 a fleet-footed imagination can keep the pace ; the whole movement 

 is disconnected and episodic ; musical accompaniment must have 

 served in no small degree to create a main effect, and it will be 

 noted that whatever unity the poem seems to possess is a unity of 

 form in simple repetition, like the abstract music-form. 



Let us set in contrast that curse upon Seithenhin heretofore 

 alluded to. 



Seithenhin, stand thou forth, 



And behold the billowy rows ; 



The sea has covered the plain of Gwydnen. 



Accursed be the damsel, 



Who, after the wailing, 



Let loose the Fountain of Venus, the raging deep. 



Accursed be the maiden, 



Who, after the conflict, let loose 



The Fountain of Venus, the desolating sea. 



A great cry from the roaring sea arises above the summit of the 



rampart, 

 Today even to God does the supplication come ! 

 Common after excess there ensues restraint. 



382 



