THE PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 191

THE PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN.

[THACKERAY’S ‘ ESMOND.’] With that mind-vision that transcends A hundred fold our natural sight, I see him clearer than the friends Of this to day, and yet I write Of one who fought in Marlbro’s wars, Whose periwig is • temp Queen Anne : ’ Here is the Hall, push wide the doors— The * Portrait of a Gentleman !’ It hangs against the wainscot brown ; The sunshine from the lozenged pane Shows the dark face, the sombre frown, The long, sad features, gaunt and plain. Yon know him ? Well, he was not much To look at—and a ray the while Has reached his eyes—l think the touch Of Beatrix could make him smile ' I need not tell you of his race, Whose pictures smile along the wall— Smiling is often easier grace Than frowning, but you know them all : • My Lord,’ that hath a royal air, * Young Frank ’ grown foreign overseas. And ‘ Trix,’ red stockinged on the stair— My ‘ < lentleman ’ is none of these ! The heartache of a lonely youth. The bitterness of love refused, That deeper wronging when the truth Broke on him of fair trust abused, Have left him, colder, sterner still, And that last failure touched his pride ; Henceforth, plain ‘Colonel,’ if you will, The Marquisate a thing denied ! The walls grow thin as air, and see ! The smiling pictures fade away, This thick green volume on my knee Holds all of Castlewood to-day. But stronger than a castle wall, And longer than our lives’ frail span, Esmond will stand among us all, * The Portrait of a Gentleman !’