A BALLADE OF CAPTAIN STARLIGHT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 716, 26 November 1903, Page 20

A BALLADE OF CAPTAIN STARLIGHT.

(Inscribed to Alfred Dampier.)

(FOR “ The Bulletin.”)

The plume, the helm, the flash of armour bright, The call to arms, the clarion note of war, The battle-steed full harnessed for the fight, The warning beacon blazing from afar, The warrior’s trust in his exultant star, The beating heart that holds no thought of fear, The joy of strife which nothing base can mar — These were the glories of the days arrear. The joust, the tourney, and the play of sword, The flaunting pennon and the sheen of mail, The knightly splendour of the banquet board, The minstrel’s harp, the bardic chanted tale, The stoup of wine, the foaming beaded ale. The hooded falcon and the flying deer, The chase through covert, over hill and dale — These were the glories of the days' arrear. We have grown sordid, and our days are spent In huckst’ring trifles in a grimy mart ; / Farewell the moated keep, the warrior’s } tent. The glad great courage of the martial heart ! — The world grows smaller, and the gods depart And leave the earth a desert, dull and drear. Farewell ! Farewell Our tears unbidden start And fall in sorrow for the days arrear. Some few among us make a desperate stand, And fight as Titans fought in mythic times ; Some take the highway in a new-found land ; Some hurl at Circumstance their futile rhymes, And curse a world of dollars and of dimes, And rail at Fortune with divine despair— And while they sing of golden-far-off climes That gleamed with glories in the days arrear. Hadst thou but lived in those resplendent days. When knightly creeds were short as knightly brand, When nought was dearer than thy ladye’s praise,

And nought was fairer than her lily hand ; And nought but battle grim was half so grand ; And nought so heartening as knightly cheer, Thou mightst have reigned the ruler of the land— A lord puissant of the days arrear.

L’ENVOY. Captain, at least thou hadst a record rare As one who faced his fate and felt no fear. As one who knighthood’s mail didst ever wear In the large manner of the days arrear. F. J. BROOMFIELD.