  Glinting on the roadway A broken mirror lay: Then what did the child say Who found it there? He cried there was a goblin Looking out as he looked in— Wild eyes and speckled skin, Black, bristling hair! He brought it to his father Who being a simple sailor Swore, "This is a true wonder, Deny it who can! Plain enough to me, for one, It's a portrait aptly done Of Admiral, the great Lord Nelson When a young man." The sailor's wife perceiving Her husband had some pretty thing At which he was peering, Seized it from his hand. Then tears started and ran free, "Jack, you have deceived me, I love you no more," said she, "So understand!" "But, Mary," says the sailor, "This is a famous treasure, Admiral Nelson's picture Taken in youth." "Viper and fox," she cries, "To trick me with such lies, Who is this wench with the bold eyes? Tell the full truth!" Up rides the parish priest Mounted on a fat beast. Grief and anger have not ceased Between those two; Little Tom still weeps for fear; He has seen Hobgoblin, near, Great white teeth and foul leer That pierced him through. Now the old priest lifts his glove Bidding all for God's love To stand and not to move, Lest blood be shed. "O, O!" cries the urchin, "I saw the devil grin, He glared out, as I looked in; A true death's head!" Mary weeps, "Ah, Father, My Jack loves another! On some voyage he courted her In a land afar." This, with cursing, Jack denies:— "Father, use your own eyes: It is Lord Nelson in disguise As a young tar." When the priest took the glass, Fresh marvels came to pass "A saint of glory, by the Mass! "Where got you this?" He signed him with the good Sign, Be sure the relic was divine, He would fix it in a shrine For pilgrims to kiss. There the chapel folk who come (Honest, some, and lewd, some), See the saint's eyes and are dumb, Kneeling on the flags. Some see the Doubter Thomas, And some Nathaniel in the glass, And others whom but old Saint Judas With his money bags? |
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