  When the hill grows green at midway time, And bronze buds toss in the lane It is sweet to follow the river swallow Where the tiles are red from rain. When the slanting wind shakes apple blossoms, And the willow trees are bowed The balcony banners flutter up Where sails the hilltop cloud. The balcony banners are ever the same Wherever the heart may stray; One sports the tiger and one the dragon Whether you weep or play. Where Little Boy Blue and the Knave of Hearts And the Goose Girl dance on the green; Where Knights in red and gold ride forth Guarding the King and Queen; Where the glint of swords is the only light On a passing storm of men; Or where the Furies rocking wait For the world to die again; Galloping in the quest: One wears black and one wears yellow, And one in red is dressed. One fares in the flaunt of a scholar’s cloak, And a velvet hat and plume; Two ride with eyes fixed on the ground, And one with a face of gloom. One laughs at the others and laughs at himself, Two think of themselves alone; One sees a goal for his thirsting soul, And life as a stepping stone. They pass through a village where Some boys are flying kites. The people come with food and wine To entertain the Knights. And one takes bread and one takes cake, Three drink a little wine. And two drink for their heart’s delight, And one for an anodyne. And the Knight in red slips off to a tavern And drinks him deep and strong, And then he hurries to catch his fellows And hails them with a song. They come to a village that lay Within a King’s domains: The Knight in yellow takes his sword And strikes away the chains. They come to a place of festival Through which there passed a hearse: The Knight in black reins in his steed To look thereon and curse. They come to a hall of curious books Under a mountain peak: The Knight in the scholar’s cloak goes in And talks with them in Greek. And all the way by the winding river By heaven’s breeze unfurled The tiger banner and dragon banner Flutter around the world. As night drew down they come to a palace Of laughter, lights and din. Says the Knight in red, “I tarry here, For I hear the violin.” “Nay,” says the Knight in yellow dressed; “Nay,” says the Knight in black; “Nay,” says the scholar, “I sleep in the open To study the Zodiac. Out comes to them an equerry And sees their piteous dole: “Come in,” says the ruddy equerry, “And dine with Old King Cole.” He seized their horses ere they could turn And led them where candles shone, And there with a crown tipped on his head Sat the monarch on his throne. “What is your name, all yellow dight, And where does your sovereign reign?” The sorrowful Knight then answered the King: “I’m traveling back to Spain.” “What is your name, all dressed in black, And whither do you roam?” “I was a mad prince they sent to England And now I’m going home.” “What is your name, in a scholar’s cloak, And what is your heart’s joy?” “I search through Europe night and day For a spouse for Helen of Troy.” “They’re as mad as hatters,” said King Cole As he straightened his crown on his head. “Go call in the fiddlers, bring my bowl, Fetch me my pipe,” he said. “But hold,” said Cole, “who are you, fellow, “Now answer me fair and well?” “I was born in France,” said the Knight in red, “And my name’s Pantagruel.” “That’s a good name,” laughed old King Cole. “But whither are you bound?” “I search for the Holy Bottle, King, “And I pray it may be found.” “That’s a true answer,” said Old King Cole, “And here you shall abide; “Come up to my throne and reign forever, “And sit you by my side.” “Away with the rest,” said Old King Cole, “And fetch my bowl,” said he. “Here is Pantagruel found at last, “To keep me company.” From under the throne he drew the bottle And poured wine into the bowl; Pantagruel stepped to the dais And drank with Old King Cole. “Give yellow and black and scholar’s cloak A bed in the royal room.” But Old King Cole and Pantagruel Drank till the morning’s bloom. They laughed and drank till the dawn was red,< Printed in the United States of America. THE following pages contain advertisements of books by the same author or on kindred subjects. NEW MACMILLAN POETRY Spoon River Anthology By EDGAR LEE MASTERS New edition with new poems, With illustrations and decorations by Oliver Herford $2.00 “The first successful novel in verse we have had in American literature ... it more vividly paints a community than any other work in prose or verse in American literature ... it at once takes its place among those masterpieces which are not for a time or a locality.”—Boston Transcript. “Once possessing the book, one is unwilling to part with it. It is too notable a piece of American literature to omit from one’s library.”—Chicago Tribune. “An interesting and notable work.”—.New York Post “A wonderfully vivid series of transcripts from real life.”—Current Opinion. “A big book and deserves all the success it is having.”—Los Angeles Graphic. “One of the most remarkable of recent publications from the point of view of originality ... the work is striking.”—Springfield Republican. “It is a book which, whether one likes it or not, one must respect.”—New Republic. “The natural child of Walt Whitman ... the only poet with true Americanism in his bones.”—John Cowper Powys in New York Times. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York NEW MACMILLAN POETRY By RABINDRANATH TAGORE Author of “Sadhana,” “The King of the Dark Chamber,” etc. Fruit Gathering Perhaps of all Tagore’s poetry the most popular volume is “Gitanjali.” It was on this work that he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. These facts lend special interest to the announcement of this book, which is a sequel to that collection of religious “Song Offerings.” Since the issue of his first book, some four years ago, Tagore has rapidly grown in popularity in this country, until now he must be counted among the most widely read of modern poets. Another volume of the merit, the originality, the fine spiritual feeling of “Gitanjali” would even further endear him to his thousands of American admirers. The Hungry Stones and Other Stories Some of the more notable of Mr. Tagore’s short stories are here presented in translations by the author and with illustrations by native Indian artists. Ernest Rhys, in his biography of Tagore, devotes much space to a consideration of him as a short story writer, advancing the opinion that this particular form of literature is one of the most important expressions of Tagore’s genius. Now for the first time English readers are given the opportunity of acquainting themselves with the new Tagore and of forming their own estimate of him. None of the material in this volume has ever appeared before in English. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York NEW MACMILLAN POETRY The New Poetry. An Anthology Edited by HARRIET MONROE and ALICE CORBIN HENDERSON, Editors of Poetry Probably few people are following as closely the poetry of to-day as are the editors of the Poetry Magazine of Chicago. They are eminently fitted, therefore, to prepare such a volume as this, which is intended to represent the work that is being done by the leading poets of the land. Here, between the covers of one book, are brought together poems by a great many different writers, all of whom may be said to be responsible in a measure for the revival of interest in poetry in this country. The volume is unusual, not only in the number of names which it contains, but in the splendid insight which it gives into a literature which seems to be coming once more into its own. Poems of the Great War By J. W. CUNLIFFE Here are brought together under the editorship of Dr. Cunliffe some of the more notable poems which have dealt with the great war. Among the writers represented are Rupert Brooke, John Masefield, Lincoln Colcord, William Benet, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, Hermann Hagedorn, Alfred Noyes, Rabindranath Tagore, Walter De La Mare, Vachel Lindsay and Owen Seaman. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York NEW MACMILLAN POETRY Californians By ROBINSON JEFFERS $1.25 California is now to have its part in the poetry revival. Robinson Jeffers is a new poet, a man whose name is as yet unknown but whose work is of such outstanding character that once it is read he is sure of acceptance by those who have admired the writings of such men as John G. Neihardt, Edgar Lee Masters, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Thomas Walsh. Virtually all of the poems in this first collection have their setting in California, most of them in the Monterey peninsula, and they realize the scenery of the great State with vividness and richness of detail. The author’s main source of inspiration has been the varying aspects of nature. WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS’S POEMS Responsibilities By WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS Author of “The Cutting of an Agate,” “The Hour Glass and Other Plays,” etc. Under the title of Responsibilities William Butler Yeats brings together some of his recent poems. It is, after all, as a poet that the majority of people like to think of Mr. Yeats, and this newest collection, the first in a number of years, is assured of a warm welcome. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York |
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