2. The Skull Cap edit
"See him in his uncheerful head-piece!
Libertad's on the Mexic coin
Would better suit me for a shade-piece:
Ah, had I known he was to join!"--
So chid the Greek, the banker one 5
Perceiving Mortmain there at hand,
And in allusion to a dun
Skull-cap he wore. Derwent light reined
The steed; and thus: "Beg pardon now,
It looks a little queer, concede; 10
Nor less the cap fits well-shaped brow;
It yet may prove the wishing-cap
Of Fortunatus."
"No indeed,
No, no, for that had velvet nap 15
Of violet with silver tassel--
Much like my smoking-cap, you see,
Light laughed the Smyrniote, that vassal
Of health and young vivacity.
"Glaucon, be still," the senior said 20
(And yet he liked to hear him too);
"I say it doth but ill bestead
To have a black cap in our crew."
"Pink, pink," cried Glaucon, "pink's the hue:--
"Pink cap and ribbons of the pearl, 25
A Paradise of bodice,
The Queen of Sheba's laundry girl--
"Hallo, what now? They come to halt
Down here in glen! Well, well, we'll vault."
His song arrested, so he spake 30
And light dismounted, wide awake.--
"A sprightly comrade have you here,"
Said Derwent in the senior's ear.
The banker turned him: "Folly, folly--
But good against the melancholy." 35