Bald of brow as aged bear,
Bloated uncouth form of air;
More like images that scud
Through our dreams, than flesh and blood;
Shaped like stork on frozen pool,
Thin as palmer, (wand’ring fool!)
Long-shanked as a crane that feeds
Greedily among the reeds;
Like a black and shaven monk
Is thy dark and spectral trunk,
Or a corpse in winding-sheet.—
SHADOW.
I have followed sure and fleet
On thy steps—were I to tell
But one half—thou knowest well
BARD.
Thou may’st tell, and thou may’st scan,
Pitcher-necked censorious man!
Nought of me thou can’st disclose
More than ev’ry neighbour knows;
I have never falsely sworn
In the Cwmwd court, or torn
Lambs to death—have never thrown
At the hens with pebble-stone;
Never have the spectre play’d,
To make little babes afraid;
Never yet have terrified
Stranger maid, or stranger’s bride!
