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But mind your human debts are paid；
As one by one the phantoms go。
ENVOY
Life is the game that must be played：
This truth at least； good friend； we know；
So live and laugh； nor be dismayed
As one by one the phantoms go。
Ballade of Broken Flutes
（To A。 T。 Schumann。）
In dreams I crossed a barren land；
A land of ruin； far away；
Around me hung on every hand
A deathful stillness of decay；
And silent； as in bleak dismay
That song should thus forsaken be；
On that forgotten ground there lay
The broken flutes of Arcady。
The forest that was all so grand
When pipes and tabors had their sway
Stood leafless now； a ghostly band
Of skeletons in cold array。
A lonely surge of ancient spray
Told of an unforgetful sea；
But iron blows had hushed for aye
The broken flutes of Arcady。
No more by summer breezes fanned；
The place was desolate and gray；
But still my dream was to command
New life into that shrunken clay。
I tried it。 Yes； you scan to…day；
With uncommiserating glee；
The songs of one who strove to play
The broken flutes of Arcady。
ENVOY
So； Rock； I join the common fray；
To fight where Mammon may decree；
And leave； to crumble as they may；
The broken flutes of Arcady。
Ballade of Dead Friends
As we the withered ferns
By the roadway lying；
Time； the jester； spurns
All our prayers and prying
All our tears and sighing；
Sorrow； change； and woe
All our where…and…whying
For friends that come and go。
Life awakes and burns；
Age and death defying；
Till at last it learns
All but Love is dying；
Love's the trade we're plying；
God has willed it so；
Shrouds are what we're buying
For friends that come and go。
Man forever yearns
For the thing that's flying。
Everywhere he turns；
Men to dust are drying；
Dust that wanders； eying
（With eyes that hardly glow）
New faces； dimly spying
For friends that come and go。
ENVOY
And thus we all are nighing
The truth we fear to know：
Death will end our crying
For friends that come and go。
Her Eyes
Up from the street and the crowds that went；
Morning and midnight； to and fro；
Still was the room where his days he spent；
And the stars were bleak； and the nights were slow。
Year after year； with his dream shut fast；
He suffered and strove till his eyes were dim；
For the love that his brushes had earned at last；
And the whole world rang with the praise of him。
But he cloaked his triumph； and searched； instead；
Till his cheeks were sere and his hairs were gray。
〃There are women enough； God knows；〃 he said。 。 。 。
〃There are stars enough when the sun's away。〃
Then he went back to the same still room
That had held his dream in the long ago；
When he buried his days in a nameless tomb；
And the stars were bleak； and the nights were slow。
And a passionate humor seized him there
Seized him and held him until there grew
Like life on his canvas； glowing and fair；
A perilous face and an angel's； too。
Angel and maiden； and all in one；
All but the eyes。 They were there； but yet
They seemed somehow like a soul half done。
What was the matter？ Did God forget？ 。 。 。
But he wrought them at last with a skill so sure
That her eyes were the eyes of a deathless woman；
With a gleam of heaven to make them pure；
And a glimmer of hell to make them human。
God never forgets。 And he worships her
There in that same still room of his；
For his wife； and his constant arbiter
Of the world that was and the world that is。
And he wonders yet what her love could be
To punish him after that strife so grim；
But the longer he lives with her eyes to see；
The plainer it all comes back to him。
Two Men
There be two men of all mankind
That I should like to know about；
But search and question where I will；
I cannot ever find them out。
Melchizedek he praised the Lord；
And gave some wine to Abraham；
But who can tell what else he did
Must be more learned than I am。
Ucalegon he lost his house
When Agamemnon came to Troy；
But who can tell me who he was
I'll pray the gods to give him joy。
There be two men of all mankind
That I'm forever thinking on：
They chase me everywhere I go；
Melchizedek； Ucalegon。
Villanelle of Change
Since Persia fell at Marathon；
The yellow years have gathered fast：
Long centuries have come and gone。
And yet （they say） the place will don
A phantom fury of the past；
Since Persia fell at Marathon；
And as of old； when Helicon
Trembled and swayed with rapture vast
（Long centuries have come and gone）；
This ancient plain； when night comes on；
Shakes to a ghostly battle…blast；
Since Persia fell at Marathon。
But into soundless Acheron
The glory of Greek shame was cast：
Long centuries have come and gone；
The suns of Hellas have all shone；
The first has fallen to the last：
Since Persia fell at Marathon；
Long centuries have come and gone。
John Evereldown
〃Where are you going to…night； to…night；
Where are you going； John Evereldown？
There's never the sign of a star in sight；
Nor a lamp that's nearer than Tilbury Town。
Why do you stare as a dead man might？
Where are you pointing away from the light？
And where are you going to…night； to…night；
Where are you going； John Evereldown？〃
〃Right through the forest； where none can see；
There's where I'm going； to Tilbury Town。
The men are asleep； or awake； may be；
But the women are calling John Evereldown。
Ever and ever they call for me；
And while they call can a man be free？
So right through the forest； where none can see；
There's where I'm going； to Tilbury Town。〃
〃But why are you going so late； so late；
Why are you going； John Evereldown？
Though the road be smooth and the path be straight；
There are two long leagues to Tilbury Town。
Come in by the fire； old man； and wait！
Why do you chatter out there by the gate？
And why are you going so late； so late；
Why are you going； John Evereldown？〃
〃I follow the women wherever they call；
That's why I'm going to Tilbury Town。
God knows if I pray to be done with it all；
But God is no friend to John Evereldown。
So the clouds may come and the rain may fall；
The shadows may creep and the dead men crawl；
But I follow the women wherever they call；
And that's why I'm going to Tilbury Town。〃
Luke Havergal
Go to the western gate； Luke Havergal；
There where the vines cling crimson on the wall；
And in the twilight wait for what will come。
The wind will moan； the leaves will whisper some
Whisper of her； and strike you as they fall；
But go； and if