Fabien Dei Franchi
(To my Friend Henry Irving)
The silent room, the heavy creeping shade,
The dead that travel fast, the opening door,
The murdered brother rising through the floor,
The ghost's white fingers on thy shoulders laid,
And then the lonely duel1 in the glade2,
The broken swords, the stifled3 scream, the gore4,
Thy grand revengeful eyes when all is o'er, -
These things are well enough, - but thou wert made
For more august creation! frenzied5 Lear
Should at thy bidding wander on the heath
With the shrill6 fool to mock him, Romeo
For thee should lure7 his love, and desperate fear
Pluck Richard's recreant8 dagger9 from its sheath -
Thou trumpet10 set for Shakespeare's lips to blow!