LA COUR. <br /> <br />When these Old Plays were new, the King, <br />Beside the Cardinal's chair, <br />Applauded, 'mid the courtly ring, <br />The verses of Moliere; <br />Point-lace was then the only wear, <br />Old Corneille came to woo, <br />And bright Du Parc was young and fair, <br />When these Old Plays were new! <br /> <br />LA COMEDIE. <br /> <br />How shrill the butcher's cat-calls ring, <br />How loud the lackeys swear! <br />Black pipe-bowls on the stage they fling, <br />At Brecourt, fuming there! <br />The Porter's stabbed! a Mousquetaire <br />Breaks in with noisy crew - <br />'Twas all a commonplace affair <br />When these Old Plays were new! <br /> <br />LA VILLE. <br /> <br />When these Old Plays were new! They bring <br />A host of phantoms rare: <br />Old jests that float, old jibes that sting, <br />Old faces peaked with care: <br />Menage's smirk, de Vise's stare, <br />The thefts of Jean Ribou,-- <br />Ah, publishers were hard to bear <br />When these Old Plays were new. <br /> <br />ENVOY. <br /> <br />Ghosts, at your Poet's word ye dare <br />To break Death's dungeons through, <br />And frisk, as in that golden air, <br />When these Old Plays were new!<br /><br />Andrew Lang<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ballade-of-old-plays/
