One word of love, one spark from beauty's fire,

And custom is a memory; listen, sire.

 Then at a window looking on the street He played his flute like leaves or snowflakes falling, Till men and women, passing, thought: "How sweet; These notes are in our hearts like flowers falling." And then, they thought, "An unknown voice is calling Like April calling to the seed in earth; Madness is quickening deadness into birth."  And then, as in the spring when first men hear, Beyond the black-twigged hedge, the lambling's cry Coming across the snow, a note of cheer Before the storm-cock tells that spring is nigh, [Pg 60]Before the first green bramble pushes shy, And all the blood leaps at the lambling's notes, The piping brought men's hearts into their throats. Till all were stirred, however old and grand; Generals bestarred, old statesmen, courtiers prim (Whose lips kissed nothing but the Monarch's hand), Stirred in their courtly minds recesses dim, The sap of life stirred in the dreary limb. The old eyes brightened o'er the pouncet-box, Remembering loves, and brawls, and mains of cocks. And through the town the liquid piping's gladness Thrilled on its way, rejoicing all who heard, To thrust aside their dullness or their sadness And follow blithely as the fluting stirred They hurried to the guild like horses spurred. There in the road they mustered to await, They knew not what, a dream, a joy, a fate. [Pg 61] And man to man in exaltation cried: "Something has come to make us young again. Wisdom has come, and Beauty, Wisdom's bride, And youth like flowering April after rain." But still the fluting piped and men were fain To sing and ring the bells, they knew not why Save that their hearts were in an ecstasy. Then to the balcony above them came King Cole the shining in his robe of flame; Behind him came the Prince, who smiled and bowed. King Cole made silence: then addressed the crowd.  "Friends, fellow mortals, bearers of the ghost That burns, and breaks its lamp, but is not lost. This day, for one brief hour, a key is given To all, however poor, to enter heaven. The Bringers Down of Beauty from the stars, Have reached this city in their golden cars. [Pg 62]They ask, to bring you beauty, if you will. You do not answer: rightly, you are still. But you will come, to watch the image move Of all you dreamed or had the strength to love. Come to the Ring, the image of the path That this our planet through the Heaven hath; Behold man's skill, man's wisdom, man's delight, And woman's beauty, imaged to the height. Come, for our rulers come; and Death, whose feet Tread at the door, permits a minute's sweet; To each man's soul vouchsafes a glimpse, a gleam, A touch, a 

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