Page:Aurora Leigh a Poem.djvu/170

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AURORA LEIGH.
A born aristocrat, bred radical,And educated socialist, who stillGoes floating, on traditions of his kind,Across the theoretic flood from France,—Though, like a drenched Noah on a rotten deck,Scarce safer for his place there. He, at least,Will never land on Ararat, he knows,To recommence the world on the old plan:Indeed, he thinks, said world had better end;He sympathises rather with the fishOutside, than with the drowned paired beasts withinWho cannot couple again or multiply:And that's the sort of Noah he is, Lord Howe.He never could be anything complete,Except a loyal, upright gentleman,A liberal landlord, graceful diner-out,And entertainer more than hospitable,Whom authors dine with and forget the port.Whatever he believes, and it is much,But no-wise certain . . now here and now there, . .He still has sympathies beyond his creed,Diverting him from action. In the House,No party counts upon him, and all praise:All like his books too, (for he has written books)Which, good to lie beside a bishop's chair,So oft outreach themselves with jets of fireAt which the foremost of the progressistsMay warm audacious hands in passing by.—Of stature over-tall, lounging for ease;Light hair, that seems to carry a wind in it,
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