Edward Cracroft Lefroy (1855-1891). On a Spring-board. Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. 1922. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

On a Spring-board

By Edward Cracroft Lefroy (1855–1891)


THE LIGHT falls gently from the dormer-panes,
And sleeps upon the water sleeping too,—
Such water as the fond Boeotian knew
When in the liquid fount he view’d the stains
Of his own love-looks. What sweet idlesse reigns	5
From gleam to gleam, and makes the soul in view
Of long’d-for bliss a longer path pursue,
And still be hoping while she still refrains?

Now see me work a deed exceeding rash!
There sinks my pocket-wealth of hoarded cash	10
Through the green floor. So did the Samian king,
Blest overmuch, engulph the fateful ring;
But here are no fat fish to bolt and bring
My treasure back from limbo, therefore—splash!