第1章

ContentsToaPoetathousandyearshenceRiouperouxTheTownwithoutaMarketTheBalledofCamdenTownMignonFelodeseTenebrisInterlucentemInvitationtoayoungbutlearnedfriend……

BalledoftheLondonerTheFirstSonnetofBathrolaireTheSecondSonnetofBathrolaireTheMasqueoftheMagiTheBalledofHampsteadHeathLitanytoSatanTheTranslatorandtheChildrenOpportunityDestroyerofShips，Men，CitiesWarSongoftheSaracensJosephandMaryNoCoward\'sSongAWesternVoyageFountainsTheWelshSeaOxfordCanalHialmarspeakstotheRavenTheBalladoftheStudentintheSouthTheQueen\'ssongLordArnaldosWethatwerefriendsMyFriendIdealMaryMagdalenIrosefromdreamlesshoursPrayerAMiracleofBethlehemGravisDulcisImmutabilisPillageTheBalladofZachoPavlovnainLondonTheSentimentalistDonJuaninHellTheBalladofIskanderTOAPOET

ATHOUSANDYEARSHENCE

Iwhoamdeadathousandyears，Andwrotethissweetarchaicsong，SendyoumywordsformessengersThewayIshallnotpassalong。

Icarenotifyoubridgetheseas，Orridesecurethecruelsky，OrbuildconsummatepalacesOfmetalorofmasonry。

Buthaveyouwineandmusicstill，Andstatuesandabrighteyedlove，Andfoolishthoughtsofgoodandill，Andprayerstothemwhositabove？

Howshallweconquer？LikeawindThatfallsateveourfanciesblow，AndoldMoeonidestheblindSaiditthreethousandyearsago。

Ofriendunseen，unborn，unknown，StudentofoursweetEnglishtongue，Readoutmywordsatnight，alone:

Iwasapoet，Iwasyoung。

SinceIcanneverseeyourface，Andnevershakeyoubythehand，IsendmysoulthroughtimeandspaceTogreetyou。Youwillunderstand。

RIOUPEROUX

HighandsolemnmountainsguardRiouperoux，Smalluntidyvillagewheretheriverdrivesamill:

Frailaswoodanemones，whiteandfrailwereyou，Anddroopingalittle，liketheslenderdaffodil。

OhIwillgotoFranceagain，andtrampthevalleythrough，AndIwillchangethesegentleclothesforclogandcorduroy，AndworkwiththemillhandsofblackRiouperoux，Andwalkwithyou，andtalkwithyou，likeanyotherboy。

THETOWNWITHOUTAMARKET

ThereliesafarbehindawesternhillTheTownwithoutaMarket，whiteandstill;

ForsixfeetlongandnotathirdashighArethosesmallhabitations。TherestoodI，WaitingtohearthecitizensbeneathMurmurandsighandspeakthroughtonguelessteeth。

WhenalltheworldlayburninginthesunIheardtheirvoicesspeaktome。Saidone:

"BrightlightsIlovedandcolours，IwhofindThatdeathisdarkness，andhasstruckmeblind。"

Anothercried:"Iusedtosingandplay，Butheretheworldissilent，daybyday。"

Andone:"OnearthIcouldnotseeorhear，ButwithmyfingerstouchedwhatIwasnear，Andknewthingsroundandsoft，andbrassfromgold，Anddippedmyhandinwater，tofeelcold，Andthoughtthegravewouldcureme，andwasgladWhenthetimecametolosewhatjoyIhad。"

SoonallthevoicesofahundreddeadShoutedinwrathtogether。Someonesaid，"Icarenot，butthegirlwassweettokissAteveninginthemeadows。""Harditis"

Anothercried，"tohearnohuntinghorn。

Ahme！thehorse，thehounds，andthegreatgreymornWhenIrodeoutahunting。"Andonesighed，"IdidnotseemysonbeforeIdied。"

Aboysaid，"Iwasstrongandswifttorun:

Nowtheyhavetiedmyfeet:whathaveIdone？"

Aman，"ButitwasgoodtoarmandfightAndstormtheircitiesinthedeadofnight。"

Anoldmansaid，"Ireadmybooksallday，Butdeathhastakenallmybooksaway。"

Andone，"ThepopesandprophetsdidnotwellTocheatpoordeadmenwithfalsehopesofhell。

BetterthewhipsoffirethathissandrendThanpainlessvoidproceedingtonoend。"

Ismiledtohearthemrestless，IwhosoughtPeace。ForIhadnotloved，Ihadnotfought，Andbooksarevanities，andmanlystrengthAgatheredflower。Godgrantuspeaceatlength！

Iheardnomore，andturnedtoleavetheirtownBeforethechillcame，andthesunwentdown。

Thenroseawhisper，andIseemedtoknowAtimorousman，buriedlongyearsago。

"OnEarthIusedtoshapetheThingthatseems。

Masterofallmen，givemebackmydreams。

Givemethatworldthatneverfailedmethen，ThehillsImadeandpeopledwithtallmen，ThepalacethatIbuiltandcalledmyhome，MycitieswhichcouldbreaktheprideofRome，Thethreequeenshiddeninthesacredtree，Andthosewhitecloudyfolkwhosangtome。

Odeath，whyhastthoucoveredmesodeep？

Iwasthysister\'schild，thefriendofSleep。"

Thensaidmyheart，Deathtakesandcannotgive。

Darkwithnodreamishateful:letmelive！

THEBALLADOFCAMDENTOWN

IwalkedwithMaisielongyearsbackThestreetsofCamdenTown，Isplendidinmysuitofblack，Andshedivineinbrown。

Herswasaproudandnobleface，Asecretheart，andeyesLikewaterinalonelyplaceBeneathuncloudedskies。

Abed，achest，afadedmat，Andbrokenchairsafew，WereallwehadtograceourflatInHazelAvenue。

ButIcouldwalktoHampsteadHeath，Andcrownherheadwithdaisies，Andwatchthestreamingworldbeneath，AndmenwithotherMaisies。

WhenIwasillandshewaspaleAndemptystoodourstore，Sheleftthelatchkeyonitsnail，Andsawmenevermore。

PerhapsshecastherselfawayLestbothofusshoulddrown:

Perhapsshefearedtodie，astheyWhodieinCamdenTown。

Whatcameofher？ThebitternightsDestroytheroseandlily，AndsoulsarelostamongthelightsOfpaintedPiccadilly。

Whatcameofher？TheriverflowsSodeepandwideandstilly，AndwaitstocatchthefallenroseAndclaspthebrokenlily。

IdreamshedwellsinLondonstillAndbreathestheeveningair，AndoftenwalktoPrimroseHill，Andhopetomeetherthere。