Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912.
John Godfrey Saxe 1816–1887
John Godfrey Saxe116 Orpheus and Eurydice
S
In every metre and every tongue,
Was, you may remember, a famous musician,—
At least for a youth in his pagan condition,—
For historians tell he played on his shell
From morning till night, so remarkably well
That his music created a regular spell
On trees and stones in forest and dell!
What sort of an instrument his could be
Is really more than is known to me,—
For none of the books have told, d’ ye see!
It ’s very certain those heathen “swells”
Knew nothing at all of oyster-shells,
And it ’s clear Sir Orpheus never could own a
Shell like those they make in Cremona;
But whatever it was, to “move the stones”
It must have shelled out some powerful tones,
And entitled the player to rank in my rhyme
As the very Vieuxtemps of the very old time!
Sir Orpheus lost his beautiful wife— Eurydice, who vanished one day From Earth, in a very unpleasant way! It chanced, as near as I can determine, Through one of those vertebrated vermin That lie in the grass so prettily curled, Waiting to “snake” you out of the world! And the poets tell she went to—well— A place where Greeks and Romans dwell After they burst their mortal shell; A region that in deepest shade is, And known by the classical name of Hades,— A different place from the terrible furnace Of Tartarus, down below Avernus. Sir Orpheus did n’t go whining about, Nor marry another, as you would, no doubt, But made up his mind to fiddle her out! But near the gate he had to wait, For there in state old Cerberus sate, A three-headed dog, as cruel as Fate, Guarding the entrance early and late; A beast so sagacious, and very voracious, So uncommonly sharp and extremely rapacious, That it really may be doubted whether He ’d have his match, should a common tether Unite three aldermen’s heads together! Tuned up his shell, and quickly essayed What could be done with a serenade, In short, so charming an air he played, He quite succeeded in overreaching The cunning cur, by musical teaching, And put him to sleep as fast as preaching! Having given the janitor over to Morpheus, Went groping around among the ladies Who throng the dismal halls of Hades, Calling aloud To the shady crowd, In a voice as shrill as a martial fife, “O, tell me where in hell is my wife!” (A natural question, ’t is very plain, Although it may sound a little profane.) “Eurydice! Eu-ryd-i-ce!” He cried as loud as loud could be, (A singular sound, and funny withal, In a place where nobody rides at all!) “Eurydice!—Eurydice! O, come, my dear, along with me!” And then he played so remarkably fine, That it really might be called divine,— For who can show, On earth or below, Such wonderful feats in the musical line? The cup that flies from his arid lip; Ixion, too, the magic could feel, And, for a moment, blocked his wheel; Poor Sisyphus, doomed to tumble and toss The notable stone that gathers no moss, Let go his burden, and turned to hear The charming sounds that ravished his ear; And even the Furies—those terrible shrews Whom no one before could ever amuse, Those strong-bodied ladies with strong-minded views Whom even the Devil would doubtless refuse, Were his Majesty only permitted to choose, Each felt for a moment her nature desert her, And wept like a girl o’er the “Sorrows of Werther.” Sweet and clear and strong and long, “Eurydice!—Eurydice!” He cried as loud as loud could be; And Echo, taking up the word, Kept it up till the lady heard, And came with joy to meet her lord. And he led her along the infernal route, Until he had got her almost out, When, suddenly turning his head about, (To take a peep at his wife, no doubt,) He gave a groan, For the lady was gone, And had left him standing there all alone! For by an oath the gods had bound Sir Orpheus not to look around Till he was clear of the sacred ground, If he ’d have Eurydice safe and sound; For the moment he did an act so rash His wife would vanish as quick as a flash! Young women! beware, for goodness’ sake, Of every sort of “sarpent snake”; Remember the rogue is apt to deceive, And played the deuce with grandmother Eve! Exactly right with a lady in tow; But when you are in the proper track, Just go ahead, and never look back!