CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

MASTER HUGUES
23
Over our heads Truth and Nature­
Still our life's zigzags and dodges,
Ins and outs weaving a new legislature-
God's gold just shining its last where that lodges,
Palled beneath Man's usurpature!
421
24
So we o'ershroud stars and roses,
Cherub and trophy and garland.
Nothings grow something which quietly closes
Heaven's earnest eye,-not a glimpse of the far land
Gets through our comments and glozes.
25
Ah, but traditions, inventions,
(Say we and make up a visage)
So many men with such various intentions
Down the past ages must know more than this age!
Leave the web all its dimensions!
26
Who thinks Hugues wrote for the deaf?
Proved a mere mountain in labour?
Better submit-try again-'.vhat's the clef?
'Faith, it's no trifle for pipe and for tabor­
Four flats-the minor in F.
27
Friend, your fugue taxes the finger.
Learning it once, who would lose it ?
Yet all the while a misgiving will linger­
Truth's golden o'er us although we refuse it­
Nature, thro' dust-clouds we fling her!
28
Hugues! I advise mea Plena
(Counterpoint glares like a Gorgon)
Bid One, Two, Three, Four, Five, clear the arena!
Say the word, straight I unstop the Full-Organ,
Blare out the mode Palestrina.
29
While in the roof, if I'm right t here-
. . . Lo, you, the wick in the socket!
Hallo, you sacristan, show us a light there!
Down it dips, gone like a rocket I
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia