Page 2 of 37 CANTO I--The Trystyng - Phantasmagoria and Other Poems

"No doubt," said I, "they settled who Was fittest to be sent Yet still to choose a brat like you, To haunt a man of forty-two, Was no great compliment!"

"I'm not so young, Sir," he replied, "As you might think. The fact is, In caverns by the water-side, And other places that I've tried, I've had a lot of practice:

"But I have never taken yet A strict domestic part, And in my flurry I forget The Five Good Rules of Etiquette We have to know by heart."

My sympathies were warming fast Towards the little fellow: He was so utterly aghast At having found a Man at last, And looked so scared and yellow.

"At least," I said, "I'm glad to find A Ghost is not a DUMB thing! But pray sit down: you'll feel inclined (If, like myself, you have not dined) To take a snack of something:

"Though, certainly, you don't appear A thing to offer FOOD to! And then I shall be glad to hear - If you will say them loud and clear - The Rules that you allude to."

"Thanks! You shall hear them by and by. This IS a piece of luck!" "What may I offer you?" said I. "Well, since you ARE so kind, I'll try A little bit of duck.

"ONE slice! And may I ask you for Another drop of gravy?" I sat and looked at him in awe, For certainly I never saw A thing so white and wavy.

And still he seemed to grow more white, More vapoury, and wavier - Seen in the dim and flickering light, As he proceeded to recite His "Maxims of Behaviour."

		Dictatorship presents armored because it has to conquer. Democracy presents naked because it has to convince. Antonio Gala