Ballads in Blue China: Dizain

Dizain

As, to the pipe, with rhythmic feet
In windings of some old-world dance,
The smiling couples cross and meet,
Join hands, and then in line advance,
So, to these fair old tunes of France,
Through all their maze of to-and-fro,
The light-heeled numbers laughing go,
Retreat, return, and ere they flee,
One moment pause in panting row,
And seem to say--Vos plaudite!

A.D.

ORONTE--Ce ne sont point de ces grands vers pompeux,
Mais de petits vers!

"Le Misanthrope," Acte i., Sc. 2.

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