_Jocoseria_ are decidedly superior in poetic art and beauty to the
volumes they introduce. Indeed the prologue to _The Two Poets of
Croisic_ is one of the most beautiful and perfect lyrics in the
English language.




PROLOGUE


1878


I

Such a starved bank of moss
Till that May-morn,
Blue ran the flash across:
Violets were born!


II

Sky--what a scowl of cloud
Till, near and far,
Ray on ray split the shroud.
Splendid, a star!