EHE!

                     A DROP FROM THE SPONGE OF KNOWLEDGE.


a            "Characters."  SIMPLEX.
                          SIMPLICIOR.
                          SIMPLICISSIMUS.
                          THE MOB OF THE PHILISTINES.

SIMPLEX.
     Behold, O men: a Tree deep-rooted ---
     A hundred branches from the mighty Trunk,
     And on each branch a hundred leaves ---
     An Axe --- a Child --- a Hand --- a Will!

THE MOB.
     Down with the old tree!

SIMPLEX. ["Unperturbed."]
     And Oh, He, Ho, the Will so powerful!
     (After one million years the tree fell)
     See the result: Toys, TOys, TOYs, TOYS!

SIMPLICISSIMUS. ["Dobmatic."]
     The Spirit of Persistency unborn.

THE MOB.
     Down with the Lords!                          {281}

SIMPLEX.
     Behold again: an empty well ---
     A crystal pure --- a dry sea ---
     Birds --- a dead bird, a live bird, a phoenix ---
     A dying immortal harlot-goddess ---
     A cage (alas! it broke open
     In the year of the sixteenth Funeral).

THE MOB.
     Down with the birds!

SIMPLICIOR.
     Yet, neither Bird could re-enter it!

THE MOB.
     Beer and Cup-ties!

SIMPLICISSIMUS. ["Pointedly."]
     The Spirit of Persistency conceived!

THE MOB.
     Down with the Spirits!

SIMPLEX.
     Behold again, Impatients, and decide:
     Two centres I saw, that were but one ---
     A thick set of hair upon a white skull ---
     A spider patient (with my qualities),
     Slowly webbing the slightly soiled cavities ---
     A lute, a rapturing lute "aux sons clairs,"
     (But Oh, He, Ho, for three weary years
     The lute hath no song!) ---                      {282}

THE MOB.
     Down with the foreign bands!

SIMPLEX. ["{Pale, but firm."]
                                   A rotten corpse,
     Coming to life again (for it cried) ---
     A deep, deep hole --- a beardy man --- and
     Linking,

SIMPLICIOR. ["Radiant."]
                    Clearly linking,

SIMPLEX.
                                   the 6 (or 7 ---
     The Spider counting as the skull's paying guest)
     The Stream fro Heaven unto Us poured ---

THE MOB.
     Down with 'em!

SIMPLEX. ["Smiling."]
     Proving our love's old age in a youth renewed!

SIMPLICISSIMUS. ["Exultant."]
     The Spirit of Persistency growing!

THE MOB.
     Hooray!
                                              GEORGE RAFFALOVICH.

{283}