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loved it, one of the most accessible of all the Canto(s/ passages) I've read. despite being completely ignorant of any & all allusions! KS 2009/1/22 Jon Corelis <[log in to unmask]> > From Canto XXX > > by Ezra Pound > > > COMPLEYNT, compleynt I hearde upon a day, > Artemis singing, Artemis, Artemis > Agaynst Pity lifted her wail: > Pity causeth the forests to fail, > Pity slayeth my nymphs, > Pity spareth so many an evil thing. > Pity befouleth April, > Pity is the root and the spring. > Now if no fayre creature followeth me > It is on account of Pity, > It is on account that Pity forbideth them slaye. > All things are made foul in this season, > This is the reason, none may seek purity > Having for foulnesse pity > And things growne awry; > No more do my shaftes fly > To slay. Nothing is now clean slayne > But rotteth away. > > In Paphos, on a day > I also heard: > ... goeth not with young Mars to playe > But she hath pity on a doddering fool, > She tendeth his fyre, > She keepeth his embers warm. > Time is the evil. Evil. > A day, and a day > Walked the young Pedro baffled, > a day and a day > > After Ignez was murdered. > > Came the Lords in Lisboa > a day, and a day > In homage. Seated there > dead eyes, > Dead hair under the crown, > The King still young there beside her. > > > > -- > =============================================== > > Jon Corelis http://jcorelis.googlepages.com/joncorelis > > =============================================== >