small things
Sep. 12th, 2004 02:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
incandescensSmall things today; picked up Paranoia XP, sorted my doujinshi collection and selected some to go to Yaoicon and be sold in chains, er, that is, to be sold, (must remember to renew season tickets for train and bus next week), picked up back issues of Fallen Angel (must get scanner to work so that I can show Beth some of the art), generally had good time. Listened to Land of Hope And Glory coming through the door as my mother watched the last night of the Proms.
Picked up a cheap CD with some Britten song cycles on it, seeing that one of them was based on Rimbaud's poetry. Alas, it's not the really fun bits of Rimbaud that people quote, with vampire-queens and lost stars on the lute and abysses and images like that, and the fact is that the two other song-cycles on the CD were early stuff and justifiably not in common use. Not unpleasant, and a cheap CD, so I can hardly complain, but not on the order of better Britten work.
---
The Man In The Golden Mask
[...]
So off they went along the bitter street;
Porthos called back, "Ho, lackeys, mind your feet!
Tread lightly as you travel, lest you fall
Upon an unexploded Gasconnade."
The masked man said, "Ah, ace Picard, well played.
And now my tale. There is a Chevalier
Who dines some streets away, alone tonight,
As is his habit; but I fear he might
Take harm this special evening. If I may
Divert the danger, justice will be served.
You see, this nobleman has well deserved
His country's honors, having grown full old
In battles, being wounded many a time;
But honored scars, and this inclement clime
Give him small leave to walk, and none to fight.
I wear this mask therefore, because the sight
Of my plain face, as we are friends, might move
The Chevalier to guess he is at threat;
And in his noble pride, to disapprove
Of any plans of aid that I might set."
Athos said then, his voice a quiet knife,
"Who can propose such base ignobleness?
Be he a prince or minister, my life
I swear for his: honor demands no less."
[...]
-- John M Ford
Picked up a cheap CD with some Britten song cycles on it, seeing that one of them was based on Rimbaud's poetry. Alas, it's not the really fun bits of Rimbaud that people quote, with vampire-queens and lost stars on the lute and abysses and images like that, and the fact is that the two other song-cycles on the CD were early stuff and justifiably not in common use. Not unpleasant, and a cheap CD, so I can hardly complain, but not on the order of better Britten work.
---
The Man In The Golden Mask
[...]
So off they went along the bitter street;
Porthos called back, "Ho, lackeys, mind your feet!
Tread lightly as you travel, lest you fall
Upon an unexploded Gasconnade."
The masked man said, "Ah, ace Picard, well played.
And now my tale. There is a Chevalier
Who dines some streets away, alone tonight,
As is his habit; but I fear he might
Take harm this special evening. If I may
Divert the danger, justice will be served.
You see, this nobleman has well deserved
His country's honors, having grown full old
In battles, being wounded many a time;
But honored scars, and this inclement clime
Give him small leave to walk, and none to fight.
I wear this mask therefore, because the sight
Of my plain face, as we are friends, might move
The Chevalier to guess he is at threat;
And in his noble pride, to disapprove
Of any plans of aid that I might set."
Athos said then, his voice a quiet knife,
"Who can propose such base ignobleness?
Be he a prince or minister, my life
I swear for his: honor demands no less."
[...]
-- John M Ford
