Author: William Ernest Henley

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    By W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson, Avenue Theatre, Monday, November 29, 1897.

    Spoken by Miss ELIZABETH ROBINS.

    Once was an Age, an Age of blood and gold,
    An Age of shipmen scoundrelly and bold - 
    BLACKBEARD and AVORY, SINGLETON, ROBERTS, KIDD:
    An Age which seemed, the while it rolled its quid,
    Brave with adventure and doubloons and crime,
    Rum and the Ebony Trade: when, time on time,
    Real Pirates, right Sea-Highwaymen, could mock
    The carrion strung at EXECUTION DOCK;
    And the trim Slaver, with her raking rig,
    Her cloud of sails, her spars superb and trig,
    Held, in a villainous ecstasy of gain,
    Her musky course from BENIN to the MAIN,
    And back again for niggers:
        When, in fine,
    Some thought that EDEN bloomed across the Line,
    And some, like COWPER'S NEWTON, lived to tell
    That through those parallels ran the road to Hell.

    Once was a pair of Friends, who loved to chance
    Their feet in any by-way of Romance:
    They, like two vagabond schoolboys, unafraid
    Of stark impossibilities, essayed
    To make these Penitent and Impenitent Thieves,
    These PEWS and GAUNTS, each man of them with his sheaves
    Of humour, passion, cruelty, tyranny, life,
    Fit shadows for the boards; till in the strife
    Of dream with dream, their Slaver-Saint came true,
    And their Blind Pirate, their resurgent PEW
    (A figure of deadly farce in his new birth),
    Tap-tapped his way from ORCUS back to earth;
    And so, their Lover and his Lass made one,
    In their best prose this Admiral here was done.

    One of this Pair sleeps till the crack of doom
    Where the great ocean-rollers plunge and boom:
    The other waits and wonders what his Friend,
    Dead now, and deaf, and silent, were the end
    Revealed to his rare spirit, would find to say
    If you, his lovers, loved him for this Play.

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Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem, written collaboratively by W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson, is a rich and emotive exploration of an age of adventure, piracy, and the slave trade. The poem's tone is a complex blend of nostalgia, melancholy, and a certain bravado, painting a vivid picture of an era characterized by 'blood and gold', daring exploits, and grave moral transgressions. The use of historical references such as BLACKBEARD, AVORY, SINGLETON, ROBERTS, KIDD, along with identifiable locations, helps to construct a detailed and immersive world and offers a sense of authenticity.

The poem is split into two distinct parts. The first part is a retrospective glance at a past age, while the second part is a reflective contemplation on the friendship of the two authors and their joint creative endeavors. The structure of the poem serves to create a contrast between past and present, between the wild adventures of the past and the quiet reflection of the present. The use of capitalization is a standout technique used to emphasize key elements and themes within the poem, drawing the reader's attention to certain characters and places. The poem's language is rich and descriptive, with a notable use of metaphors, such as 'the road to Hell' and 'the crack of doom,' adding depth and complexity to the narrative. Overall, this poem tells a compelling story of a time long past and the enduring bond between two friends whose shared adventures live on in their work.