THE TESTAMENT OF BEAUTY

Words by ROBERT BRIDGES, Poet Laureate (1927)

Pictures by R. K. PILSBURY, FRPS

The sky's unresting c1oudland, that with varying playsifteth the sunlight thru' its figured shades, that nowstand in massiv range, cumulated stupendousmountainous snowbillowy up-piled in dazzling sheen,Now like sailing ships on a calm ocean driftingNow scatter'd wispy waifs, that 'neath the eager blazedisperse in air; Or now parcelling the icy inanehighspredd in fine diaper of silver and mother-of-pearlfreaking the intense azure; Now scurrying o'erheadwild ink-hued random racers that fling sheeted raingustily, and with garish bows laughing o'erarch the land;Or, if the spirit of storm be abroad, huge molten gloomsmount on the horizon stealthily, and gathering as they climbdeep-freighted with live lightning, thunder and drenching flood

Extract from Book One (Lines 277-290)

'Cloudland sifteth the sunlight thru' itsfigured shades'

'Like sailing ships on a calm ocean drifting'

4RR

'Cumulated, stupendous. mountainoussnowbillowy up-piled in dazzling sheen'

'Scattered wispy waifs disperse in air'

'Fine diaper ofsilver and mother-of-pearl'

'Racers that fling sheeted rain gustily'

'Huge molten glooms mount on the horizon'

'Deep-freighted with live lightning'

'Wild ink-hued racers scurrying o'emead'

'Garish bows o'erarch the land'

'Gathering as they climb '

'Drenching flood'

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