Classic Poem

CAPUTVII

In his gloomy cavern, gloomy
'Mid the circle of his dear ones,
Atta Troll, thus misanthropic,
Squats and growls, and grinds his teeth.

" Men, conceited, pert canaille!
Laugh away! The day of vengeance
Soon must dawn that shall deliver
From your yoke and from your laughter!

" 'Twas that bitter-sweet grimacing
Of the mouth that most annoyed me.
Unendurably disgusting
Was that human trick of smiling!

" When I saw that fatal twitching
Of the white, detested faces,
I would sicken with the loathing
And the fierceness of my anger.

" More impertinently far
Than by words, a man discloses
By his smile, his deep and boundless,
Brazen impudence of soul.

" They are always laughing, laughing! —
In their love's most solemn moment,
When the circumstances surely
Call for gravity profound!

" They will even laugh when dancing!
In such bold and shameless fashion
They profane the noble science
One should cherish as a cult.

" Yes, a pious act of worship
In the olden days was dancing;
Round the altar whirled devoutly
Many a priestly form and holy.

" In the ancient days King David
Danced for joy before the Ark;
For the dance was public worship:
Was a prayer with the legs!

" And as such it was my habit
To regard my own performance
When I danced before the people,
And received their loud ovation.

" The applause — I must confess it —
To my heart was often grateful;
To compel the admiration
Of one's enemies is sweet!

" But enthusiasm even
Cannot wean them from their smiling,
Even dancing cannot cure them —
Their frivolity remains. "