SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 86 Report by R. J. P. Hewison

A prize of LS was offered for the title and first six lines of poems which might have been, but never were, written by any two of Marvell, Dryden, Keats, Browning, Hardy, D. H. Lawrence.

Browning is clearly the favourite poet of Spectator readers, followed by Keats, Marvell and Lawrence (all very close) and then, among the also-reads, Dryden and Hardy. As for subjects, Browning, it seems, would most probably have taken Picasso or his First Duke, Keats various aspects of the seasons or of bird- or bard-life, and Marvell his Mistress—Pert, Brazen or Importunate—or his Wife— Importunate or Wanton. The most ingenious subject was that chosen by Emily Tattersall for Keats, an " Ode to the Study of Medicine and Surgery." The most authentic opening, both for subject and content, was- one entitled-"" Organ: for W(urlitzer)" and attributed to D. H. Lawrence. But, as its clerical author pointed out, it was " Frendfully Lawrentian," and I dare not print it. In this competition there were two difficulties deliberately put in the way of competitors. First, they had to imitate not only the superficial style, but also the thought, of their chosen writers: pastiche was not enough. Secondly, they had to do it twice: one good shot in two was not enough (quite a number of entrants, some of them old hands, too, sent in only one shot altogether). On the whole, competitors tackled these difficulties bravely, and entries were numerous and of a high standard. I award a first prize of £2 10s. to R. Kennard Dav,is for a good left-and-right—the Keats is particularly good and I hope the sonnet will be completed. Second prize of £1 10s. to R. S. Stanier for Keats and Browning—the latter distinctly the stronger. Third prize of £1 to A. D. C. Peterson for a well-balanced Lawrence and. Hardy. Honourable mention to Annie Allen for her Lawrence (first version), to G. J. Blundell for Browning on Picasso, to F. Liston for Marvell on Battersea Festival Gardens ; to D. L. L. Clarke for his Dryden and 0. B. Clark for his Lawrence.

FIRST PRIZE

(R. KENNARD DAvis)-

THE RING AND THE BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE _ (A chapter from the private history of his late Eminence, the Cardinal Archbishop of Rheims)

By ROBERT BROWNING

Do you see this bell of silver—Florentine, Graven with anathemas pontifical

About the- rim, 'gainst miscreants, man or fowl? Those daws that, chattering, to the minster spires (Spires that once fain had stopped to greet the Maid) Soar, bearing building-timbers, know it well. . . .

SONNET TO A SKYLARK By JOHN KEATS Frail mariner that on the waves of light Oarest thy passage with impetuous wing, Chanting for very mirth of voyaging Till thy light bark is lost to mortal sight, So rave I, standing on some seaward height Caught snatches of the songs the fishers sing... SECOND PRIZE (R. S. STANIER) ODE ON A DUTCH STILL-LIFE By JOHN KEATS

Immortal cornucopia, what hand . .

Of sober burghers in a neighb'ring room Waits the unfolding of thy lavish hand, Unfed, unslak'd and nescient of the doom Which froze that steaming toddy here, that bloom On nectarine and grape, that lobster bland?

MY FIRST DUKE By ROBERT BROWNING What? Not a real one? When the Romanoffs Jehored his veins? Well, well, small beer, I grant, Beside my English dukes. But he came first. With women, even us the world calls light, That counts ; and thii old photograrn your eye Just hints amusement at will share my grave.

THIRD PRIZE (A. D. C. PETERSON) ARMADILLO, By D. H. LAWRENCE

You looked at me over the dry wall With beady eyes and curious flickering tongue, .

But when I reached my fingertips, ever so gently, to touch you, You curled your woodlouse scales up into a ball ; And -I felt my.manhood surge up in -a fierce resentment Of your planned withdrawal.

PUNCH AND JUDY-

By THOMAS HARDY

One evening, late, 'Mid the dames on the Budmouth sea-front, emboothed before us . For the young ones to see,

-Stood Punch and his vixen house-mate,

Garbed as at earlier date

Was nigh every she.