CROSSWORD 1396: Rhyme-scheme by Columba

A first prize of £30 and a bottle of Graham's Six Grapes Port for the first correct solution opened on 1 February, with two runners- up prizes of £20 (or, for UK solvers, the latest edition of The Chambers Dictionary — ring the word 'Dictionary'). Entries to: Crossword 1396, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LL.

1 2

3

4 5 RM. "A 6

7

,. .,

8 9 To

11

12

U

114

5

6

17

1111' I...

9

20

21

22

3

IJ

24

LI

26

27

■ 11--F1

IE29

30

36 37

-I

139

■ 1

41

2

im...

I

43

Clues — an equal number across and down — are 'n conven ional order. Each clue is a line of verse, containing a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the light including one extra etter; these extras spell out four characters from a work in 41 3. Six other unclued lights (one of two words) appear, as Brewer con- firms, in the same work.

Name Address

Can Sol beam harder than Selene's ray?

Do jokers jest, or pressmen pen with speed Abundant items critical of play? And will our friend the nightingale proceed To sing a tempting song designed to lead A female to a branch, re-echoing Across canals the same immortal need As the prosaic blackbird, chirping thing, From rustic past retains: inborn, acute in spring?

If so, let's drink: convivial's a stout We share, digesting tales of lust and joy Slick mags set by our coasters blazon out, Letting elation in without alloy. Hand presses hand. 'That landlord in Savoy Whose manor's candelabra were his dear Mementoes, cried the gentleman, of Troy!

Exotic items certain to appear When epicures admired his manor's other gear.'

We relive holidays of beauty, rare: One pictures part of Bendigo, or names Cannes, where we padded out and jostled bare With film stars (irresistible in frames) Whose basic corny greetings no one blames - While in the inn a hayseed serving bread Hobbles along, a porcine lass proclaims A friendship, and dilemmas can be sped To settlement, washed down with grappa and the red.

Day evanesces; lightly, diplomats Lead boosted regulars to domiciles That herald indoor fun (or earnest spats).

The wind is soft. Bucolic chic beguiles Our thirst: arms out, we rule imagined isles In language ever upbeat, unconfined By reason, spin a scheme, and wing for miles.

To peasant folk Arcadia is kind: As time shoots past, we'll keep that country's map in mind.

The solution and winners of the Christmas Jumbo Crossword appear on page 47.