The Amazing Marriage

A schoolboy of my acquaintance stated in an examination that Charles ll was married to 'Catherine of Uganda.' Competitors were asked to imagine that this interesting. marriage took place, and to submit either an extract from a nuptial ode by a contempo- rary poet or an extract from Pepys's Diary describing the ceremony.

ONE disadvantage of setting Spectator competitions is that one always wants to enter for one's own competition ! I imagined Milton invoking all the nymphs of Africa's streams and lakes (Nyasa and Nyanza, where the sun Wakes huge Behemoth from his oozy bed) and revelling in geographical polysyllables. I was rather disappointed that nobody took that particular line. However, most of the other obvious themes - the Song of Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra-were duly exploited, and there were several passable imitations of each of the three poets suggested, as well as one of Henry Vaughan by Adrienne Gascoigne. The Pepys entries were, I thought, the least successful. They missed, somehow, the sprightliness and zest (sometimes conveyed by interjections) of the diarist, who would, I am sure, have enjoyed the occasion hugely, despite compunctions. Guy Hadley and Douglas Hawson were the best of a moderate lot. I quote from the latter :

And one Sir J. Bull did offer in a loud voice to wager England had another Black Prince within the twelvemonth.

I recommend prizes of two guineas each to P. M. and Rhoda Tuck Pook, and one guinea each to Shok and P. W. R. Foot (one of whose lines I have yentured to alter slightly). Commendation to those named and to Iris St. Hill Mousley, 'Katy,' K. Sprigge, Trooper Jones, Jennifer Plowman and A. M. Sayers.

PRIZES (P. M.)

AFTER MILTON

Dark pearl on Ethiop's brow, A King doth wear thee now! Thy swart effulgence at his Bosom shining: Hands whose ancestral guile Huth charmed Great Crocodile Love's flow'ry noose about his neck are twining.

While mammoth tuskers bear them Home And trump and tom-tom sound to glittering Spire and Dome.

In this their Nuptial bed Two nations now are wed Whose scions, from fals Prejudice abstain. ing, Two tongues as one shall speke And turn a dappled Cheke

Convention's Bonds for Brotherhood de,

daining: Then, Nature's own in thought and gesture.

Man shall be free and doff unkindness with his vesture.

(RHODA TUCK POOK) AFTER DRYDEN

The ululating horn and festal gong Obstreperous drown the organ's pensive song. At length proclaim the drums- 'The new Candace comes!'

The royal virgin, veiled,. appears; her dusky vestals now Uplift the chaste obscurance, and reveal a beauteous brow Whose tincture Nature's self has painted on. Jetly emblazoned by the Ethiop sun.

See where the modest lash its curtain dips On docile orbs and clear; She smiles, and pearls appear Between the moist embrasures of her lips. Irked by the tardy time's undue expense, Th' espoused monarch urges on the rite: Counting the hours to the enraptured night He bids the frowning prelates to commence...

(SHOK) AFTER DRYDEN

The glowing Serpent of Old Nile Storm'd Cwsar's Heart and Anthony's: but, when vain 'Gainst cold Octavian .r Roman Brest be smile,

Base Lyfe did she disdayne,

And rather woo'd the Aspe: but from hit Pile Her Spirit Pluenix-like now bursts its Tollobjj In CATHERINE hail We Cleopatra's yoillu- bloom!

Great CHARLES in ardent Joy, to find No more to this cold Isle his gen'rous Flas;d (That seeks vast tropick Empire) is car° Hastens to meet the Dame erold Who breathes Sabreatt Spyce, with •-• entwin'd Her Ethiop Locks in darkling Majesty. So Britain's Monarch, wont to rule the J:e5 With genial nuptial -Bonds a Continent to° in Fee!

(P. W. R. FOOT)

AFTER DRYDEN

Ito Uganda's Kate my praises sing, And add my lute to silver bells that riakde, Here on the Thames the royal barge doth,g„11,ky Our Sovereign Lord brings home his bride.

Kate's night-black beauty dims the brigli day,

As she in loin cloth steps her ebon way; 5tri1 Now gleams the lvoried ring from spread And nodding poppies consecrate her heq; The envious throng loud acclamations mai° As shapes of England's future empire take' 0, But more than wonder shall she now iniP The courtly mode decrees the ring in So to the nuptial feast; the tom-toms11;,, As Courtly ladies in their grass skirts IV" Thus revelry shall long outrun the sun „pc, And sable night make black and white as "