Poem: “The Skull Cap” by Herman Melville

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American Literature – American Poetry – Herman Melville – Poems by Herman Melville – Clarel
< < < Canto 1: The Cavalcade
Canto 3: By the Garden > > >

The Wilderness

Canto 2: The Skull Cap

“See him in his uncheerful head-piece!
Libertad’s on the Mexic coin
Would better suit me for a shade-piece:
Ah, had I known he was to join!”–
  So chid the Greek, the banker one
Perceiving Mortmain there at hand,
And in allusion to a dun
Skull-cap he wore. Derwent light reined
The steed; and thus: “Beg pardon now,
It looks a little queer, concede;
Nor less the cap fits well-shaped brow;
It yet may prove the wishing-cap
Of Fortunatus.”
              “No indeed,
No, no, for that had velvet nap
Of violet with silver tassel–
Much like my smoking-cap, you see,
Light laughed the Smyrniote, that vassal
Of health and young vivacity.
  “Glaucon, be still,” the senior said
(And yet he liked to hear him too);
“I say it doth but ill bestead
To have a black cap in our crew.”
  “Pink, pink,” cried Glaucon, “pink’s the hue:–

   “Pink cap and ribbons of the pearl,
       A Paradise of bodice,
   The Queen of Sheba’s laundry girl–

“Hallo, what now? They come to halt
Down here in glen! Well, well, we’ll vault.”
His song arrested, so he spake
And light dismounted, wide awake.–

“A sprightly comrade have you here,”
Said Derwent in the senior’s ear.
The banker turned him: “Folly, folly–
But good against the melancholy.”

< < < Canto 1: The Cavalcade
Canto 3: By the Garden > > >

American Literature – American Poetry – Herman Melville – Poems by Herman Melville – Clarel

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The Wilderness

Canto 2: The Skull Cap

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