Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae

I Am Not As I Was Under The Reign Of The Good Cynara
     BY ERNEST DOWSON (1867-1900)

Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine
There fell thy shadow, Cynara! thy breath was shed
Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine;
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat,
Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay;
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
When I awoke and found the dawn was grey:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,
Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng,
Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, all the time, because the dance was long:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

I cried for madder music and for stronger wine,
But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire,
Then falls thy shadow, Cynara! the night is thine;
And I am desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

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I have seen it conjectured that Margaret Mitchell based her famous title on the phrase "gone with the wind" in the poem above, but when I searched previously, I never could figure out if anybody knew that for a fact. I could not find where Ms. Mitchell remarked about it, at any rate. Maybe some of you are better informed and can let me know.

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New Blog Added I generally add a new blog to the "Intelligent Blogs" list without fanfare. I am doing it differently this time with "Hugo's Hideout" just to do something differently. I am perverted that way. You might not like it, but I do. I haven't been reading it long enough to say anything succinct and dead-on about it, so it's just this: I like it. Those of you familiar with my demented habits might recall some blogs that stayed on my list only a short time. I can't help it if I'm not loyal. We are not exactly in some foxhole together, after all. We can be inconstant and there will be no great loss. That's how I see it. With those bits of past backstabbing and future disaffections now hinted at--
Welcome, Hugo!

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