| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| A Ballade of Playing Cards |
| | | Gleeson White (b. 185–) |
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| TO soothe a mad King’s fevered brain | |
| (So runs the legend), cards were made, | |
| When Gringonneur for Charles insane | |
| “Diversely colored” heart and spade, | |
| Diamond and club, the painted jade, | 5 |
| The light-heeled Jack, and beckoning | |
| Called, to their royal cousin’s aid, | |
| Puppets of knave, and queen, and king. | |
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| Grim fancy! that the playful train, | |
| The quaint, grimacing cavalcade, | 10 |
| Should wreck such ills where they obtain | |
| The victims to their sorry trade, | |
| The player cozened by the played; | |
| Pasteboards supreme; to this they bring | |
| Both gallant buck and roystering blade, | 15 |
| Puppets of knave, and queen, and king. | |
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| From reckless play, what noble gain? | |
| One friend hard hit, the rest afraid | |
| To show their pleasure at his pain, | |
| Such sympathy might well persuade | 20 |
| The cards in garish heaps displayed | |
| To join, with impish revelling, | |
| And jeer as all his fortunes fade— | |
| Puppets of knave, and queen, and king. | |
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L’ENVOI
Prince! after all, they are the shade, | 25 |
| The type of every earthly thing, | |
| And we, through all life’s masquerade, | |
| Puppets of knave, and queen, and king. | |
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