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PoemPermanent catalogue Work

Songs of Bastards

1textual state19Characters

Category

Darker Moods

SectionPoetry for Friends

Opening lines

Oh, the years they pass like a bleak jackass, chasing aflock of fillies; and I wish to Hell I could sleep with Nell on a couch ofroses and lilies. The seagulls fly in a dreaming sky and the hoptoad’ssmile is bitter; and the turtle dove sings a song of love to the snake and

Textual states

Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.

Letter-preserved textSongs of Bastards

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Characters in this Work

Counts are across exact Textual Versions currently represented. They are not assumed exhaustive until the underlying texts have been analyzed.

First Bastardfirst of the four numbered bastards in the tavern scene of “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state Fourth Bastardfourth of the four numbered bastards in the tavern scene of “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state Gabrielarchangel invoked by trumpet in “The Road to Hell”1 textual state Matthew Mulesinger appearing in “This Is the Tale of Glory”1 textual state Michaelarchangel named with Gabriel and Moses in “This Is the Tale of Glory”; distinct from the many human Michaels in the catalogue1 textual state Mosesbiblical figure identified with Musa in the story1 textual state Nell Knifewife of Sir Swearley Knife and lover of Sir Hanlo Talltoole1 textual state Sapphoarchaic Greek poet invoked as author of a verse1 textual state Second Bastardsecond of the four numbered bastards in the tavern scene of “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state Sir Hanlo Talltooleknight and lover of Nell Knife in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state Sir Swearley Knifehusband of Nell Knife in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the Beggarunnamed beggar whose offstage song closes “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the Jesterunnamed jester whose offstage song is embedded in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the lady-in-waitingunnamed lady-in-waiting who addresses the Queen in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the Queenunnamed queen tutored in astrology by the Sage in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the Sageunnamed recurring sage, astrologer and cynical intermediary in “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the serving girlunnamed tavern serving girl/serving wench in Act II of “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state the tavern hostunnamed tavern host/landlord in “Songs of Bastards”; not the Cleft Skull Tavern innkeeper1 textual state Third Bastardthird of the four numbered bastards in the tavern scene of “Songs of Bastards”1 textual state

Publication appearances

The Collected Poetry of Robert E. Howard Volume ThreeREH Foundation PressNovember 2022↗