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Dante Gabriel Rossetti - From Paris To Brussels (11 P.M. 15 October To Half-Past 1 P.M. 16) Proem At The Paris Station
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In France (to baffle thieves and murderers) 
A journey takes two days of passport work 
At least. The plan`s sometimes a tedious one, 
But bears its fruit. Because, the other day, 
In passing by the Morgue, we saw a man 
(The thing is common, and we never should 
Have known of it, only we passed that way) 
Who had been stabbed and tumbled in the Seine, 
Where he had stayed some days. The face was black, 
And, like a negro`s, swollen; all the flesh 
Had furred, and broken into a green mould. 
Now, very likely, he who did the job 
Was standing among those who stood with us, 
To look upon the corpse. You fancy him— 
Smoking an early pipe, and watching, as 
An artist, the effect of his last work. 
This always if it had not struck him that 
`Twere best to leave while yet the body took 
Its crust of rot beneath the Seine. It may: 
But, if it did not, he can now remain 
Without much fear. Only, if he should want 
To travel, and have not his passport yet, 
(Deep dogs these French police!) he may be caught. 
Therefore you see (lest, being murderers, 
We should not have the sense to go before 
The thing were known, or to stay afterwards) 
There is good reason why—having resolved 
To start for Belgium—we were kept three days 
To learn about the passports first, then do 
As we had learned. This notwithstanding, in 
The fullness of the time `tis come to pass.
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