Or else you thought, the murmuring noon, He turns it to a lyric sweeter, With birds that gossip in the tune, And windy bough-swing in the metre ; Or else the zigzag fruit-tree arms Recall some dream of harp-prest bosoms, Round singing mouths, and chanted charms, And mediæval orchard blossoms, Quite à la mode. Alas for prose ! - And chased the kitten round the beeches, Till widening instincts made me wish Three peaches. Not the Graces three I would not look, yet went to see; Or Two of them. Forthwith Despair- Where I might hide and dwell forgotten, Absolved from brushes and ablution ;But, ere my sylvan haunt was gained, Fate gave me up to execution. I saw it all but now. The grin That gnarled old Gardener Sandy's features; My father, scholar-like and thin, Unroused, the tenderest of creatures; My dear and deprecating mother; And then, remembering the cane, Regretted that I'd left the Other. TU QUOQUE. AN IDYLL IN THE CONSERVATORY. IF - romprons-nous, Ou ne romprons-nous pas ?” NELLIE. LE DÉPIT AMOUREUX F I were you, when ladies at the play, sir, I would not turn abstractedly away, sir, If I were you! FRANK. If I were you, when persons I affected, If I were you! Nellie. If I were you, when ladies are so lavish, I would not dance with odious Miss M'Tavish If I were you! FRANK. If I were you, who vow you cannot suffer -- Whiff of the best, the mildest "honey-dew," I would not dance with smoke-consuming Puffer, If I were you! NELLIE. If I were you, I would not, sir, be bitter, FRANK. No, I should doubtless find flirtation fitter, NELLIE. Really! You would? Why, Frank, you 're quite delightful, Hot as Othello, and as black of hue; Borrow my fan. I would not look so frightful, If I were you! FRANK. "It is the cause." I mean your chaperon is Bringing some well-curled juvenile. Adieu ! I shall retire. I'd spare that poor Adonis, If I were you! NELLIE. Go, if you will. At once! And by express, sir! Where shall it be? To China or Peru? Go. I should leave inquirers my address, sir, Seems, on the whole, the proper thing to do — Ah, you are strong, I would not then be cruel, If I were you! NELLIE. One does not like one's feelings to be doubted, FRANK. One does not like one's friends to misconstrue, NELLIE. If I confess that I a wee-bit pouted? FRANK. I should admit that I was piqué, too. NELLIE. Ask me to dance. I'd say no more about it, If I were you ! [Waltz - Exeunt. |