Impossible! One might as well With these half-dozen Indian beads. Moreover, add that every one So well exalts his pet distress, 'Tis-Give to all, or give to none, If you'd avoid invidiousness. Your case, I feel, is sad as A.'s, The same applies to B.'s and C.'s; By my selection I should raise And life is short,-I see you look You'll find it etched in Jacquemart's book, They say that Raphael painted it ;— And life is short, you understand; So, if I only hold you out An open though an empty hand, -- Why, you'll forgive me, I've no doubt. Nay, do not rise. You seem amused; K 129 Believe me, on these very grounds. Good-bye, then. Ah, a rarity! That cost me quite three hundred pounds,That Dürer figure,-"Charity." 131 LAISSEZ FAIRE. "Prophete rechts, Prophete links, GOETHE'S Diné zu Coblenz. To left, here's B., half-Communist, Who talks a chastened treason, And C., a something-else in "ist," B., from his "tribune," fulminates While C.'s peculiar coterie Some patent new Philosophy And yet-Why not? If zealots burn, My taste for salmon and Sauterne, Friend B., the argument you choose There's but one creed,—that's Laissez faire; Behold its mild apostle ! My dear, declamatory pair, Although you shout and jostle, Not your ephemeral hands, nor mine, Who 'll drink the last, I wonder? 133 TO Q. H. F. SUGGESTED BY A CHAPTER IN THEODORE MARTIN'S "HORACE." ("ANCIENT CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS.") H ORATIUS FLACCUS, B.C. 8," There's not a doubt about the date,-- As you observed, the seasons roll; And 'cross the Styx full many a soul Has Charon ferried, Since, mourned of men and Muses nine, And that was centuries ago! You'd think we'd learned enough, I know, Since last you trod the Sacred Street, Or, by your cold Digentia, set The web of winter birding-net. |