My Lord may walk a pas de Cour To Jenny's pas de Châlet ;— The folks who ne'er have danced before, Can dance-in "Cupid's Alley." And here, for ages yet untold, Long, long before my ditty, Came high and low, and young and old, From out the crowded City; And still to-day they come, they go, And just as fancies tally, They foot it quick, they foot it slow, All day-in "Cupid's Alley." Strange dance! "Tis free to Rank and Rags; Here no distinction flatters, Here Riches shakes its money-bags And Poverty its tatters; Church, Army, Navy, Physic, Law;— Maid, Mistress, Master, Valet; Long locks, gray hairs, bald heads, and a', They bob-in "Cupid's Alley." し Strange pairs! To laughing, fresh Fifteen Here capers Prudence thrifty; Here Prodigal leads down the green A blushing Maid of fifty; Some treat it as a serious thing, And some but shilly-shally; And some have danced without the ring (Ah me!)-in "Cupid's Alley." And sometimes one to one will dance, And one by one will stand, perchance, Yet look all ways to find her; Some seek a partner with a sigh, Some win him with a sally; And some, they know not how nor why, Strange fate of "Cupid's Alley." And some will dance an age or so Who came for half a minute; UNISE CALIF And some, who like the game, will go Before they well begin it; And some will vow they 're "danced to death," Who (somehow) always rally; Strange cures are wrought (mine author saith), Strange cures !-in "Cupid's Alley." It may be one will dance to-day, And dance no more to-morrow; It may be one will steal away And nurse a life-long sorrow; What then? The rest advance, evade, Unite, dispart, and dally, Re-set, coquet, and gallopade, Not less-in "Cupid's Alley." For till that City's wheel-work vast And shuddering beams shall crumble ;— And till that Fiddler lean at last From off his seat shall tumble ; Till then (the Civic records say) This quaint, fantastic ballet Of Go and Stay, of Yea and Nay, Must last-in "Cupid's Alley." |