Church, Army, Navy, Physic, Law ;- Long locks, gray hairs, bald heads, and a',- 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 some, they know not how nor why, And some will dance an age or so Who came for half a minute; And some, who like the game, will go 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, It may be one will steal away 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), Of Go and Stay, of Yea and Nay, Must last-in "Cupid's Alley." H THE IDYLL OF THE CARP. (The SCENE is in a garden,-where you please, I feed them daily here at morn and night Not meant, indeed, to mean the thing they wish, (Throwing bread.) Make haste, Messieurs! Make haste, then! Hurry. See,-- When the King comes? DENISE. You're jesting! THE PRINCESS. Not at all. Watch but the great one yonder! There's the Duke ;— DENISE. I think I have. But there's another, older and more grave,- THE PRINCESS. Why that's my good chambellan-with his seal. In quaint devices at refection-hours, Equips my sweet-pouch, brings me morning flowers, Or chirrups madrigals with old, sweet words, DENISE. Look, Madam, look !—a fish without a stain ! O speckless, fleckless fish! Who is it, pray, THE PRINCESS. FONTENAY. You know him not? My prince of shining locks! DENISE. Ai! what a splash! Who is it comes with such a sudden dash Plump i' the midst, and leaps the others clear? THE PRINCESS. Ho! for a trumpet! Let the bells be rung! Got in a brawl that stands for Spanish war:- |