Puslapio vaizdai
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"But when her Eyes she opened,

(Although the Sun it shone,)

She found the Shepherd had not stirred"Because the Light was gone!"

Ah, Cupid! wanton Cupid!

'T'was ever thus your Way:

When Maids would bid you ply your Wings,

You find Excuse to stay!

THE COUNTESS.

Famous! He earned whate'er he got :

But there's some sequel, is there not?

THE BARON (turning the page).

I think not.-No. Unless 'tis this:

My fate is far more hard than his ;

In fact, your Eyes

THE COUNTESS.

Now, that's a breach!

Your bond is not to make a speech.

And we must start-so call Justine.

I know exactly what you mean!—

Give me your arm

THE BARON.

If, in return,

Countess, I could your hand but earn!

THE COUNTESS.

I thought as much. This comes, you see,

Of sentiment, and Arcady,

Where vows are hung on every tree.

THE BARON (offering his arm, with a

low bow).

And no one dreams-of Perfidy.

THE METAMORPHOSIS.

"On s'enrichit quand on dort."

SCENE. A high stone Seat in an Alley of

clipped Lime-trees.

THE ABBÉ TIRILI. MONSIEUR L'ÉTOILE.

THE ABBÉ (writing).

"This shepherdess Dorine adored-"

What rhyme is next? Implored?—ignored?

Poured?-soared?-afford? That facile dunce,

L'ÉTOILE, would cap the line at once.

"Twill come in time. Meanwhile, suppose

We take a meditative doze.

(Sleeps. By and by his paper falls.)

M. L'ÉTOILE (approaching from the back).

Someone before me.

What! 'tis you,

Monsieur the Scholar? Sleeping too!

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(Picks up the fluttering paper.)

More Tales," of course. One cant refuse

To chase so fugitive a Muse!

Verses are public, too, that fly

"Cum privilegio"-Zephyri !

(Reads.)

"CLITANDER AND DORINE." Insane!

He fancies he's a LA FONTAINE !

"In early days, the Gods, we find,

Paid frequent Visits to Mankind;

At least, authentic Records say so

In Publius Ovidius Naso.

(Three names for one. This passes all.

'Tis "furiously" classical !)

"No doubt their Purpose oft would be

Some 'Nodus dignus Vindice';

'On dit, not less, these earthly Tours

Were mostly matters of Amours.

And woe to him whose luckless Flame

Impeded that Olympic Game;

Ere he could say an 'Ave' o'er,
They changed him—like a Louis-d'or.
("Aves," and current coinage! O!-
O shade of NICHOLAS BOILEAU !)

66 'Bird, Beast, or River he became :
With Women it was much the same.
In Ovid Case to Case succeeds;

But Names the Reader never reads. (That is, Monsieur the Abbé feels His quantities are out at heels!) "Suffices that, for this our Tale,

There dwelt in a Thessalian Vale,

Of Tales like this the constant Scene,

A Shepherdess, by name Dorine.

Trim Waist, ripe Lips, bright Eyes, had she:

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