A Reasonable Affliction 1907 It's not pleasant for a fellow when the jewel of his soul Wades through slaughter on the carpet, while her orbs in frenzy roll; What was I that I should murmur? Yet it gave me griev ous pain That she rose in social gatherings, and Searched among the Slain. I was forced to look upon her, in my desperation dumb, Knowing well that when her awful opportunity was come She would give us battle, murder, sudden death at very least, As a skeleton of warning, and a blight upon the feast. Once, ah! once I fell a-dreaming; some one played a polonaise I associated strongly with those happier August days; And I mused, "I'll speak this evening," recent pangs forgotten quite Sudden shrilled a scream of anguish: "Curfew SHALL not ring to-night!" Ah, that sound was as a curfew, quenching rosy, warm romance Were it safe to wed a woman one so oft would wish in France? Oh, as she "cull-imbed" that ladder, swift my mounting hope came down: I am still a single cynic; she is still Cassandra Brown! Helen Gray Cone [1859 A REASONABLE AFFLICTION ON his death-bed poor Lubin lies: With frequent cries, and mutual sighs, "A different cause," says Parson Sly, Poor Lubin fears that he may die; His wife, that he may live." Matthew Prior [1664-1721] THE WOMAN WITH THE SERPENT'S TONGUE SHE is not old, she is not young, The woman with the Serpent's Tongue, In truthful numbers be she sung, Hectic, and always overstrung,- To think that such as she can mar Names that among the noblest are! That hands like hers can touch the springs That move who knows what men and things? That on her will their fates have hung! The Woman with the Serpent's Tongue. William Watson [1858 SUPPOSE How sad if, by some strange new law, For she who is most beautiful Would be most marred. t Fable And we might be surprised to see Some lovely wife Smooth-visaged, while a seeming prude Was marked for life. 1909 Anne Reeve Aldrich (1866-1892] TOO CANDID BY HALF As Tom and his wife were discoursing one day Said she, "Though my wit you disparage, John Godfrey Saxe [1816-1887] FABLE THE mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel, And the former called the latter "Little Prig;" Bun replied, "You are doubtless very big; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together, To make up a year And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace If I'm not so large as you, I'll not deny you make A very pretty squirrel track; Talents differ; all is well and wisely put; If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882] WOMAN'S WILL THAT man's a fool who tries by art and skill To stem the torrent of a woman's will: For if she will, she will; you may depend on't-And if she won't, she won't-and there's an end on't. Unknown WOMAN'S WILL MEN, dying, make their wills, but wives Escape a task so sad; Why should they make what all their lives The gentle dames have had? John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887] PLAYS ALAS, how soon the hours are over But when we play the fool, how wide How long the audience sits before us! Walter Savage Landor [1775-1864] THE REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE I SENT for Ratcliffe; was so ill, That other doctors gave me over: But, when the wit began to wheeze, Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician.' Matthew Prior [1664-1731] Certain Maxims of Hafiz 1911 THE NET OF LAW THE net of law is spread so wide, Its meshes are so fine and strong, O wondrous web of mystery! James Jeffrey Roche [1847-1908] COLOGNE IN Köln, a town of monks and bones, All well defined, and several stinks! Ye Nymphs that reign o'er sewers and sinks, Doth wash your city of Cologne; But tell me, Nymphs! what power divine Shall henceforth wash the river Rhine? Samuel Taylor Coleridge [1772-1834] EPITAPH ON CHARLES II HERE lies our Sovereign Lord the King, Who never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one. John Wilmot [1647-1680] CERTAIN MAXIMS OF HAFIZ I If It be pleasant to look on, stalled in the packed serai, Does not the Young Man try Its temper and pace ere he buy? |