Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/458
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TOUJOURS LES FEMMES.
So richly gilt, and so superbly wrought!"
"You're right," says Peter, "'twas the Frame that caught:
I grant my wife is ugly, squabby, old,
But still she pleases—being set in gold;
Let others for the Picture feel a flame,
I, my good brother, married for the Frame!"
"You're right," says Peter, "'twas the Frame that caught:
I grant my wife is ugly, squabby, old,
But still she pleases—being set in gold;
Let others for the Picture feel a flame,
I, my good brother, married for the Frame!"
Toujours Les Femmes.
I think it was a Persian king
Who used to say, that evermore
In human life each evil thing
Comes of the sex that men adore;
That nought, in brief, had e'er befell
To harm or grieve our hapless race,
But, if you probe the matter well,
You'll find a woman in the case!
Who used to say, that evermore
In human life each evil thing
Comes of the sex that men adore;
That nought, in brief, had e'er befell
To harm or grieve our hapless race,
But, if you probe the matter well,
You'll find a woman in the case!
And then the curious tale is told
How, when upon a certain night
A climbing youngster lost his hold,
And, falling from a ladder's height,
Was found, alas! next morning dead,
His majesty, with solemn face,
As was his wont, demurely said,
"Pray, who's the woman in the case?"
How, when upon a certain night
A climbing youngster lost his hold,
And, falling from a ladder's height,
Was found, alas! next morning dead,
His majesty, with solemn face,
As was his wont, demurely said,
"Pray, who's the woman in the case?"
And how a lady in his Court,
Who deemed the royal whim absurd,
Rebuked him while she made report
Of the mischance that late occurred;
Whereat the king replied in glee,
"I've heard the story, please your grace,
And all the witnesses agree
There was a woman in the case!
Who deemed the royal whim absurd,
Rebuked him while she made report
Of the mischance that late occurred;
Whereat the king replied in glee,
"I've heard the story, please your grace,
And all the witnesses agree
There was a woman in the case!
"The truth, your ladyship, is this,
(Nor is it marvellous at all,)
The youth was climbing for a kiss,
And got, instead, a fatal fall.
Whene'er a man—as I have said—
Falls from a ladder, or from grace,
Or breaks his faith, or breaks his head,
There is a woman in the case!"
(Nor is it marvellous at all,)
The youth was climbing for a kiss,
And got, instead, a fatal fall.
Whene'er a man—as I have said—
Falls from a ladder, or from grace,
Or breaks his faith, or breaks his head,
There is a woman in the case!"