Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/487
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MONSIEUR KANIFERSTANE.
469
The tar, who knew as much of French as Greek,
Eyed him at first with something like disdain;
Then, as he shifted round his quid to speak,
With growling voice, cried, "Ik kan nick verstaan."[1]
Eyed him at first with something like disdain;
Then, as he shifted round his quid to speak,
With growling voice, cried, "Ik kan nick verstaan."[1]
"Oh, oh!" replied the marquis, "does it so?
To Monsieur Kaniferstane, lucky man;
The palace to be sure lies rather low,
But then the size and grandeur of the plan!
I never saw a château on the Seine
Equal to this of Monsieur Kaniferstane."
To Monsieur Kaniferstane, lucky man;
The palace to be sure lies rather low,
But then the size and grandeur of the plan!
I never saw a château on the Seine
Equal to this of Monsieur Kaniferstane."
While thus he spoke, the sailors anchor cast.
As the marquis descended on the quay,
He saw a charming frow that chanced to pass,
In liveliest bloom of youth, and beauty gay,
Bedecked with all the Amsterdam parade
Of gold and silver, pearls and jewels rare.
On the marquis she much impression made;
His tender breast soon owned a pleasing flame:
Stopping a passenger, he bowing said,
"Monsieur, pray tell me who's that lovely dame."
The civil Dutchman bowed to him again,
And gently answered, "Ik kan nick verstaan."
As the marquis descended on the quay,
He saw a charming frow that chanced to pass,
In liveliest bloom of youth, and beauty gay,
Bedecked with all the Amsterdam parade
Of gold and silver, pearls and jewels rare.
On the marquis she much impression made;
His tender breast soon owned a pleasing flame:
Stopping a passenger, he bowing said,
"Monsieur, pray tell me who's that lovely dame."
The civil Dutchman bowed to him again,
And gently answered, "Ik kan nick verstaan."
"What, Monsieur Kaniferstane's wife!" the marquis cried;
"He who has got yon gay and sumptuous house?
Well, that some men have luck can't be denied;
What, such an edifice, and such a spouse!
Ma foi, I think I never should complain,
Had I the lot of Monsieur Kaniferstane."
"He who has got yon gay and sumptuous house?
Well, that some men have luck can't be denied;
What, such an edifice, and such a spouse!
Ma foi, I think I never should complain,
Had I the lot of Monsieur Kaniferstane."
As on the morrow through the streets he passed,
Gazing on all the pretty sights about,
On a large open hall his sight he cast,
Where bustling crowds were going in and ont.
Joining the throng, he entrance soon obtained,
And found the people much engaged to see
The numbers which the blanks and prizes gained
In their high mightinesses' lottery.
Some laughed, some wept, some groaned, and some exclaimed,
In all the spirit of true castle-builders;
When on a sudden a loud voice proclaimed
The sovereign prize of twenty thousand guilders.
Gazing on all the pretty sights about,
On a large open hall his sight he cast,
Where bustling crowds were going in and ont.
Joining the throng, he entrance soon obtained,
And found the people much engaged to see
The numbers which the blanks and prizes gained
In their high mightinesses' lottery.
Some laughed, some wept, some groaned, and some exclaimed,
In all the spirit of true castle-builders;
When on a sudden a loud voice proclaimed
The sovereign prize of twenty thousand guilders.
- ↑ "I do not understand you."