Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/516
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WOMEN ARE BEST WEEN THEY'RE AT REST.
"How oft, if at the Court of Love
Concealment be the fashion,
When How-d'ye-do has failed to move,
Good-bye reveals the passion!
Concealment be the fashion,
When How-d'ye-do has failed to move,
Good-bye reveals the passion!
"How oft, when Cupid's fires decline,
As every heart remembers,
One sigh of mine, and only mine,
Revives the dying embers!
As every heart remembers,
One sigh of mine, and only mine,
Revives the dying embers!
"Go, bid the timid lover choose,
And I'll resign my charter,
If he for ten kind how-d'ye-does,
One kind good-bye would barter.
And I'll resign my charter,
If he for ten kind how-d'ye-does,
One kind good-bye would barter.
"From Love and Friendship's kindred source
We both derive existence;
And they would both lose half their force
Without our joint assistance.
We both derive existence;
And they would both lose half their force
Without our joint assistance.
"'Tis well the world our merit knows,
Since time (there's no denying)
One half in how-d'ye-doing goes,
And t'other in good-byeing."
Since time (there's no denying)
One half in how-d'ye-doing goes,
And t'other in good-byeing."
Women Are Best When They're at Rest.
Women are best when they're at rest;
But when is that, I pray?
By their good will they are never still,
By night and eke by day.
But when is that, I pray?
By their good will they are never still,
By night and eke by day.
If the weather is bad, all day they gad,
They heed not wind or ram;
And all their gay gear they ruin or near;
For why, they can't refrain.
They heed not wind or ram;
And all their gay gear they ruin or near;
For why, they can't refrain.
Then must they chat of this and that;
Their tongues also must walk;
Wheresoever they go, they must always do bo,
And of their bad husbands talk.
Their tongues also must walk;
Wheresoever they go, they must always do bo,
And of their bad husbands talk.
When cometh the night, it is never right,
But ever somewhat wrong;
If husbands be weary, they are so merry,
They never cease their song.
But ever somewhat wrong;
If husbands be weary, they are so merry,
They never cease their song.