| Fuess and Stearns, comps. The Little Book of Society Verse. 1922. | | | | A Lesson in Mythology | | By Eliza C. Hall |
| | | I READ to her, one summer day, | |
| A little mythologic story | |
| About the maid who laughed at love, | |
| And ran a race for love and glory. | |
| |
| I closed the book. She raised her eyes | 5 |
| And hushed the song she had been humming; | |
| Glancing across the shady lawn, | |
| I saw my wealthy rival coming. | |
| |
| “These ancient tales,” I gravely said, | |
| “With meaning wise are often laden; | 10 |
| And Atalanta well may stand | |
| As type of many a modern maiden. | |
| |
| “Minus, of course, the classic scandal, | |
| But with no less of nimble grace, | |
| How many dainty slippered feet | 15 |
| Are running now that self-same race! | |
| |
| “And when Hippomenes casts down | |
| His golden apples, is there ever | |
| A chance for Love to reach the goal?” | |
| With saucy smile, she answered, “Never.” | 20 |
| |
| I rose to go—she took my hand | |
| (O, Fate, you ne’er that clasp can sever!) | |
| And, “Stay,” she said, with sudden blush,— | |
| “You know that I meant—‘hardly ever.’” | | | | |
|
|
