| |
| A STRICTLY moral man have I been ever, | |
| And never injured anybody—never. | |
| I lent my friend a sum he could not pay; | |
| I jogged his memory in a friendly way, | |
| Then took the law of him th’ affair to end; | 5 |
| The law to prison sent my worthy friend. | |
| He died there—not a farthing for poor me! | |
| I am not angry, though I’ve cause to be; | |
| His debt that very moment I forgave, | |
| And shed sad tears of sorrow o’er his grave. | 10 |
| A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
| And never injured anybody—never. | |
| |
| I sent a serf of mine to learn the dressing | |
| Of meat. He learned it—a good cook’s a blessing— | |
| But strangely did neglect his occupation, | 15 |
| And gained a taste not suited to his station: | |
| He liked to read, to reason, to discuss. | |
| I, tired of scolding, without further fuss | |
| Had the rogue flogged—all for the love of him. | |
| He went and drowned himself—what a strange whim! | 20 |
| A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
| And never injured anybody—never. | |
| |
| My silly daughter fell in love, one day, | |
| And with a tutor wished to run away. | |
| I threatened curses, and pronounced my ban; | 25 |
| She yielded, and espoused a rich old man. | |
| Their house was splendid, brimming o’er with wealth, | |
| But suddenly the poor child lost her health, | |
| And in a year consumption wrought her doom; | |
| She left us mourning o’er her early tomb. | 30 |
| A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
| And never injured anybody—never. | |
| |
