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STRANGELY wildered must I seem; | |
I was marriedin a dream. | |
Oh, the ecstasy of bliss! | |
Brother, what a joy is this! | |
Think about it, and confess | 5 |
Tis a storm of happiness, | |
And the memory is to me | |
Sunbeams. But fifteen was she: | |
Cheeks of roses red and white; | |
Mouth like Davias; eyes of light, | 10 |
Fiery, round, of raven hue, | |
Swimming, but coquettish too; | |
Ivory teeth; lips fresh as dew; | |
Bosom beauteous; hand of down; | |
Fairy foot. She stood alone | 15 |
In her graces. She was mine, | |
And I drank her charms divine. * * * * * | |
Yet, in early years our schemes | |
Are, alas! but shadowy dreams. | |
For a season they deceive, | 20 |
Then our souls in darkness leave. | |
Oft the bowl the water bears, | |
But tis useless soon with years; | |
First it cracks, and then it leaks, | |
And at lastat last it breaks. | 25 |
All things with beginning tend | |
To their melancholy end: | |
So her beauty fled. * * * * * | |
Then did anger, care, and malice | |
Mingle up their bitter chalice. | 30 |
Riches like the whirlwind flew, | |
Honors, gifts, and friendships too; | |
And my lovely wife, so mild, | |
Fortunes frail and flattered child, | |
Spent our wealth, as if the day | 35 |
Neer would dim or pass away; | |
Andoh, monstrous thought!the fair | |
Scratched my eyes and tore my hair. | |
Naught but misery was our guest. | |
Then I sought the parish priest: | 40 |
Father, grant me a divorce. | |
Nay, youll grant it me, of course; | |
Reasons many can be given | |
Reasons both of earth and heaven. | |
I know all you wish to say. | 45 |
Have you wherewithal to pay? | |
Money is a thing, of course | |
Money may obtain divorce. | |
Reverend father, hear me, please ye | |
Tis not an affair so easy. | 50 |
Silence, child! Where moneys needed, | |
Eloquence is superseded. | |
Then I talked of morals, but | |
The good fathers ears were shut. | |
With a fierce and frowning look | 55 |
Off he drove me And I woke. | |
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