| |
| STRANGELY ’wildered must I seem; | |
| I was married—in 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 Davia’s; 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 last—at 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, | |
| Fortune’s frail and flattered child, | |
| Spent our wealth, as if the day | 35 |
| Ne’er would dim or pass away; | |
| And—oh, 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, you’ll 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 money’s needed, | |
| Eloquence is superseded.” | |
| Then I talked of morals, but | |
| The good father’s ears were shut. | |
| With a fierce and frowning look | 55 |
| Off he drove me— And I woke. | |
| |
