i was it not a pleasant though, To set the pestilenes at rough, Chatting among sweet streams and flowers; jealous husbands, ekle wives, Of all the tricks which love contrives. STANZAS. WRITTEN IN LADY MYRTLE'S BOCCACCIO. BY THE AUTHOR OF "LILLIAN." I. IN these gay pages there is food For every mind, and every mood, Fair Lady, if you dare to spell them : Now merriment, now grief prevails; But yet the best of all the tales Is of the young group met to tell them. II. Oh, was it not a pleasant thought, To set the pestilence at nought, Chatting among sweet streams and flowers; Of jealous husbands, fickle wives, Of all the tricks which love contrives, To see through veils, and talk through towers? III. Lady, they say the fearful guest, Onward, still onward, to the west, Poised on his sulphurous wings, advances; Who, on the frozen river's banks, Has thinned the Russian despot's ranks, And marred the might of Warsaw's lances. IV. Another year-a brief, brief year! He comes with all his gloomy terrors; And virtue shudder at her errors. V. And there 'll be sermons in the street; Will wear the dismal garb of sorrow; He must have four new bays to-morrow. VI. But you shall fly from these dark signs, Ere from your cheek one rose is faded; And hide your youth and loveliness By walls fenced round, by huge trees shaded : VII. There brooks shall dance in light along, Must be, fair Lady, story telling. VIII. Be cautious how you choose your men : Scholars who read, or write the papers; IX. Avoid all youths who toil for praise By quoting Liston's last new phrase; Or sigh to leave high fame behind them; Take men of sense,-if you can find them. |