No! mine was a joke for the ages; Full of intricate meaning and étépith; A feast for your scholars and sages— How it would have rejoiced Sydney Smith! ’Tis such thoughts that ennoble a mortal; And, singling him out from the herd, Fling wide immortality’s portal— But what was the word?
Ah me! ’tis a bootless endeavor. As the flight of a bird of the air Is the flight of a joke—you will never See the same one again, you may swear. ’Twas my firstborn, and O how I prized it! My darling, my treasure, my own! This brain and none other devised it— And now it has flown. _Charles Stuart Calverley._
CANST thou love me, lady? I’ve not learn’d to woo; Thou art on the shady Side of sixty, too. Still I love thee dearly! Thou hast lands and pelf: But I love thee merely Merely for thyself.
Wilt thou love me, fairest? Though thou art not fair; And I think thou wearest Someone-else’s hair. Thou could’st love, though, dearly; And, as I am told, Thou art very nearly Worth thy weight in gold.
Dost thou love me, sweet one? Tell me that thou dost! Women fairly beat one, But I think thou must. Thou art loved so dearly: I am plain, but then Thou (to speak sincerely) Art as plain again.
Love me, bashful fairy! I’ve an empty purse: And I’ve “moods,” which vary; Mostly for the worst. Still, I love thee dearly: Though I make (I feel) Love a little queerly, I’m as true as steel.
Love me, swear to love me (As you know, they do) By yon heaven above me And its changeless blue. Love me, lady, dearly, If you’ll be so good; Though I don’t see clearly On what ground you should.
Love me—ah! or love me Not, but be my bride! Do not simply shove me (So to speak) aside! P’raps it would be dearly Purchased at the price; But a hundred yearly Would be very nice. _Charles Stuart Calverley._
SINCE we parted yester eve, I do love thee, love, believe, Twelve times dearer, twelve hours longer, One dream deeper, one night stronger, One sun surer,—thus much more Than I loved thee, love, before. _Owen Meredith._
UPON the railway train we met— She had the softest, bluest eyes, A face you never could forget— “Sixteen” with all that that implies. I knew her once a little girl, And meeting now a mutual friend, Our thoughts and hearts got in a whirl; We talked for miles without much end,