 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
167
JUST ONE DEFECT.
A PERSIAN FABLE.
Who buys a house, however fineIn architectural design,
And howsoever vast and grand
The prospect which it may command,
May very prudently explore
Concerning one condition more:
So Sadi sings, and tells of one,
Somewhere beneath the Persian sun,
Who thought to buy a mansion where
A foul-mouthed broker praised the air
And all things else, with eager voice:
“You could not make a better choice,”
The fellow bawled. “Now, look ye here!
I 've lived next door this twenty year,
And know the house is fairly worth
Ten times the price! There 's not on earth
A finer building! Just inspect
The place, and mention one defect!”
“Why, truly,” said the man, “I see
But one.” “Indeed! what may it be?”
“The house I should not reckon dear,
I think,—if yours were not so near!”
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |