 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
HOW TO BE AN ANGEL.
“He needed only the handsome young lady model ------ some
long white drapery, and a pair of goose's wings, and he would manufacture
your popular modern angel with the greatest ease.”—G. D.
Leslie, R.A.
If you have the usual charms—
Never mind affection—
Radiant eyes and rounded arms,
Pink and white complexion;
Though not strictly all your own,
Soft and sunny tresses,
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Meant for kind caresses;
Lips, that while they murmur nay—
This I should not mention—
As they sweetly pout and play,
Yet invite attention.
If your costume, comme il faut,
Just sets off your graces,
With the appendage of a beau
Broken to your paces;
Yet in this your dainty store,
Fashion is a fetter,
Need you find of beauty more,
Sigh for something better;
Fancy with the pink and white,
Which of Heaven is relic,
You have feelings fitted quite
For a course angelic;
Seek not doctor nor divine
For the one fair finish,
That your spirit will refine
Earthliness diminish;
Trouble not your favourite church,
Try not chosen chapel,
Push not far a doubtful search
For forbidden apple;
Help is at your very door,
Never dreamed by Wesley,
Freely offered the most poor—
Witness G. D. Leslie!
Yes, if you would angel be,
If no more capricious,
Worldly vanities you flee,
Piously ambitious;
If you do indeed aspire
For celestial sailing,—
Ever walk in white attire,
Snowy garments trailing;
And, whatever fortune bring,
Ere the day is older,
Clap—its cheap—a goose's wing,
On each pretty shoulder!
Then, above these earthly rocks,
Plumed by Art's prescription,
You can fly from stumbling “stocks,”
Plagues and “Bonds Egyptian”;
Ah, you then may yet attain
To a loftier stature,
If (what art cannot ordain)
Goose you are by nature.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |