 | Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights |  |
22
THE BELLES OF TONTINE.
A LYRIC IN PRAISE OF FAIR LADIES.
In this city, in the Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwells the Lady Ellen-Mary,
Who is of her charms so chary,
That opinions never vary
Of her beauty in Tontine—
All agreeing she is Belle of this Tontine—
Cynosure of all the lesser lights that twinkle in Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwells the Lady Ellen-Mary,
Who is of her charms so chary,
That opinions never vary
Of her beauty in Tontine—
All agreeing she is Belle of this Tontine—
Cynosure of all the lesser lights that twinkle in Tontine.
But, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwells another Lady Mary,
Of whose charms opinions vary—
Lovers talking quite contrary
Of her beauty in Tontine;
All agreeing she will “do” for this Tontine—
But that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwells another Lady Mary,
Of whose charms opinions vary—
Lovers talking quite contrary
Of her beauty in Tontine;
All agreeing she will “do” for this Tontine—
But that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
Thus, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwell the two fair Virgin Maries,
Beautiful as two contraries
Can be, who are rival Fairies
Of each other in Tontine—
All agreeing each will “do” for this Tontine—
But that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwell the two fair Virgin Maries,
Beautiful as two contraries
Can be, who are rival Fairies
Of each other in Tontine—
All agreeing each will “do” for this Tontine—
But that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
So, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwells the one with eyes of azure,
Melting in her soul of pleasure,
Shedding love-light, without measure,
On her lovers in Tontine—
All agreeing she is Belle of this Tontine—
Cynosure of all the lesser lights that twinkle in Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
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Melting in her soul of pleasure,
Shedding love-light, without measure,
On her lovers in Tontine—
All agreeing she is Belle of this Tontine—
Cynosure of all the lesser lights that twinkle in Tontine.
But, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Shine the other's eyes, all darkling,
With the love-light in them sparkling,
Darker brows above them circling,
Making Heaven of this Tontine;
Though they say that she will “do” for this Tontine—
And that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Shine the other's eyes, all darkling,
With the love-light in them sparkling,
Darker brows above them circling,
Making Heaven of this Tontine;
Though they say that she will “do” for this Tontine—
And that Lady Ellen-Mary is the Belle of this Tontine.
Thus, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwell the two renowned in story,
And, that neither may be sorry,
I will crown them both with glory,
As the Belles of this Tontine—
Notwithstanding what was said, in this Tontine,
Of the Lady Ellen-Mary being Belle of this Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
Dwell the two renowned in story,
And, that neither may be sorry,
I will crown them both with glory,
As the Belles of this Tontine—
Notwithstanding what was said, in this Tontine,
Of the Lady Ellen-Mary being Belle of this Tontine.
Now, within this stately Palace,
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
These two golden Belles are ringing
In the Song that I am singing,
Which its way to Heaven goes winging
With these Beauties of Tontine—
Fiery chariot rising Heavenward from Tontine—
Bearing up these Belles to glory from the Chebar of Tontine.
Called the Tontine, kept by Allis,
Standing Eastward of the Eden of the Green—
These two golden Belles are ringing
In the Song that I am singing,
Which its way to Heaven goes winging
With these Beauties of Tontine—
Fiery chariot rising Heavenward from Tontine—
Bearing up these Belles to glory from the Chebar of Tontine.
Tontine Hotel, New Haven, August 10th, 1851.
| Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights | |