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210

A SPANISH FANDANGO.

Around the sawdust ring there rode
A comely circus rider,
Alfonso's cheeks with pleasure glowed
Whenever he espied her.
In sooth he owned he was no churl
And couldn't see the harm in
Tomfooling with this pretty girl—
The Senorita Carmen.
“The queen I fear is up to snuff—
I pri' thee don't defy 'er,”
Advised a certain courtier gruff—
Don Jesus H. Maria.
Alas the king was gone too far
For sober second thinking—
He tipped the girl a tra-la-la
With multifarious winking.
Then did the queen, Alfonso's bride,
Wax straightway hot as fire,
And call the courtier to her side—
Don Jesus H. Maria.
211

“Oh, take me from this dreadful place,”
The lady 'gan to bellow,
“I'll look no more upon his face—
The horrid, nasty fellow!”
“But stay, woman, the king hath eyes,
And cannot help admire,”
In palliation then replies
Don Jesus H. Maria.
But no, she was of stubborn mind,
So scorning “ifs” and “maybes”,
And leaving king and court behind,
She sloped with both her babies.
Then made the court a vast ado—
Loud wailed the royal sire—
And long repined the courtier, too,
Don Jesus H. Maria.
July 10th, 1883.
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