The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe Household Edition : with illustrations |
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THE CHAPEL OF TWO SAINTS. |
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 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
THE CHAPEL OF TWO SAINTS.
In a famous Tuscan city
Stands a chapel snug and small;
Some old penitent's oblation,
With a double dedication,
To St. Peter and St. Paul.
Stands a chapel snug and small;
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With a double dedication,
To St. Peter and St. Paul.
To a soul so stoutly guarded
What of evil could befall?
When was ever plan completer
Without robbery of Peter,
Paying thus his due to Paul?
What of evil could befall?
When was ever plan completer
Without robbery of Peter,
Paying thus his due to Paul?
There it was I saw a lady,
Very round and ripe and tall;
Surely never face was sweeter
Than she turned upon St. Peter,
After bowing to St. Paul.
Very round and ripe and tall;
Surely never face was sweeter
Than she turned upon St. Peter,
After bowing to St. Paul.
Long and ardently I worshiped,—
Not the Saints, nor yet their Master,
But my feminine ideal;
Mea culpa! she was real
Flesh and blood, and they were plaster!
Not the Saints, nor yet their Master,
But my feminine ideal;
Mea culpa! she was real
Flesh and blood, and they were plaster!
Good St. Anthony was tempted,
Though a frigid old divine
(Showing saints are only human),
But he never saw a woman
Half so beautiful as mine!
Though a frigid old divine
(Showing saints are only human),
But he never saw a woman
Half so beautiful as mine!
Pardon then my bad behavior
(Thus upon the twain I call),
As if you were in my case,
And were asking special grace
Of St. Peter and St. Paul!
(Thus upon the twain I call),
As if you were in my case,
And were asking special grace
Of St. Peter and St. Paul!
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |