 | Quo Musa Tendis? |  |
18
To a Rejected Lover.
Friend, why so gloomy? why so glum?
Why such a dull lack-lustre eye?
At festive meetings why so dumb?
From dearest friend so apt to fly?
You must have got a reason: come!
Why such a dull lack-lustre eye?
At festive meetings why so dumb?
From dearest friend so apt to fly?
You must have got a reason: come!
I know she's young, I know she's fair;
I know she's beautiful and sweet:
I know her wealth of golden hair,
Her sunny eyes, her tiny feet;
I do not bid you not despair
I know she's beautiful and sweet:
I know her wealth of golden hair,
Her sunny eyes, her tiny feet;
I do not bid you not despair
Of ever being more to her
Than half a dozen other men:
She's going, if I do not err
To marry some one else: what then?
I see no cause for such a stir.
Than half a dozen other men:
She's going, if I do not err
To marry some one else: what then?
I see no cause for such a stir.
It isn't what one hasn't got
That ought to quench the light of life:
It's what one loses: is it not?
It's death, or treason in a wife:
It's finding one's unhappy lot
That ought to quench the light of life:
It's what one loses: is it not?
It's death, or treason in a wife:
It's finding one's unhappy lot
19
Comprises foes, and friends untrue,
Grief, worry, sickness, even crime:
And I should only pity you,
If aught of these should come with time:
Not blame you as I own I do.
Grief, worry, sickness, even crime:
And I should only pity you,
If aught of these should come with time:
Not blame you as I own I do.
You haven't got a thousand pounds:
You cannot write yourself M.P.:
There are not any solid grounds
For thinking you will ever be
A very famous man: but, zounds!
You cannot write yourself M.P.:
There are not any solid grounds
For thinking you will ever be
A very famous man: but, zounds!
You don't, on that account, exclaim
That life's a curse, or birth a blight,
Nor do you minimise, or blame,
Such merits as are yours by right:
Well, be your conduct still the same!
That life's a curse, or birth a blight,
Nor do you minimise, or blame,
Such merits as are yours by right:
Well, be your conduct still the same!
From what you haven't gaily turn
To what you have: the world's alive:
Still pulses beat, still passions burn:
There's still to work, there's still to strive:
The cure is easy to discern.
To what you have: the world's alive:
Still pulses beat, still passions burn:
There's still to work, there's still to strive:
The cure is easy to discern.
I do not bid you to forget,
Nor say that she is full of flaws,
Nor rail on womankind: nor yet
Bestow a meed of just applause
On Amabel, or Violet:
Nor say that she is full of flaws,
Nor rail on womankind: nor yet
Bestow a meed of just applause
On Amabel, or Violet:
20
Nor say the sea is full of fish
As good as those which others catch:
Indeed I do not greatly wish
To urge you to another match:
I only say that life's a dish
As good as those which others catch:
Indeed I do not greatly wish
To urge you to another match:
I only say that life's a dish
Well worth the eating, even when
You cannot get the sauce you like;
You have a pair of hands, a pen,
A tongue: I've seen you work, and strike
A blow worth striking now and then.
You cannot get the sauce you like;
You have a pair of hands, a pen,
A tongue: I've seen you work, and strike
A blow worth striking now and then.
So don't be gloomy, don't be glum,
Nor give a thought to what you lack:
Take what you have: no longer dumb
Nor idle; hit misfortune back,
And own that I have reason: come!
Nor give a thought to what you lack:
Take what you have: no longer dumb
Nor idle; hit misfortune back,
And own that I have reason: come!
| Quo Musa Tendis? | |