 | The White Pilgrim and Other Poems |  |
101
THESPIAN THEMES.
Of all the themes of mortal dreams
That make your sleep uneasy,
Sure never man had sweeter than
The form of Clara Vesey!
That make your sleep uneasy,
Sure never man had sweeter than
The form of Clara Vesey!
That shapely limb, with ankle slim,
A foot no boot can better, a
Neat calf, and knee in symmetry,
And fairy waist, etcetera,
A foot no boot can better, a
Neat calf, and knee in symmetry,
And fairy waist, etcetera,
Across your glance will seem to dance,
And at your studies tease ye,
And make you swear that never were
Charms like them, Clara Vesey!
And at your studies tease ye,
And make you swear that never were
Charms like them, Clara Vesey!
The wealthiest fair in Belgrave Square
(Or else I little know them),
Would gladly owe a plum or so,
To have them, and to show them.
(Or else I little know them),
Would gladly owe a plum or so,
To have them, and to show them.
102
The sagest dame of school-board fame,
Of mind and mien commanding,
Would give her lore and something more,
For Clara's understanding;
Of mind and mien commanding,
Would give her lore and something more,
For Clara's understanding;
And could it ape that perfect shape
(Although the thought be shocking),
Would offer to the public view
The whole of her blue stocking.
(Although the thought be shocking),
Would offer to the public view
The whole of her blue stocking.
The most sedate heads in the State,
As Cardwell, Selborne, Earl Grey,
Would dazzled be those gems to see,
So featly cased in pearl-grey.
As Cardwell, Selborne, Earl Grey,
Would dazzled be those gems to see,
So featly cased in pearl-grey.
They cannot shun comparison,
For sure as eggs men call eggs,
The only rage upon the stage
Is legs, and legs, and more legs!
For sure as eggs men call eggs,
The only rage upon the stage
Is legs, and legs, and more legs!
They come in hose of pink and rose,
In black and blue and yellow,
In green and red, and turn the head
Of many a simple fellow.
In black and blue and yellow,
In green and red, and turn the head
Of many a simple fellow.
There's long, there's short, there's every sort
Of make that's been since Adam;
Some girls are known to wear their own,
And some believed to pad 'em.
Of make that's been since Adam;
Some girls are known to wear their own,
And some believed to pad 'em.
103
But well I wot, with pads or not,
There's ne'er a one of these is
(My style is gone) a “patch” upon
Enchanting Clara Vesey's.
There's ne'er a one of these is
(My style is gone) a “patch” upon
Enchanting Clara Vesey's.
My pretty page, could I engage
“Supporters” half so clever,
Oh, I'd behave like Geneviève,
And “run” on them for ever.
“Supporters” half so clever,
Oh, I'd behave like Geneviève,
And “run” on them for ever.
| The White Pilgrim and Other Poems | |