 | Under Green Leaves |  |
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OBVERSE AND REVERSE.
PART I.—THE EMPRESS.
I
Scant and frosty is my hair,Age and care
Clog my pulses, thin my blood,—
I would give my royal crown,
Gem-bestud,
Purple robes and ermine-down,
For the tresses rich and brown
Of a clown:
I would yield up gold and pearl,
For the bright eyes of a girl;
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For a country maiden's health;
Duchies wide—
All my pride—
All my armies—all my ships,
For the blood of youthful lips.
II
At my palace-window oft—Up aloft,
Looking down the crowded street.
I behold the maidens go,
Brisk of feet
To the market or the show,
Laughing, tripping to and fro
In a row;
And could hate them—woe is me,—
For their light limbs moving free,
For their brisk elastic tread,
For their cheeks like cherries red,
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Flowing fair!—
Oh! the May-time I have lost;
Oh! the nipping of the Frost!
PART II.—THE SEMPSTRESS.
I
I wish I were an Empress,And had a crown to wear,
A stomacher of diamonds,
And pearls to deck my hair,
And a train of purple velvet
For noblemen to bear.
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II
I wish I were an Empress,And sat upon a throne,
Receiving great ambassadors
From every clime and zone;
With princes at my footstool
To make my pleasure known.
III
I wish I were an Empress,And rode a prancing bay,
Amid my people shouting
And garlanding my way;
With trumpeters before me—
Tooroo!—Tooroo!—Tooray!
IV
I wish I were an Empress—The glory of the land,
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Contending for my hand,
Which I should scorn to give them—
Let all men understand;
V
Which I should scorn to give them,As far too great a prize,
Unless to some one handsome,
And brave, and good, and wise,
Who loved me more than kingdoms,
For the twinkle of mine eyes.
VI
I wish I were an Empress,My crown upon my head;—
I'd feed the poor man's orphans
Who lack'd their daily bread,
And give each maid a dowry,
Who needed one to wed.
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VII
I wish I were an Empress—Alas, my cruel fate!
I'm nothing but a pretty girl,
And toil both hard and late,
And waste my youth in sighing—
Too poor to find a mate!
| Under Green Leaves | |