Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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AN INVITATION. |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
138
AN INVITATION.
To the Wits how writeth Crœsus?
“Gracious Heav'n hath freely giv'n
Wealth, and now of Wit we're fain;
Clever Talker,—Thinker,—Poet,—
Come and amuse us, lull us, please us;
Let's each other entertain.
(But never thwart us, never tease us;
If you do, we'd have you know it,
Men of scanty dish and cup,
Not the least bit or sup
Of our feast shall fall your way).
Come, friends, come, talk and dine,
Drink our wine, and let's be gay!
Thought, song, wit, are pretty things;
On nimble wings around they flit,
Tame little birds, and gently sit
With pleasant twitter—wit-wit-twit!
Our world, the solid and the true,
Likes its decorations too,
And we embellish it with you,
When we've nothing else to do.
“Gracious Heav'n hath freely giv'n
Wealth, and now of Wit we're fain;
Clever Talker,—Thinker,—Poet,—
Come and amuse us, lull us, please us;
Let's each other entertain.
(But never thwart us, never tease us;
If you do, we'd have you know it,
Men of scanty dish and cup,
Not the least bit or sup
Of our feast shall fall your way).
Come, friends, come, talk and dine,
Drink our wine, and let's be gay!
Thought, song, wit, are pretty things;
On nimble wings around they flit,
Tame little birds, and gently sit
With pleasant twitter—wit-wit-twit!
Our world, the solid and the true,
Likes its decorations too,
And we embellish it with you,
When we've nothing else to do.
Food and flattery ready—come!
Eat, drink, make yourselves at home;
Nothing ever do or say
Which might vex us, while you stay;
Ere you bore us, go away;
And come again some other day.”
Eat, drink, make yourselves at home;
Nothing ever do or say
Which might vex us, while you stay;
Ere you bore us, go away;
And come again some other day.”
This is not how Crœsus writeth:
Much more blandly he inviteth.
Much more blandly he inviteth.
| Life and Phantasy | |