The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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| XII. |
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEE. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
136
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEE.
I
Fanny array'd in the bloom of her beauty,Stood at the mirror and toy'd with her hair,
Viewing her charms, till she felt it a duty
To own that like Fanny no woman was fair.
A bee from the garden,—oh, what could mislead him?—
Stray'd through the lattice new dainties to seek,
And lighting on Fanny, too busy to heed him,
Stung the sweet maid on her delicate cheek.
II
Smarting with pain, round the chamber she sought him,Tears in her eyes, and revenge in her heart,
And angrily cried, when at last she had caught him,
“Die for the deed, little wretch that thou art!”
Stooping to crush him, the hapless offender
Pray'd her for mercy,—to hear and forgive:
“Oh, spare me!” he cried, “By those eyes in their “splendour;
“Oh, pity my fault, and allow me to live!
III
“Am I to blame that your cheeks are like roses,“Whose hues all the pride of the garden eclipse?
“Lilies are hid in your mouth when it closes,
“And odours of Araby breathe from your lips.”
137
“Small is the fault, pretty bee, you deplore;
“And e'en were it greater, forgiveness is virtue;—
“Go forth and be happy—I blame you no more.”
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |