 | The complete poetical works of Thomas Hood |  |
TO FANNY
‘Gay being, born to flutter.’
—Sale's Glee.
—Sale's Glee.
Is this your faith, then, Fanny!
What, to chat with every Dun!
I'm the one, then, but of many,
Not of many, but the One!
What, to chat with every Dun!
I'm the one, then, but of many,
Not of many, but the One!
Last night you smil'd on all, Ma'am,
That appear'd in scarlet dress;
And your Regimental Ball, Ma'am,
Look'd a little like a Mess.
That appear'd in scarlet dress;
And your Regimental Ball, Ma'am,
Look'd a little like a Mess.
I thought that of the Sogers
(As the Scotch say) one might do,
And that I, slight Ensign Rogers,
Was the chosen man and true.
(As the Scotch say) one might do,
And that I, slight Ensign Rogers,
Was the chosen man and true.
But 'Sblood! your eye was busy
With that ragamuffin mob;—
Colonel Buddell—Colonel Dizzy—
And Lieutenant-Colonel Cobb.
With that ragamuffin mob;—
Colonel Buddell—Colonel Dizzy—
And Lieutenant-Colonel Cobb.
General Joblin, General Jodkin,
Colonels—Kelly, Felly, with
Majors—Sturgeon, Truffle, Bodkin,
And the Quarter-master Smith.
Colonels—Kelly, Felly, with
Majors—Sturgeon, Truffle, Bodkin,
And the Quarter-master Smith.
Major Powderum—Major Dowdrum—
Major Chowdrum—Major Bye—
Captain Tawney—Captain Fawney,
Captain Any-one—but I!
Major Chowdrum—Major Bye—
Captain Tawney—Captain Fawney,
Captain Any-one—but I!
Deuce take it! when the regiment
You so praised, I only thought
That you lov'd it in abridgment,
But I now am better taught!
You so praised, I only thought
That you lov'd it in abridgment,
But I now am better taught!
I went, as loving man goes,
To admire thee in quadrilles;
But Fan, you dance fandangoes
With just any fop that wills!
To admire thee in quadrilles;
But Fan, you dance fandangoes
With just any fop that wills!
I went with notes before us,
On the lay of Love to touch;
But with all the Corps in chorus,
Oh! it is indeed too much!
On the lay of Love to touch;
But with all the Corps in chorus,
Oh! it is indeed too much!
You once—ere you contracted
For the army—seem'd my own;
But now you laugh with all the Staff,
And I may sigh alone!—
For the army—seem'd my own;
But now you laugh with all the Staff,
And I may sigh alone!—
268
I know not how it chances,
When my passion ever dares,
But the warmer my advances,
Then the cooler are your airs.
When my passion ever dares,
But the warmer my advances,
Then the cooler are your airs.
I am, I don't conceal it,
But I am a little hurt;
You're a Fan, and I must feel it,
Fit for nothing but a Flirt!
But I am a little hurt;
You're a Fan, and I must feel it,
Fit for nothing but a Flirt!
I dreamt thy smiles of beauty
On myself alone did fall;
But, alas! ‘Cosi Fan Tutti!’
It is thus, Fan, thus will all!
On myself alone did fall;
But, alas! ‘Cosi Fan Tutti!’
It is thus, Fan, thus will all!
You have taken quite a mob in
Of new military flames;—
They would make a fine Round Robin
If I gave you all their names!
Of new military flames;—
They would make a fine Round Robin
If I gave you all their names!
| The complete poetical works of Thomas Hood | |