Ballads

  Little KITTY LORIMER,
    Fair, and young, and witty,
  What has brought your ladyship
    Rambling to the City?

  All the Stags in Capel Court
    Saw her lightly trip it;
  All the lads of Stock Exchange
    Twigg'd her muff and tippet.

  With a sweet perplexity,
    And a mystery pretty,
  Threading through Threadneedle Street,
    Trots the little KITTY.

  What was my astonishment—
    What was my compunction,
  When she reached the Offices
    Of the Didland Junction!

  Up the Didland stairs she went,
    To the Didland door, Sir;
  Porters lost in wonderment,
    Let her pass before, Sir.

  "Madam," says the old chief Clerk,
    "Sure we can't admit ye."
  "Where's the Didland Junction deed?"
   Dauntlessly says KITTY.

  "If you doubt my honesty,
    Look at my receipt, Sir."
  Up then jumps the old chief Clerk,
    Smiling as he meets her.

  KITTY at the table sits
    (Whither the old Clerk leads her),
  "I deliver this," she says,
    "As my act and deed, Sir."

  When I heard these funny words
    Come from lips so pretty;
  This, I thought, should surely be
    Subject for a ditty.

  What! are ladies stagging it?
    Sure, the more's the pity;
  But I've lost my heart to her,—
    Naughty little KITTY.

  (IN REPLY TO AN INVITATION DATED ON THE 1ST.)

  By fate's benevolent award,
    Should I survive the day,
  I'll drink a bumper with my lord
    Upon the last of May.

  That I may reach that happy time
    The kindly gods I pray,
  For are not ducks and pease in prime
    Upon the last of May?

  At thirty boards, 'twixt now and then,
    My knife and fork shall play;
  But better wine and better men
    I shall not meet in May.

  And though, good friend, with whom I dine,
    Your honest head is gray,
  And, like this grizzled head of mine,
    Has seen its last of May;

  Yet, with a heart that's ever kind,
    A gentle spirit gay,
  You've spring perennial in your mind,
    And round you make a May!

  Ah! bleak and barren was the moor,
    Ah! loud and piercing was the storm,
  The cottage roof was shelter'd sure,
    The cottage hearth was bright and warm—
  An orphan-boy the lattice pass'd,
    And, as he mark'd its cheerful glow,
  Felt doubly keen the midnight blast,
    And doubly cold the fallen snow.

  They marked him as he onward press'd,
    With fainting heart and weary limb;
  Kind voices bade him turn and rest,
    And gentle faces welcomed him.
  The dawn is up—the guest is gone,
    The cottage hearth is blazing still:
  Heaven pity all poor wanderers lone!
    Hark to the wind upon the hill!

  A humble flower long time I pined
    Upon the solitary plain,
  And trembled at the angry wind,
    And shrunk before the bitter rain.
  And oh! 'twas in a blessed hour
    A passing wanderer chanced to see,
  And, pitying the lonely flower,
    To stoop and gather me.

  I fear no more the tempest rude,
    On dreary heath no more I pine,
  But left my cheerless solitude,
    To deck the breast of Caroline.
  Alas our days are brief at best,
    Nor long I fear will mine endure,
  Though shelter'd here upon a breast
    So gentle and so pure.

  It draws the fragrance from my leaves,
    It robs me of my sweetest breath,
  And every time it falls and heaves,
    It warns me of my coming death.
  But one I know would glad forego
    All joys of life to be as I;
  An hour to rest on that sweet breast,
    And then, contented, die!

  Beside the old hall-fire—upon my nurse's knee,
  Of happy fairy days—what tales were told to me!
  I thought the world was once—all peopled with princesses,
  And my heart would beat to hear—their loves and their distresses:
  And many a quiet night,—in slumber sweet and deep,
  The pretty fairy people—would visit me in sleep.

  I saw them in my dreams—come flying east and west,
  With wondrous fairy gifts—the newborn babe they bless'd;
  One has brought a jewel—and one a crown of gold,
  And one has brought a curse—but she is wrinkled and old.
  The gentle queen turns pale—to hear those words of sin,
  But the king he only laughs—and bids the dance begin.

  The babe has grown to be—the fairest of the land,
  And rides the forest green—a hawk upon her hand,
  An ambling palfrey white—a golden robe and crown:
  I've seen her in my dreams—riding up and down:
  And heard the ogre laugh—as she fell into his snare,
  At the little tender creature—who wept and tore her hair!

  But ever when it seemed—her need was at the sorest,
  A prince in shining mail—comes prancing through the forest,
  A waving ostrich-plume—a buckler burnished bright;
  I've seen him in my dreams—good sooth! a gallant knight.
  His lips are coral red—beneath a dark moustache;
  See how he waves his hand—and how his blue eyes flash!

  "Come forth, thou Paynim knight!"—he shouts in accents clear.
  The giant and the maid—both tremble his voice to hear.
  Saint Mary guard him well!—he draws his falchion keen,
  The giant and the knight—are fighting on the green.
  I see them in my dreams—his blade gives stroke on stroke,
  The giant pants and reels—and tumbles like an oak!

  With what a blushing grace—he falls upon his knee
  And takes the lady's hand—and whispers, "You are free!"
  Ah! happy childish tales—of knight and faërie!
  I waken from my dreams—but there's ne'er a knight for me;
  I waken from my dreams—and wish that I could be
  A child by the old hall-fire—upon my nurse's knee!

  Wearied arm and broken sword
    Wage in vain the desperate fight:
  Round him press a countless horde,
    He is but a single knight.
  Hark! a cry of triumph shrill
    Through the wilderness resounds,
  As, with twenty bleeding wounds,
    Sinks the warrior, fighting still.

  Now they heap the fatal pyre,
    And the torch of death they light:
  Ah! 'tis hard to die of fire!
    Who will shield the captive knight?
  Round the stake with fiendish cry
    Wheel and dance the savage crowd,
  Cold the victim's mien, and proud.
    And his breast is bared to die.

  Who will shield the fearless heart?
    Who avert the murderous blade?
  From the throng, with sudden start,
    See there springs an Indian maid.
  Quick she stands before the knight,
    "Loose the chain, unbind the ring,
  I am daughter of the king,
    And I claim the Indian right!"

  Dauntlessly aside she flings
    Lifted axe and thirsty knife;
  Fondly to his heart she clings,
    And her bosom guards his life!
  In the woods of Powhattan,
    Still 'tis told by Indian fires,
  How a daughter of their sires
    Saved the captive Englishman.

  Returning from the cruel fight
  How pale and faint appears my knight!
  He sees me anxious at his side;
  "Why seek, my love, your wounds to hide?
  Or deem your English girl afraid
  To emulate the Indian maid?"

  Be mine my husband's grief to cheer
  In peril to be ever near;
  Whate'er of ill or woe betide,
  To bear it clinging at his side;
  The poisoned stroke of fate to ward,
  His bosom with my own to guard:
  Ah! could it spare a pang to his,
  It could not know a purer bliss!
  'Twould gladden as it felt the smart,
  And thank the hand that flung the dart!

  THE MAYFAIR LOVE-SONG.

  Winter and summer, night and morn,
    I languish at this table dark;
  My office window has a corn-
    er looks into St. James's Park.
  I hear the foot-guards' bugle-horn,
    Their tramp upon parade I mark;
  I am a gentleman forlorn,
    I am a Foreign-Office Clerk.

  My toils, my pleasures, every one,
    I find are stale, and dull, and slow;
  And yesterday, when work was done,
    I felt myself so sad and low,
  I could have seized a sentry's gun
    My wearied brains out out to blow.
  What is it makes my blood to run?
    What makes my heart to beat and glow?

  My notes of hand are burnt, perhaps?
    Some one has paid my tailor's bill?
  No: every morn the tailor raps;
    My I O U's are extant still.
  I still am prey of debt and dun;
    My elder brother's stout and well.
  What is it makes my blood to run?
    What makes my heart to glow and swell?

  I know my chief's distrust and hate;
    He says I'm lazy, and I shirk.
  Ah! had I genius like the late
    Right Honorable Edmund Burke!
  My chance of all promotion's gone,
    I know it is,—he hates me so.
  What is it makes my blood to run,
    And all my heart to swell and glow?

  Why, why is all so bright and gay?
    There is no change, there is no cause;
  My office-time I found to-day
    Disgusting as it ever was.
  At three, I went and tried the Clubs,
    And yawned and saunter'd to and fro;
  And now my heart jumps up and throbs,
    And all my soul is in a glow.

  At half-past four I had the cab;
    I drove as hard as I could go.
  The London sky was dirty drab,
    And dirty brown the London snow.
  And as I rattled in a cant-
    er down by dear old Bolton Row,
  A something made my heart to pant,
    And caused my cheek to flush and glow.

  What could it be that made me find
    Old Jawkins pleasant at the Club?
  Why was it that I laughed and grinned
    At whist, although I lost the rub?
  What was it made me drink like mad
    Thirteen small glasses of Curaço?
  That made my inmost heart so glad,
    And every fibre thrill and glow?

  She's home again! she's home, she's home!
    Away all cares and griefs and pain;
  I knew she would—she's back from Rome;
    She's home again! she's home again!
  "The family's gone abroad," they said,
    September last they told me so;
  Since then my lonely heart is dead,
    My blood I think's forgot to flow.

  She's home again! away all care!
    O fairest form the world can show!
  O beaming eyes!  O golden hair!
    O tender voice, that breathes so low!
  O gentlest, softest, purest heart!
    O joy, O hope!—"My tiger, ho!"
  Fitz-Clarence said; we saw him start—
    He galloped down to Bolton Row.

  THE ROCKS.

  I was a timid little antelope;
  My home was in the rocks, the lonely rocks.

  I saw the hunters scouring on the plain;
  I lived among the rocks, the lonely rocks.

  I was a-thirsty in the summer-heat;
  I ventured to the tents beneath the rocks.

  Zuleikah brought me water from the well;
  Since then I have been faithless to the rocks.

  I saw her face reflected in the well;
  Her camels since have marched into the rocks.

  I look to see her image in the well;
  I only see my eyes, my own sad eyes.
  My mother is alone among the rocks.

  ZULEIKAH!  The young Agas in the bazaar are slim-wasted and wear
  yellow slippers.  I am old and hideous.  One of my eyes is out, and
  the hairs of my beard are mostly gray.  Praise be to Allah!  I am a
  merry bard.

  There is a bird upon the terrace of the Emir's chief wife.  Praise
  be to Allah!  He has emeralds on his neck, and a ruby tail.  I am a
  merry bard.  He deafens me with his diabolical screaming.

  There is a little brown bird in the basket-maker's cage.  Praise be
  to Allah!  He ravishes my soul in the moonlight.  I am a merry bard.

  The peacock is an Aga, but the little bird is a Bulbul.

  I am a little brown Bulbul.  Come and listen in the moonlight.
  Praise be to Allah!  I am a merry bard.

  Yonder to the kiosk, beside the creek,
  Paddle the swift caïque.
  Thou brawny oarsman with the sunburnt cheek,
  Quick! for it soothes my heart to hear the Bulbul speak.

  Ferry me quickly to the Asian shores,
  Swift bending to your oars.
  Beneath the melancholy sycamores,
  Hark! what a ravishing note the lovelorn Bulbul pours.

  Behold, the boughs seem quivering with delight,
  The stars themselves more bright,
  As mid the waving branches out of sight
  The Lover of the Rose sits singing through the night.

  Under the boughs I sat and listened still,
  I could not have my fill.
  "How comes," I said, "such music to his bill?
  Tell me for whom he sings so beautiful a trill."

  "Once I was dumb," then did the Bird disclose,
  "But looked upon the Rose;
  And in the garden where the loved one grows,
  I straightway did begin sweet music to compose."

  "O bird of song, there's one in this caïque
  The Rose would also seek,
  So he might learn like you to love and speak."
  Then answered me the bird of dusky beak,
  "The Rose, the Rose of Love blushes on Leilah's cheek."

  Beneath the gold acacia buds
  My gentle Nora sits and broods,
  Far, far away in Boston woods
                  My gentle Nora!

  I see the tear-drop in her e'e,
  Her bosom's heaving tenderly;
  I know—I know she thinks of me,
                  My Darling Nora!

  And where am I?  My love, whilst thou
  Sitt'st sad beneath the acacia bough,
  Where pearl's on neck, and wreath on brow,
                  I stand, my Nora!

  Mid carcanet and coronet,
  Where joy-lamps shine and flowers are set—
  Where England's chivalry are met,
                  Behold me, Nora!

  In this strange scene of revelry,
  Amidst this gorgeous chivalry,
  A form I saw was like to thee,
                  My love—my Nora!

  She paused amidst her converse glad;
  The lady saw that I was sad,
  She pitied the poor lonely lad,—
                  Dost love her, Nora?

  In sooth, she is a lovely dame,
  A lip of red, and eye of flame,
  And clustering golden locks, the same
                  As thine, dear Nora?

  Her glance is softer than the dawn's,
  Her foot is lighter than the fawn's,
  Her breast is whiter than the swan's,
                  Or thine, my Nora!

  Oh, gentle breast to pity me!
  Oh, lovely Ladye Emily!
  Till death—till death I'll think of thee—
                  Of thee and Nora!

  I seem, in the midst of the crowd,
    The lightest of all;
  My laughter rings cheery and loud,
    In banquet and ball.
  My lip hath its smiles and its sneers,
    For all men to see;
  But my soul, and my truth, and my tears,
    Are for thee, are for thee!

  Around me they flatter and fawn—
    The young and the old.
  The fairest are ready to pawn
    Their hearts for my gold.
  They sue me—I laugh as I spurn
    The slaves at my knee;
  But in faith and in fondness I turn
    Unto thee, unto thee!

  Now the toils of day are over,
    And the sun hath sunk to rest,
  Seeking, like a fiery lover,
    The bosom of the blushing west—

  The faithful night keeps watch and ward,
    Raising the moon her silver shield,
  And summoning the stars to guard
    The slumbers of my fair Mathilde!

  The faithful night!  Now all things lie
    Hid by her mantle dark and dim,
  In pious hope I hither hie,
    And humbly chant mine ev'ning hymn.

  Thou art my prayer, my saint, my shrine!
    (For never holy pilgrim kneel'd,
  Or wept at feet more pure than thine),
    My virgin love, my sweet Mathilde!

  Tink-a-tink, tink-a-tink,
    By the light of the star,
  On the blue river's brink,
    I heard a guitar.

  I heard a guitar,
    On the blue waters clear,
  And knew by its music,
    That Selim was near!

  Tink-a-tink, tink-a-tink,
    How the soft music swells,
  And I hear the soft clink
    Of the minaret bells!

      Come to the greenwood tree,
      Come where the dark woods be,
      Dearest, O come with me!
  Let us rove—O my love—O my love!

      Come—'tis the moonlight hour,
      Dew is on leaf and flower,
      Come to the linden bower,—
  Let us rove—O my love—O my love!

  Dark is the wood, and wide
  Dangers, they say, betide;
  But, at my Albert's side,
  Nought I fear, O my love—O my love!

  Welcome the greenwood tree,
  Welcome the forest free,
  Dearest, with thee, with thee,
  Nought I fear, O my love—O my love!

  BY ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO.

  "—'s war Einer, dem's zu Herzen gieng."

  There lived a sage in days of yore
  And he a handsome pigtail wore;
  But wondered much and sorrowed more
       Because it hung behind him.

  He mused upon this curious case,
  And swore he'd change the pigtail's place,
  And have it hanging at his face,
       Not dangling there behind him.

  Says he, "The mystery I've found,—
  I'll turn me round,"—he turned him round;
       But still it hung behind him.

  Then round, and round, and out and in,
  All day the puzzled sage did spin;
  In vain—it mattered not a pin,—
       The pigtail hung behind him.

  And right, and left, and round about,
  And up, and down, and in, and out,
  He turned; but still the pigtail stout
       Hung steadily behind him.

  And though his efforts never slack,
  And though he twist, and twirl, and tack,
  Alas! still faithful to his back
       The pigtail hangs behind him.

  FROM UHLAND.

  "Es pflückte Blümlein mannigfalt."

  A little girl through field and wood
    Went plucking flowerets here and there,
  When suddenly beside her stood
    A lady wondrous fair!

  The lovely lady smiled, and laid
    A wreath upon the maiden's brow;
  "Wear it, 'twill blossom soon," she said,
    "Although 'tis leafless now."

  The little maiden older grew
    And wandered forth of moonlight eves,
  And sighed and loved as maids will do;
    When, lo! her wreath bore leaves.

  Then was our maid a wife, and hung
    Upon a joyful bridegroom's bosom;
  When from the garland's leaves there sprung
    Fair store of blossom.

  And presently a baby fair
    Upon her gentle breast she reared;
  When midst the wreath that bound her hair
    Rich golden fruit appeared.

  But when her love lay cold in death,
    Sunk in the black and silent tomb,
  All sere and withered was the wreath
    That wont so bright to bloom.

  Yet still the withered wreath she wore;
    She wore it at her dying hour;
  When, to the wondrous garland bore
    Both leaf, and fruit, and flower!

  FROM UHLAND.

  "Da liegen sie alle, die grauen Höhen."

  The cold gray hills they bind me around,
    The darksome valleys lie sleeping below,
  But the winds as they pass o'er all this ground,
    Bring me never a sound of woe!

  Oh! for all I have suffered and striven,
    Care has embittered my cup and my feast;
  But here is the night and the dark blue heaven,
    And my soul shall be at rest.

  O golden legends writ in the skies!
    I turn towards you with longing soul,
  And list to the awful harmonies
    Of the Spheres as on they roll.

  My hair is gray and my sight nigh gone;
    My sword it rusteth upon the wall;
  Right have I spoken, and right have I done:
    When shall I rest me once for all?

  O blessed rest!  O royal night!
    Wherefore seemeth the time so long
  Till I see you stars in their fullest light,
  And list to their loudest song?

  LA MOTTE FOUQUÉ.

  "Und Du gingst einst, die Myrt' im Haare."

  And thou wert once a maiden fair,
    A blushing virgin warm and young:
  With myrtles wreathed in golden hair,
  And glossy brow that knew no care—
    Upon a bridegroom's arm you hung.

  The golden locks are silvered now,
    The blushing cheek is pale and wan;
  The spring may bloom, the autumn glow,
  All's one—in chimney corner thou
    Sitt'st shivering on.—

  A moment—and thou sink'st to rest!
  To wake perhaps an angel blest,
    In the bright presence of thy Lord.
  Oh, weary is life's path to all!
  Hard is the strife, and light the fall,
    But wondrous the reward!

  I.

  For the sole edification
  Of this decent congregation,
  Goodly people, by your grant
  I will sing a holy chant—
       I will sing a holy chant.
  If the ditty sound but oddly,
  'Twas a father, wise and godly,
       Sang it so long ago—
  Then sing as Martin Luther sang,
  As Doctor Martin Luther sang:
  "Who loves not wine, woman and song,
  He is a fool his whole life long!"

  II.

  He, by custom patriarchal,
  Loved to see the beaker sparkle;
  And he thought the wine improved,
  Tasted by the lips he loved—
       By the kindly lips he loved.
  Friends, I wish this custom pious
  Duly were observed by us,
       To combine love, song, wine,
  And sing as Martin Luther sang,
  As Doctor Martin Luther sang:
  "Who loves not wine, woman and song,
  He is a fool his whole life long!"

  III.

  Who refuses this our Credo,
  And who will not sing as we do,
  Were he holy as John Knox,
  I'd pronounce him heterodox!
       I'd pronounce him heterodox,
  And from out this congregation,
  With a solemn commination,
       Banish quick the heretic,
  Who will not sing as Luther sang,
  As Doctor Martin Luther sang:
  "Who loves not wine, woman and song,
  He is a fool his whole life long!"

  LE ROI D'YVETOT.

  Il était un roi d'Yvetot,
    Peu connu dans l'histoire;
  Se levant tard, se couchant tôt,
    Dormant fort bien sans gloire,
  Et couronné par Jeanneton
  D'un simple bonnet de coton,
           Dit-on.
     Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah!
     Quel bon petit roi c'était la!
           La, la.

  Il fesait ses quatre repas
    Dans son palais de chaume,
  Et sur un âne, pas à pas,
    Parcourait son royaume.
  Joyeux, simple et croyant le bien,
  Pour toute garde il n'avait rien
           Qu'un chien.
       Oh! oh! oh ! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah! &c.

  Il n'avait de goût onéreux
      Qu'une soif un peu vive;
  Mais, en rendant son peuple heureux,
      Il faut bien qu'un roi vive.
  Lui-même à table, et sans suppôt,
  Sur chaque muid levait un pot
           D'impôt.
       Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah! &c.

  Aux filles de bonnes maisons
      Comme il avait su plaire,
  Ses sujets avaient cent raisons
      De le nommer leur père:
  D'ailleurs il ne levait de ban
  Que pour tirer quatre fois l'an
           Au blanc.
       Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah! &c.

  Il n'agrandit point ses états,
      Fut un voisin commode,
  Et, modèle des potentats,
      Prit le plaisir pour code.
  Ce n'est que loraqu'il expira,
  Que le peuple qui l'enterra
           Pleura.
      Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah! &c.

  On conserve encor le portrait
    De ce digne et bon prince;
  C'est l'enseigne d'un cabaret
    Fameux dans la province.
  Les jours de fête, bien souvent,
  La foule s'écrie en buvant
           Devant:
       Oh! oh! oh! oh! ah! ah! ah! ah! &c.

  There was a king of Yvetot,
    Of whom renown hath little said,
  Who let all thoughts of glory go,
    And dawdled half his days a-bed;
  And every night, as night came round,
  By Jenny, with a nightcap crowned,
              Slept very sound:
       Sing ho, ho, ho! and he, he, he!
       That's the kind of king for me.

  And every day it came to pass,
    That four lusty meals made he;
  And, step by step, upon an ass,
    Rode abroad, his realms to see;
  And wherever he did stir,
  What think you was his escort, sir?
              Why, an old cur.
       Sing ho, ho, ho ! &c.

  If e'er he went into excess,
    'Twas from a somewhat lively thirst;
  But he who would his subjects bless,
    Odd's fish!—must wet his whistle first;
  And so from every cask they got,
  Our king did to himself allot,
              At least a pot.
       Sing ho, ho! &c.

  To all the ladies of the land,
    A courteous king, and kind, was he;
  The reason why you'll understand,
    They named him Pater Patriae.
  Each year he called his fighting men,
  And marched a league from home, and then
              Marched back again.
       Sing ho, ho! &c.

  Neither by force nor false pretence,
    He sought to make his kingdom great,
  And made (O princes, learn from hence),—
    "Live and let live," his rule of state.
  'Twas only when he came to die,
  That his people who stood by,
              Were known to cry.
       Sing ho, ho! &c.

  The portrait of this best of kings
    Is extant still, upon a sign
  That on a village tavern swings,
    Famed in the country for good wine.
  The people in their Sunday trim,
  Filling their glasses to the brim,
              Look up to him,
       Singing ha, ha, ha! and he, he, he!
       That's the sort of king for me.

  ANOTHER VERSION.

  There was a king in Brentford,—of whom no legends tell,
  But who, without his glory,—could eat and sleep right well.
  His Polly's cotton nightcap,—it was his crown of state,
  He slept of evenings early,—and rose of mornings late.

  All in a fine mud palace,—each day he took four meals,
  And for a guard of honor,—a dog ran at his heels,
  Sometimes, to view his kingdoms,—rode forth this monarch good,
  And then a prancing jackass—he royally bestrode.

  There were no costly habits—with which this king was curst,
  Except (and where's the harm on't?)—a somewhat lively thirst;
  But people must pay taxes,—and kings must have their sport,
  So out of every gallon—His Grace he took a quart.

  He pleased the ladies round him,—with manners soft and bland;
  With reason good, they named him,—the father of his land.
  Each year his mighty armies—marched forth in gallant show;
  Their enemies were targets—their bullets they were tow.

  He vexed no quiet neighbor,—no useless conquest made,
  But by the laws of pleasure,—his peaceful realm he swayed.
  And in the years he reigned,—through all this country wide,
  There was no cause for weeping,—save when the good man died.

  The faithful men of Brentford,—do still their king deplore,
  His portrait yet is swinging,—beside an alehouse door.
  And topers, tender-hearted,—regard his honest phiz,
  And envy times departed—that knew a reign like his.

  LE GRENIER.

  Je viens revoir l'asile où ma jeunesse
  De la misère a subi les leçons.
  J'avais vingt ans, une folle maîtresse,
  De francs amis et l'amour des chansons.
  Bravant le monde et les sots et les sages,
  Sans avenir, riche de mon printemps,
  Leste et joyeux je montais six étages,
  Dans un grenier qu'on est bien a vingt ans.

  C'est un grenier, point ne veux qu'on l'ignore.
  Là fut mon lit, bien chétif et bien dur;
  Là fut ma table; et je retrouve encore
  Trois pieds d'un vers charbonnés sur le mur.
  Apparaissez, plaisirs de mon bel âge,
  Que d'un coup d'aile a fustigés le temps,
  Vingt fois pour vous j'ai ma montre en gage.
  Dans un grenier qu'on est bien à vingt ans!

  Lisette ici doit surtout apparaître,
  Vive, jolie, avec un frais chapeau;
  Déjà sa main à l'étroite fenêtre
  Suspend son schal, en guise de rideau.
  Sa robe aussi va parer ma couchette;
  Respecte, Amour, ses plis longs et flottans.
  Jai su depuis qui payait sa toilette
  Dans un grenier qu'on est bien à vingt ans!

  A table un jour, jour de grande richesse,
  De mes amis les voix brillaient en choeur,
  Quand jusqu'ici monte on cri d'allégresse;
  A Marengo Bonaparte est vainqueur.
  Le canon gronde; un autre chant commence;
  Nous célébrons tant de faits éclatans.
  Les rois jamais n'envahiront la France.
  Dans un grenier qu'on est bien à vingt ans!

  Quittons ce toit où ma raison s'enivre.
  Oh! qu'ils sont loin ces jours si regrettés!
  J'echangerais ce qu'il me reste à vivre
  Contre un des mois qu'ici Dieu ma comptés.
  Pour rêver gloire, amour, plaisir, folie,
  Pour dépenser sa vie en peu d'instans,
  D'un long espoir pour la voir embellie,
  Dans un grenier qu'on est bien à vingt ans!

  With pensive eyes the little room I view,
    Where, in my youth, I weathered it so long;
  With a wild mistress, a stanch friend or two,
    And a light heart still breaking into song:
  Making a mock of life, and all its cares,
    Rich in the glory of my rising sun,
  Lightly I vaulted up four pair of stairs,
    In the brave days when I was twenty-one.

  Yes; 'tis a garret—let him know't who will—
    There was my bed—full hard it was and small;
  My table there—and I decipher still
    Half a lame couplet charcoaled on the wall.
  Ye joys, that Time hath swept with him away,
    Come to mine eyes, ye dreams of love and fun;
  For you I pawned my watch how many a day,
    In the brave days when I was twenty-one.

  And see my little Jessy, first of all;
    She comes with pouting lips and sparkling eyes:
  Behold, how roguishly she pins her shawl
    Across the narrow casement, curtain-wise;
  Now by the bed her petticoat glides down,
    And when did woman look the worse in none?
  I have heard since who paid for many a gown,
    In the brave days when I was twenty-one.

  One jolly evening, when my friends and I
    Made happy music with our songs and cheers,
  A shout of triumph mounted up thus high,
    And distant cannon opened on our ears:
  We rise,—we join in the triumphant strain,—
    Napoleon conquers—Austerlitz is won—
  Tyrants shall never tread us down again,
    In the brave days when I was twenty-one.

  Let us begone—the place is sad and strange—
    How far, far off, these happy times appear;
  All that I have to live I'd gladly change
    For one such month as I have wasted here—
  To draw long dreams of beauty, love, and power,
    From founts of hope that never will outrun,
  And drink all life's quintessence in an hour,
    Give me the days when I was twenty-one!

  Aux gens atrabilaires
  Pour exemple donné,
  En un temps de misères
  Roger-Bontemps est né.
  Vivre obscur à sa guise,
  Narguer les mécontens;
  Eh gai! c'est la devise
  Du gros Roger-Bontemps.

  Du chapeau de son père
  Coîffé dans les grands jours,
  De roses ou de lierre
  Le rajeunir toujours;
  Mettre un manteau de bure,
  Vieil ami de vingt ans;
  Eh gai! c'est la parure
  Du gros Roger-Bontemps.

  Posséder dans en hutte
  Une table, un vieux lit,
  Des cartes, une flûte,
  Un broc que Dieu remplit;
  Un portrait de maîtresse,
  Un coffre et rien dedans;
  Eh gai! c'est la richesse
  Du gros Roger-Bontemps.

  Aux enfans de la ville
  Montrer de petite jeux;
  Etre fesseur habile
  De contes graveleux;
  Ne parler que de danse
  Et d'almanachs chantans:
  Eh gai! c'est la science
  Du gros Roger-bontemps.

  Faute de vins d'élite,
  Sabler ceux du canton:
  Préférer Marguerite
  Aux dames du grand ton:
  De joie et de tendresse
  Remplir tous ses instans:
  Eh gai! c'est la sagesse
  Du gros Roger-Bontemps.

  Dire au ciel: Je me fie,
  Mon père, à ta bonté;
  De ma philosophie
  Pardonne le gaîté;
  Que ma saison dernière
  Soit encore un printemps;
  Eh gai! c'est la prière
  Du gros Roger-Bontemps.

  Vous pauvres pleins d'envie,
  Vous riches désireux,
  Vous, dont le char dévie
  Après un cours heureux;
  Vous qui perdrez peut-être
  Des titres éclatans,
  Eh gai! prenez pour maître
  Le gros Roger-Bontemps.

  When fierce political debate
    Throughout the isle was storming,
  And Rads attacked the throne and state,
    And Tories the reforming,
  To calm the furious rage of each,
    And right the land demented,
  Heaven sent us Jolly Jack, to teach
   The way to be contented.

  Jack's bed was straw, 'twas warm and soft,
    His chair, a three-legged stool;
  His broken jug was emptied oft,
    Yet, somehow, always full.
  His mistress' portrait decked the wall,
    His mirror had a crack;
  Yet, gay and glad, though this was all
    His wealth, lived Jolly Jack.

  To give advice to avarice,
    Teach pride its mean condition,
  And preach good sense to dull pretence,
    Was honest Jack's high mission.
  Our simple statesman found his rule
    Of moral in the flagon,
  And held his philosophic school
    Beneath the "George and Dragon."

  When village Solons cursed the Lords,
    And called the malt-tax sinful,
  Jack heeded not their angry words,
    But smiled and drank his skinful.
  And when men wasted health and life,
    In search of rank and riches,
  Jack marked aloof the paltry strife,
    And wore his threadbare breeches.

  "I enter not the church," he said,
    "But I'll not seek to rob it;"
  So worthy Jack Joe Miller read,
    While others studied Cobbett.
  His talk it was of feast and fun;
    His guide the Almanack;
  From youth to age thus gayly run
    The life of Jolly Jack.

  And when Jack prayed, as oft he would,
    He humbly thanked his Maker;
  "I am," said he, "O Father good!
    Nor Catholic nor Quaker:
  Give each his creed, let each proclaim
    His catalogue of curses;
  I trust in Thee, and not in them,
    In Thee, and in Thy mercies!

  "Forgive me if, midst all Thy works,
    No hint I see of damning;
  And think there's faith among the Turks,
    And hope for e'en the Brahmin.
  Harmless my mind is, and my mirth,
    And kindly is my laughter:
  I cannot see the smiling earth,
    And think there's hell hereafter."

  Jack died; he left no legacy,
    Save that his story teaches:—
  Content to peevish poverty;
    Humility to riches.
  Ye scornful great, ye envious small,
    Come follow in his track;
  We all were happier, if we all
    Would copy JOLLY JACK.

  TO HIS SERVING BOY.

  Persicos odi
  Puer, apparatus;
  Displicent nexae
  Philyrâ coronae:
  Mitte sectari,
  Rosa qua locorum
  Sera moretur.

  Simplici myrto
  Nihil allabores
  Sedulus, curo:
  Neque te ministrum
  Dedecet myrtus,
  Neque me sub arctâ
  Vite bibentem.