Part 8 (1/2)

If for your oath broken, or word lightly spoken, A plague comes, Barine, to grieve you; If on tooth or on finger a black mark shall linger Your beauty to mar, I'll believe you.

But no sooner, the fact is, you bind, as your tact is, Your head with the vows of untruth, Than you s.h.i.+ne out more charming, and, what's more alarming, You come forth beloved of our youth.

It is advantageous, but no less outrageous, Your poor mother's ashes to cheat; While the G.o.ds of creation and each constellation You seem to regard as your meat.

Now Venus, I own it, is pleased to condone it; The good-natured nymphs merely smile; And Cupid is merry,--'t is humorous, very,-- And sharpens his arrows the while.

Our boys you are making the slaves for your taking, A new band is joined to the old; While the horrified matrons your juvenile patrons In vain would bring back to the fold.

The thrifty old fellows your loveliness mellows Confess to a dread of your house; But a more pressing duty, in view of your beauty, Is the young wife's concern for her spouse.

THE RECONCILIATION

I

HE

When you were mine, in auld lang syne, And when none else your charms might ogle, I'll not deny, fair nymph, that I Was happier than a heathen mogul.

SHE

Before _she_ came, that rival flame (Had ever mater saucier filia?), In those good times, bepraised in rhymes, I was more famed than Mother Ilia.

HE

Chloe of Thrace! With what a grace Does she at song or harp employ her!

I'd gladly die, if only I Could live forever to enjoy her!

SHE

My Sybaris so n.o.ble is That, by the G.o.ds, I love him madly!

That I might save him from the grave, I'd give my life, and give it gladly!

HE

What if _ma belle_ from favor fell, And I made up my mind to shake her; Would Lydia then come back again, And to her quondam love betake her?

SHE

My other beau should surely go, And you alone should find me gracious; For no one slings such odes and things As does the lauriger Horatius!

THE RECONCILIATION

II