| Fuess and Stearns, comps. The Little Book of Society Verse. 1922. | | | | The Gift | | By Oliver Goldsmith |
| | To Iris, in Bow Street, Covent Garden
SAY, cruel Iris, pretty rake, | |
| Dear mercenary beauty, | |
| What annual offering shall I make | |
| Expressive of my duty? | |
| |
| My heart, a victim to thine eyes, | 5 |
| Shall I at once deliver, | |
| Say, would the angry fair one prize | |
| The gift who slights the giver? | |
| |
| A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy, | |
| My rivals give—and let them, | 10 |
| If gems or gold impart a joy, | |
| I’ll give them when I get them. | |
| |
| I’ll give—but not the full blown rose, | |
| Or rosebud more in fashion; | |
| Such short-lived offerings but disclose | 15 |
| A transitory passion. | |
| |
| I’ll give thee something yet unpaid, | |
| Not less sincere than civil: | |
| I’ll give thee—ah! too charming maid, | |
| I’ll give thee—to the devil. | 20 | | | |
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