IN a snug little court as I stood t’ other day, | |
| And caroll’d the loitering minutes away; | |
| Came a brace of fair nymphs, with such beautiful faces, | |
| That they yielded in number alone to the Graces: | |
| Disputing they were, and that earnestly too, | 5 |
| When thus they address’d me as nearer they drew: | |
| “So sweet is your voice, and your numbers so sweet, | |
| Such sentiment join’d with such harmony meet; | |
| Each note which you raise finds its way to our hearts, | |
| Where Cupid engraves it wi’ the point of his darts: | 10 |
| But oh! by these strains, which so deeply can pierce, | |
| Inform us for whom you intended your verse: | |
| ’Tis for her, she affirms—I maintain ’tis for me— | |
| And we often pull caps in asserting our plea.” | |
| |
| “Why, ladies,” cried I, “you’re both handsome, ’tis true, | 15 |
| But cease your dispute, I love neither of you; | |
| My life on another dear creature depends; | |
| Her I hasten to visit:—so kiss and be friends.” | |
| “Oh ho!” said they, “now you convince us quite clear, | |
| For no pretty woman lives anywhere here— | 20 |
| That’s plainly a sham. Now, to humour us both, | |
| You shall swear you love neither; so come, take your oath.” | |
| |
| I laughingly replied, “’Tis tyrannical dealing | |
| To make a man swear, when ’tis plain he’s not willing.” | |
| |
| “Why, friend, we’ve long sought thy fair person to seize; | 25 |
| And think you we’ll take such excuses as these? | |
| No, ’twas chance brought you hither, and here you shall stay;— | |
| Help, Phædra! to hold, or he’ll sure get away.” | |
| Thus spoken, to keep me between ’em they tried; | |
| ’Twas a pleasing constraint, and I gladly complied. | 30 |
| If I struggled, ’twas to make ’em imprison me more, | |
| And strove—but for shackles more tight than before; | |
| But think not I’ll tell how the minutes were spent; | |
| You may think what you please—but they both were content. | |
| |
