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By Juan Ruiz de Hita
I WISH to make my sermon brief,—to shorten my oration,— | |
| For a never-ending sermon is my utter detestation: | |
| I like short women,—suits at law without procrastination,— | |
| And am always most delighted with things of short duration. | |
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| A babbler is a laughing-stock; he’s a fool who’s always grinning; | 5 |
| But little women love so much, one falls in love with sinning. | |
| There are women who are very tall, and yet not worth the winning, | |
| And in the change of short for long repentance finds beginning. | |
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| To praise the little women Love besought me in my musing; | |
| To tell their noble qualities is quite beyond refusing: | 10 |
| So I’ll praise the little women, and you ’ll find the thing amusing: | |
| They are, I know, as cold as snow, whilst flames around diffusing. | |
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| They ’re cold without, whilst warm within the flame of Love is raging; | |
| They ’re gay and pleasant in the street,—soft, cheerful, and engaging; | |
| They ’re thrifty and discreet at home,—the cares of life assuaging: | 15 |
| All this and more;—try, and you ’ll find how true is my presaging. | |
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| In a little precious stone what splendor meets the eyes! | |
| In a little lump of sugar how much of sweetness lies! | |
| So in a little woman love grows and multiplies: | |
| You recollect the proverb says,—A word unto the wise. | 20 |
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| A pepper-corn is very small, but seasons every dinner | |
| More than all other condiments, although ’t is sprinkled thinner: | |
| Just so a little woman is, if Love will let you win her,— | |
| There ’s not a joy in all the world you will not find within her. | |
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| And as within the little rose you find the richest dyes, | 25 |
| And in a little grain of gold much price and value lies, | |
| As from a little balsam much odor doth arise, | |
| So in a little woman there ’s a taste of paradise. | |
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| Even as the little ruby its secret worth betrays, | |
| Color, and price, and virtue, in the clearness of its rays,— | 30 |
| Just so a little woman much excellence displays, | |
| Beauty, and grace, and love, and fidelity always. | |
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| The skylark and the nightingale, though small and light of wing, | |
| Yet warble sweeter in the grove than all the birds that sing: | |
| And so a little woman, though a very little thing, | 35 |
| Is sweeter far than sugar, and flowers that bloom in spring. | |
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| The magpie and the golden thrush have many a thrilling note, | |
| Each as a gay musician doth strain his little throat,— | |
| A merry little songster in his green and yellow coat: | |
| And such a little woman is, when Love doth make her dote. | 40 |
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| There ’s naught can be compared to her, throughout the wide creation; | |
| She is a paradise on earth,—our greatest consolation,— | |
| So cheerful, gay, and happy, so free from all vexation: | |
| In fine, she ’s better in the proof than in anticipation. | |
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| If as her size increases are woman’s charms decreased, | 45 |
| Then surely it is good to be from all the great released. | |
| Now of two evils choose the less,—said a wise man of the East: | |
| By consequence, of womankind be sure to choose the least. | |
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